|
THINGS TO DO
|
 |
TAKE
ME TO THE RIVER
Because much of Westchesterâs history is intimately bound with
the Hudson River (and also because the river is just so nice to
look at), a great way to get yourself oriented to Westchester
is with a river cruise. Hudson Highland Cruises
(left) offers several rides, including a narrated three-hour sightseeing
cruise along the river on The Commander. Highlights include
West Point Military Academy, Constitution Island, Forts Montgomery
and Clinton and Boscobel.
Cruises
depart from the Peekskill Riverfront Green (May-October) on the
last Saturday of every month at 12:30 pm and return at 3:30 pm.
You need reservations up to one week in advance (845-534-SAIL).
After first making your reservation, purchase your rail and admission
ticket at any Metro-North office, except Peekskill Station. The
best time to go is during fall foliage season!
Hudson
Valley Riverboat Tours departs from Crystal Bay Marina
in Peekskill. This restored riverboat passes Bear Mountain and
West Point on its northbound cruises, and, headed south, Croton
Point Park on its way to the Tappan Zee.
FAMILY
FUN
 Looking
to take the family to that perfect amusement park? See our profile
on Playland
Amusement Park in Rye. And if foul weather drives
you indoors, you can always exercise your inalienable right to
entertainment at New Roc City in New Rochelle
(left)—a gargantuan entertainment complex with bowling,
IMAX screen, indoor skating, rock-climbing wall and simulator
rides.
In
Somers, tour the Muscoot Farm, an early-1900s
interpretive farm. On weekends, events and programs like "Meet
the Baby Animals," pumpkin picking, apple picking, and hayrides
are offered for families. Head to Outhouse Orchards
in Croton Falls for apple picking too! And, further along the
food chain, you can pick your produce at the Hastings-on-Hudson
Farmers' Market every Saturday. (The Hastings-on-Hudson
market, in fact, is just one of 12 seasonal farmers' markets that
set up shop in different Westchester towns on different days of
the week.)
More
activities for young people can be found at the Hudson
River Museum and Planetarium (left) in Yonkers, where
kids learn about our solar system via interactive and guided activities.
Visitors of any age can't leave without taking in the Planetariumâs
45-minute ãstar show!
For
those who simply must put in eighteen before lunch, golf courses
ranging from the relaxed and public to private and exclusive are
scattered across the county. Westchester's courses, in fact, have
been getting some national attention and never more so than in
2006! The county proudly hosted the 2006 U.S. Open (and tens of
thousands of spectators came from around the world) at the Winged
Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck. Meanwhile the Westchester
Country Club, in Rye, and the Wykagyl Country
Club, in New Rochelle gear up for tournaments as well.
 Not
to be missed, the North Salem Vineyard in North
Salem, offers free tours and tastings; they also have wine and
cheese picnic lunches available, should the mood strike you. Also
in North Salem, you'll find the unusual and breathtaking Hammond
Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden (left). Annual events
include an interfaith "Blessing of the Animals," and a Moonviewing
concert.
If
the thought of so much activity has you feeling as though you
might need some plain old-fashioned pampering instead, Westchester
has you covered. Head to Mount Kisco for a facial at the Epidavros
Day Spa (one of more than 20 day spas in the county).
HISTORY
ALL AROUND!
It's no exaggeration to say that Westchester County all but abounds
in historic homes and mansions. For starters, Yonkers offers the
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, an elegant
18th-century mansion that served as the first Yonkers City Hall.
The Croton area boasts the Van Cortlandt Manor,
while near Katonah you can visit The John Jay Homestead,
where one of our most accomplished founding fathers (and first
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) lived out his last 28 years.
100
years ago Katonah literally picked itself up and moved when a
dam threatened to flood the town. Over the course of fifteen years
a total of fifty-five buildings were pulled to dry ground using
the power of draft horses. Today, the Katonah Historic
District is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places. Surrounding "The Green," a park built in 1890, the district
includes over thirty Victorian-era buildings representing the
Queen Anne, Shingle and Colonial Revival styles of architecture.
There's
something about the town of Chappaqua that attracts presidential
attention: we all know about a recent arrival there, but you can
also check out the Horace Greeley House in Chappaqua
and learn how this presidential candidate made the newspapers.
Mount Vernon, meanwhile, is home to St. Paul's Church
(where the sister to the Liberty Bell resides) and the oldest
cemetery in Westchester!
