New York’s Hudson River features some of the most beautiful river sailing in the world—snaking 315 miles from the Adirondacks to New York City and lined with verdant fjords and countless, getaway- worthy towns. In the Hudson Valley alone, there are ample opportunities for sailors of all stripes (yes, even weekenders learning the ropes) to partake in this great New York pastime.

Sailing the Hudson quite literally put New York on the map, so it’s fitting to start an expedition at the Hudson Valley Maritime Museum, which spotlights the waterway’s rich heritage through exhibits, lectures, educational programs, and a variety of informative boat tours. Following in the footsteps of the many sloops and schooners (types of sailboats) that fueled the early development of New York City and much of the Hudson Valley through trade and transportation, the museum’s own solar-powered, carbon-neutral vessel, Solaris, takes guests on tours of nearby lighthouses and down historic portions of the river in search of nearby wildlife.

For visitors who learn best through experience, the museum has a sailing school (in addition to a rowing and boatbuilding school for the nautically inclined) dedicated to getting would-be sailors on the water. In partnership with Kingston Sailing Club, the museum offers a series of three-hour classes for committed sailors in training led by U.S. Sailing certified instructors that drill down on the basics, as well as a popular Women on the Water program dedicated to introducing more women to sailing. For those just passing through, the introductory level First Sail (a two-hour cruise in a historic catboat) is a great way to spend an afternoon.

If lounging deckside with a glass of rosé is more your speed, look no further than Tivoli Sailing Company, where founder and captain Jerome Hollick leads a number of laid-back charters that make the most of the scenic waters between Kingston, Rhinebeck, and Saugerties. “Sailing is my escape, my way to let go of stress and not have to worry about anything but the wind, sun, and water,” says Hollick. “This section of the Hudson River is especially beautiful with the Catskill Mountains as a backdrop, and all the historic mansions that line the river on both banks.”

Hollick’s charters include champagne sunset sails (picture crab cakes, bottles of bubbly, blissful tunes, and golden hour views over the Catskills), moonlit cruises for romantic midsummer outings, and a handful of tours showcasing the local landscapes from the river’s perspective. For the more adventurous, he offers hands-on 3-hour classes that cover the basics of navigation, which students can attend in season on Sundays. Whatever your preference, a day spent sailing the Hudson is the perfect way to connect with the glorious waters that continue to becken boatloads of Upstate enthusiasts.

Find @hudsonrivermaritimemuseum and @tivolisailing in Kingston