America's Scenic Rail Journeys: The Adirondack

All aboard...Amtrak. Produced in association with Amtrak, this heavily commercial rail journey, running from New York to Montreal through the Adirondacks (Russell Banks country) opens with a visit to Washington Irving's home along the Hudson River (he fought the railroad until they offered him, in his words, "the Almighty dollar"--several of 'em). Riding the--admittedly lovely--rails, the program interviews Frasier's David Hyde-Pierce in Saratoga Springs (about five miles from where I grew up), stops off at Fort Ticonderoga, and checks out summer camps on Lake Placid. While the notion that this area is "beautiful all-year round" would probably draw hostile comments from some of my relatives during the notoriously miserable winter/spring seasons, I do miss the colors of fall shown here. Other titles in the series include: The Canadian Rockies, The Coast Starlight, and The Copper Canyon. Since train titles are very popular (right behind exercise, I'm beginning to think), this series is a strong optional purchase. (R. Pitman)