Page 42 - Westchester Relocation Guide 2021

Rockefeller State Park Preserve
RECREATION/ARTS & CULTURE
GET OUTDOORS!
The Hudson Valley is an outdoor-lover’s paradise. Enjoy the scenic splendor and get in shape during a refreshing run, a round of golf, a soothing swim, or any one of myriad other agreeable outdoor activities.
TOP RUNNING SPOTS
Andy Kimerling of Westchester Road Runner reveals his favorite places in Westchester for a superb run:
“My favorite place in the world to run is Rockefeller State Park Preserve. The Preserve has maintained its trails in terrific condition, and you can walk or run for hours on end and never run the same trail twice since it’s several thousand acres. The park is also gorgeous and if I told you that you were just 20 miles north of New York City, you would never believe it.
Down in Mamaroneck, there’s the Leatherstocking Trail, which is a beautiful, lesser-known place to run that I love.
If you live in Yonkers, you can get a great run in at Tibbetts Brook Park. From there, you can get on the Croton Trailway, which runs from the New York City line all the way to the Putnam line and beyond. A tremendous amount of people do use that for biking because it is paved, but it’s also a very nice place to just go out and run.”
In the Hudson Valley, runners count the Walkway Over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie as a must-do. Also in Dutchess County, the campus of Vassar College and the trails in Hyde Park are popular running spots, as well as the Harlem Valley Rail Trail — a 10.7-mile paved track on an abandoned former rail line. For great water views, take a run over the Mario Cuomo Bridge on the newly completed path, and then keep going toward Nyack in Rockland County for more scenery. Bear Mountain State Park is another perennial favorite, with trails and paths plus gorgeous views.
WATERSPORTS
Whether it’s a quick dip in the Long Island Sound or an exploration of the Hudson River via paddleboard, the region offers abundant aquatic enjoyments.
Hudson River Recreation
Whether you are looking for a guided tour, lessons, standup paddle boarding, or simply want to rent a canoe or kayak, give this popular local company a try. With locations at Rye Beach, Tarrytown Lakes, Croton River, and Croton Point Park, residents need not go far to rent a vessel and get out on the water.
Hudson River Expeditions
Another superlative spot to rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard, this service with locations in both Cold Spring and Peekskill offers instruction to novice water warriors, as well as abundant vessels for hitting the river once you know the ropes. Along with guided tours and overnight expeditions, the company can also host private and corporate events.
Blue Mountain Reservation
For those who love nothing more than a day spent fishing, head to Peekskill
for Blue Mountain Reservation’s two sizeable ponds: packed with abundant local fauna, this is an ideal place to reel in the big one.
Croton Point Park
Perhaps one of Westchester’s most scenic spots for enjoying a swim, this 508-acre park tucked away in Croton- on-Hudson also features a fun miniature aircraft airport as well as ample hiking and even camping — a rarity in the county.
Rye Playland Beach
A day at Playland isn’t complete without a stop at the park’s beach, where sunbathers and swimmers can revel in the sun and enjoy the Art Deco-style quarter-mile boardwalk with stunning views of the Long Island Sound.
Rockland Lake State Park
With a new water complex featuring a 25,000 square foot zero-entrance swimming pool with diving boards, a spray ground, and two large water slides plus a playground for children, this is the place in Rockland County for a family-fun day. The park also has picnic areas with tables and a few grills, a car top boat launch dock, hiking trails, six tennis courts, and two 18-hole golf courses.
HORSEBACK RIDING
Giddy-up! Our region is known for its network of elegant stables, verdant pastures, and horseback-riding locals.
Westchester Trail Rides
This Croton-on-Hudson-based business makes it easy to explore local trails atop a steed. They offer trail-riding services through verdant land led by knowledgeable guides, and boast a stable of three extremely agreeable horses.
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LIVING IN WESTCHESTER AND THE HUDSON VALLEY | RELOCATION & MOVING GUIDE
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