Page 66 - Westchester 2022 Relocation & Moving Guide

Croton Point Park
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Get Outdoors!
The Hudson Valley region 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 outdoor activities.
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LIVING IN WESTCHESTER AND THE HUDSON VALLEY | RELOCATION & MOVING GUIDE
Top Running Spots
Andy Kimerling of Westchester Road Runner reveals his favorite places in Westchester for a superb run.
Rockefeller State Park Preserve
“The Preserve has maintained these trails in terrific condition, and you can walk or run for hours on end and never run the same trail twice. 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.”
Leatherstocking Trail
“Down in Mamaroneck, there’s the Leatherstocking trail, which is a beautiful, lesser-known place to run that I love.”
Tibbetts Brook Park
“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.”
In the Hudson Valley, runners count the Walkway Over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie as a must-do. The campus of Vassar College and the trails in Hyde Park are also 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 M. 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. Locations are at Rye Beach, Tarrytown Lakes, Croton River, and Croton Point Park.
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.
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.
Croton Point Park
Perhaps one of Westchester’s most scenic spots for a swim, this 508-acre park
tucked away in Croton-on-Hudson also features 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 sq. ft. zero-entry 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.
Golf
Whether you’ve got skills that would impress Tiger or you’re just starting out, Westchester and the Hudson Valley offer a wealth of public courses that are perfect for all skill levels. Westchester boasts six 18-hole municipal courses: Dunwoodie, Maple Moor, Saxon Woods, Hudson Hills, Mohansic, and Sprain Lake. In Rockland County, you can hit the greens at county-run Patriot Hills Golf Course, Phillip J. Rotella Memorial Golf Course, and Rockland Lake Golf Course, while Orange County operates Hickory Hills and Stony Ford public courses. You can also spoil a good walk at three Dutchess county public courses: Beekman Golf Course, Dutcher Golf Course, and James Baird State Park Golf Course, or in Putnam at Putnam County Golf Course and Centennial Golf Club. For a slightly elevated golf experience, there are countless country club, private, and semi-private golf courses to choose from as well.
© AMY ROACH