Page 35 - Dutchess Tourism 2022

steady stream of boats, kids will enjoy getting a bird’s eye view of the surrounding landscape. In 2012, a Guinness World Record was set when 2,569 people
lined up across the
bridge and danced
the Hokey Pokey for
five minutes!
Swing from the
Trees at Barton Orchards Treetop Adventures Experience Barton Orchards’ aerial obstacle course, Tree Top Adventure. Spend the day in Poughquag climbing, swinging and zipping
from tree to tree in one of the Hudson Valley’s most beautiful locations! With five courses available, this outdoor adventure is welcoming to all skill levels.
Get Moving at the Mid- Hudson Children’s Museum The newly transformed Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum on the picturesque Poughkeepsie waterfront will ignite and inspire the next generation of critical thinkers, problem solvers
and innovators. With the Science Revealed exhibit, children and families can engage in a full-body physical exploration of motion, air, forces, fluids and electricity.
Kid-Friendly Strolls & Hikes
• Poets’ Walk Park, Red Hook
• Locust Grove Trails, Poughkeepsie • Madam Brett Park, Beacon
• Pawling Nature Preserve, Pawling
See a Baseball
Game at
Dutchess Stadium
Come to “The Dutch” to watch the Hudson Valley Renegades, where future stars of the New York
Yankees play some all-American baseball from April through September. Children and adults alike love the atmosphere of ballpark snacks, on-field games and the camaraderie of the hometown crowd. Fireworks shows every Friday and Saturday after the game.
Best Events for Kids
Dutchess County Fair (August)
Experience old-fashioned tractor pulls, midway rides, main stage concerts with national acts, elaborate horticulture displays, antique machinery and fun activities for the whole family at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. The can’t-miss milkshakes made on Livestock Hill with Hudson Valley Fresh milk are reason enough to go — and let’s not forget all the fried fair-food options, from funnel cakes to fries.
Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival (September)
A single balloon launch is truly
a sight to behold. Now imagine
75 taking flight over the course of three days! Stay entertained all weekend long with tethered balloon rides, live music, the Balloon Illumination Moon Glow and evening fireworks.
Sinterklaas (December)
This day-long, colorful celebration of dance, theater and music all over the Village of Rhinebeck honors
the town’s Dutch heritage. The spectacular Children’s Starlight Parade, featuring two-story tall, animated puppets carried by
local volunteers, closes the day
at twilight. Children are the kings and queens of this celebration — literally! Special workshops allow them to make their own crowns and scepters to wear for the parade.
Family Fun on Farms
Spring: Learn about the maple syrup-making process at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls through sugarhouse tours, demonstrations, family-friendly activities, tastings and more during Maple Weekends in March.
Summer: Plan a pick-your-own experience at a local farm for the sweetest, juiciest berries and stone fruit. You’ll find the freshest vegetables, from summer squash to vine ripe tomatoes, at Fishkill Farms in Fishkill and the most vibrant sunflowers at Hudson Valley Cold Pressed Oils in Pleasant Valley in August.
Fall: At Mead Orchards in Tivoli, roam the apple orchards and pumpkin patches, set up a picnic and make your way through the corn maze. Find a selection of 13 varieties of apples from Fuji to Sweet Zinger.
Winter: Visit a tree farm and start a family holiday tradition. Walk through rows of Blue Spruce and Balsam Fir at Battenfeld’s Christmas Tree Farm in Red Hook to find the perfect tree to cut and display in your home.
Scan for more farm fun!
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