In
Tarrytown, be sure to pay a visit to Lyndhurst.
This Gothic Revival mansion, built in 1838, overlooks the Hudson
and contains a collection of 20th-century decorative arts. Lyndhurst
was home to Jay Gould, one of the wealthiest men of all time.
Tarrytown's Sunnyside, home of Washington Irving,
author of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," also lies on the banks
of the Hudson River and stays open to visitors ten months a year
(closed in January and February).
Irving,
of course, is also a ubiquitous presence in the neighboring village
of Sleepy Hollow, which takes its name from his most famous story.
The graveyard at The Old Dutch Church has tombstones
that inspired the names of fictionalized characters in Irving's
works- the most notable of which is celebrated every October with
a recreation of the Headless Horseman's ride. Visit Washington
Irving's grave at the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
Philipsburg
Manor, also in Sleepy Hollow, provides a peek at many
facets of life during the early years of the county's development.
Given to a wealthy resident by the King and Queen of England,
Philipsburg Manor offers tours led by costumed guides who will
help transport you back to the 18th century.
 Sleepy
Hollow's Kykuit (left), the estate home to four
generations of Rockefellers, boasts panoramic views of the Hudson
River. On its extensive grounds lie elaborate gardens containing
sculptures by Picasso, Moore, Calder and others. In the coach
house, a collection of antique automobiles and carriages are on
display. The house itself holds a collection of extremely fine
antiques. Tours of Kykuit depart from Philipsburg Manor between
April and October.
Finally,
if so many rich folks' houses have you curious to learn about
a different kind of historical figure, plain old Common Sense
should lead you to the Thomas Paine Cottage in
New Rochelle. One of the most visionary political writers of all
time, Paine settled into his cottage here circa 1784 and again
in 1793 after a fire destroyed the first cottage. The preserved
structure now depicts 18th- and 19th-century life and the early
Huguenot settlement of New Rochelle.
Frank
Lloyd Wright aficionados should make sure to visit Pleasantville's
"Usonia," 47 homes Lloyd and his followers built
over 97 acres between 1948 and the late 1950s. At the time, it
was hailed as "the residential neighborhood of tomorrow."
The
MetroNorth Railroad offers a number of "one-day
getaways" all over the lower Hudson River Valley. Discount
packages include trips to the village of Cold Spring,
the Hudson River Museum, and a number of hiking
and biking trails around Westchester County.
FOR
CULTURE LOVERS
One of Westchester's brightest jewels is the Neuberger
Museum of Art in Purchase. Housed in a Phillip Johnson-designed
building, the Neuberger contains more than 6,000 works of art,
including the county's only permanent African art collection.
The Neuberger's extensive collection of 20th-century American
and European works includes pieces by Edward Hopper, Georgia O'Keefe,
and Jackson Pollock. Not far from the museum, you'll find the
Kendall Sculpture Gardens, also worth a visit.
Also
located in Purchase is the Performing Arts Center,
a modern performing arts complex: boasting five theaters, the
Arts Center attracts over 100,000 people to the 600 public events
held annually. Performances include theater, music, and dance.
 The
Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts (left) in Katonah
contains an extensive collection of fine and decorative Eastern,
Medieval, and Renaissance art. Each summer, between June and August,
the Center hosts The Caramoor International Music Festival
on its 100-acre grounds. One of the best outdoor music festivals
in the country, the summer music extravaganza covers classical,
opera, jazz, and chamber music, often with name performers up
from New York City. (The museum itself is open May through October
and is closed on Monday and Tuesdays.)
The
Katonah Museum of Art celebrates the visual arts through
six annual exhibitions and an array of educational activities
for visitors of all ages. Shows here present the "best of"
from more than 2,000 years of art—so you'll never be able
to predict whatâs up at any given moment!
THE
GREAT OUTDOORS—AT YOUR DOORSTEP
For a taste of Westchester as Washington Irving might have experienced
it, take a hike in the Mianus River Gorge Preserve.
The Nature Conservancy's oldest preserve, Mianus River Gorge contains
the only remaining old-growth forest in Westchester. Located near
Katonah and the town of Bedford, the five-mile hiking trail is
open daily between April and November. Hikers should also know
about the Briarcliff Peekskill Trailway, a 12-mile
linear park where they can take in the scenery high above the
Hudson.
