CIVIL LIBERTIES
Civil War buffs: March upstate the weekend of Sept. 14 and 15, where, as part of Dutchess County Heritage Days (“Celebrating 300 Years of Democracy”), the region will “honor the memory of those Dutchess County men who went off to the war to preserve the Union.” Expect reenactments, a period music concert, a recitation of the Gettysburg Address by an actor playing Abraham Lincoln and more. Craft and food vendors are also planned. dutchesstourism.com
GAS ‘N’ SIP
New York’s Finger Lakes region might be known for its wine, but it’s home to tasty craft beer and spirits, too. The Holiday Inn Express Horseheads invites you to sample it all (or, at least, a lot of it!) with its “It’s Wine O’Clock and Ale Is Well” package. The offer includes two night’s accommodations (for two) with complimentary breakfast, a $50 certificate to Buffalo Wild Wings, two coupons for Horseheads Brewing (each good for a $1 tasting, a pint glass and a 22-ounce bottle of beer), a tasting for two at Birdland Brewing Co. (including an empty 64-ounce growler and one growler fill) and a tasting for two, with a tour, at Finger Lakes Distilling. Cheers! Package prices from $300. fingerlakeshotels.com
COUNTRY TIME
Experience “good old-fashioned family-friendly fun” at the Otisville Country Fair Aug. 22 through 25, as this annual Orange County affair celebrates its 25th year. Activities and events include amusement rides, tractor pulls, pie-eating contests, free hay rides, music and more. Don’t miss the fireworks display on Saturday and Sunday nights at 9. Admission is free. otisvillecountryfair.org
CATSKILLS FOR LESS BILLS
Beat the heat in the city and head for the hills. The Catskills’ Emerson Resort & Spa has a “Sizzling Summer Special,” a three-night, midweek promotion from $318. (That’s just $106 per night; one-third off the regular price.) The offer is valid Sundays through Thursdays until the end of September. emersonresort.com
FORK YEAH
We’re not sure why Hallock’s Cider Mill in the North Fork’s Laurel community decided to put icing on its already stellar peach-praline pie. But not all changes are unwelcome. This is the first summer we’ve tried a chocolate cream pie at Hallock’s, and both the salty crust and not-too-sweet filling were amazing. In terms of classics, we’re happy to report that the pies at Schmitt’s, just down Main Road in Laurel, remain excellent. Try the peach. No icing. Just fruit and crust. Perfect. While you’re in the area, keep heading along Main Road to Aquebogue for Long Seasons Farms’ spectacular selection of organic heirloom tomatoes. And stop for lobster salad and crispy local duck at the always delightful Modern Snack Bar. And meet the friendly goats at Goodale Farms. northfork.org
SAY NO TO BARLOW
Be wary of booking a reservation at the new Barlow hotel in upstate Hudson, NY, if you think there is any chance your plans might change at all. The boutique property has a truly onerous cancellation policy, one as bad as anything our well-traveled staff has encountered over years of crisscrossing the entire world: a $25 charge for any cancellation and the forfeiture of one night’s deposit (which can be more than $200 for a weekend stay) for any cancellation made within 14 days of the first booked night. We e-mailed the Barlow about this policy, and it appears that the hotel doesn’t want to give up the recipe for its secret sauce. A co-owner responded: “Any discussion, thoughts or methodology that is used in establishing any policy is proprietary in nature and as such, we are not at liberty to discuss.” That said, we’ve since learned that other Hudson properties have similar policies. And we’ll take the liberty of saying that if this town wants to become a serious travel destination, it should start acting like one.
travel@nypost.com