West Point, New York Support the troops with a visit to the historic academy From the April 22, 2002 Issue of New York West Point is celebrating its 200th anniversary, and in these patriotic times, why not pay a visit to this scenic military academy on the west bank of the Hudson? Security is tight, and some parts of the once wide-open campus, an hour from the city by car, are now off-limits, but the sight of cadets marching in formation is still stirring. There's plenty to do besides take a tour. You can hike the Appalachian Trail, which crosses nearby Bear Mountain and Fahnestock state parks. And across the river is the residence of home-furnishings legend Russel Wright. There are plenty of local inns (the Bird & Bottle, built in 1761 as a stagecoach rest stop, serves an excellent dinner, and Cromwell Manor Inn has big canopied beds), but we recommend the Thayer Hotel right on the West Point campus: Don't bother requesting a wake-up call; you'll hear the bugler playing reveille at 6:30 a.m. -- JERYL BRUNNER Details West Point Visitor's Center (guided bus tours, $7; 845-938-2638); the Bird & Bottle Inn (845-424-3000); the Cromwell Manor Inn (845-534-7136); Thayer Hotel (doubles from $129; 800-247-5047 or hotelthayer.com); Manitoga/the Russel Wright Design Center (reservations required for house tours, $15; 845-424-3812).       Photograph: courtesy of the Thayer Hotel