The incomparable beauty and quaint charm of Rockland County offers peaceful, pastoral countryside spiced by river villages, historic sites and, arguably, the world's most beautiful river valley. It's unmatched as a getaway spot for a day, a week, or more. There are magnificent Hudson River views that once inspired a whole school of American painters.

But don't be fooled by this seemingly rural charm. Because of the county's close proximity to New York City you'll find residents that are no less than icons in the theatre, arts and business, creating a sophistication found only in big cities.

So close to the bustling city, Rockland is everybody's playground. There are no less than 32,000 acres of untouched parklands dotted with sparkling lakes and streams rushing down to the Hudson. There are all kinds of recreational opportunities: swimming and fishing, hiking and boating, camping, horseback riding, historic house tours, golf and tennis in spring and summer.  Ice skating, sledding, and cross-country skiing in winter. And a magnificent foliage display rivaling the best of New England every fall.

Repertory theatre groups, off-Broadway and original plays and musicals, dance companies, choral and instrumental ensembles are on stage regularly throughout Rockland today. Nyack's Hopper House is a museum of modern art in miniature. Blue Hill Plaza in Pearl River offers art exhibitions that are reviewed by the New York Times.

Rockland has a fine sampling of good old fashioned USA Mainstreets chock full of fine dining, great window shopping opportunities and diverse cultural festivals.

Rockland's rich history is immortalized by the Stony Point battlefield and more than 50 historical markers in every part of the county. It is made even more real by historic churches and historic farms-many in the same family since the 1600s. There are several museums starting with the 1700 DeWint House, our oldest standing residence. Orangeburg's new Camp Shanks Museum memorializes the site where more than a million G.I.s were processed for embarkation to World War ll fronts.