 In
Ossining, the Teatown Nature Preserve and Education Center
(left) is a nature lover's paradise with a 33-acre lake, streams,
scenic gorge, meadows and Wildflower Island, a 2-acre wildflower
sanctuary!
Croton
Point Park, located in Croton-on-Hudson, is another outdoor
lover's gem. The 508-acre park contains a truly beautiful riverfront
beach, and camping facilities are also available at the park.
In June Croton Point plays host to the annual Clearwater
Great Hudson River Revival, a music and environmental
festival.
SHOPAHOLIC
HEAVEN
Westchester County is home to more than half a dozen picturesque
smaller towns and villages whose laid-back main streets make them
delightful shopping destinations. All of them are worth a visit;
here are some prompts to help you get started!
 The
village of Pleasantville (left) earns its name
with 2 hours of free shopper parking and other amenities, including
a bevy of outdoor cafes. The shops and galleries of downtown Katonah
all lie within easy walking distance of its Metro-North station.
Both
Chappaqua and Millwood exemplify
Rockwellian small-town charm; stroll their quaint downtown shops
or linger over a latte at an outdoor cafe. Peekskill
and Cortlandt are both known for their arts communities
and farmers' markets. Shop for antiques and browse art galleries.
Antique hunters also won't want to miss Larchmont,
Mamaroneck or Pelham for their
fine array of antique shops and vintage stores. Dobbs
Ferry, meanwhile, another wonderful historic town nestled
right on the Hudson, is strewn with bookstores, gift shops and
art galleries.
And
if it's the high-end, state-of-the-art shopping experience you're
hankering for, The Westchester in White Plains
brings together more than 150 stores under one roof, including
names like Tiffany's, Louis Vuitton, and Neiman Marcus.
For
more information on this area, visit
westchestertourism.com.
|
LODGING
|
|
From
castles like the Tarrytown
House to conference centers, Westchester has got
you covered with over 25 hotels and countless other types of lodgings
to choose from. Most of the area's hotels however tend to be centered
in and around the White Plains area and the Tarrytown area. Moderately
priced lodgings range from the Courtyard Marriott Rye to
the
Hudson Valley Manor in Mount Kisco to the
Alexander Hamilton House in Croton-on-Hudson.
In
the southern part of the county, combine golf and lodging at the
Doral Arrowwood Conference Resort in Rye Brook. The full-service
resort is surrounded by almost 200 acres, including a nine-hole
golf course. The Doral Arrowwood also offers four distinctive
restaurants, and an impressive fitness center.
For a more rustic experience try the trail lodge at Blue Mountain
Reservation in the chalet-style lodge. (Available for year-round
rental on per day, overnight, or weekly basis.) Facilities at
the lodge include a recreation and dining hall with fireplace,
kitchen, two fifteen-cot dorms and bathroom facilities.
Croton
Point Park in Croton-on-Hudson and Mountain Lakes Park
in North Salem offer camping opportunites.
For
more info on lodgings in Westchester County, visit
westchestertourism.com.
|
DINING
|
|
Westchester
is chock full of eclectic dining experiences. The majority of
Tarrytown's dining options lie along the east-west running Main
Street, though a few are located on the intersecting Broadway.
For authentic South Asian cuisine, try Cafe Tandoor. With
a menu of tasty curries at moderate prices, you'll be sure to
go home contently full. Perhaps the best all-around place for
lunch or dinner is the Santa Fe Restaurant on Main Street.
Serving Southwestern cuisine, including burritos and enchiladas,
the Santa Fe also has a tasty lunch menu. Be sure to try one of
the specialty sandwiches, such as the "Miami Cuban Torpedo," or
"Cactus Club." For moderately priced Italian, try Main Street's
Lago di Como. While the menu itself features standard Italian
dishes, there's nothing ordinary about the taste.
In Peekskill, try the Division Street Grill for reasonably
priced contemporary American dishes. Served up in a "New York
Style" atmosphere, Division Street Grill guarantees to satisfy
the appetite.
For
more info on dining in Westchester County, visit
westchestertourism.com.
|
NIGHTLIFE
|
|
In
general, Westchester's nightlife is concentrated locally within
urban areas. In the Tarrytown area, try Isabel's Cafe for
live music on weekends. Mount Vernon's The Bayou has a
full schedule of live acts and weekly events, including "Fat Tuesday,""Gospel
Brunch," and "Voo-Doo Night." If margaritas are what you crave,
there's only one place you should consider, and that is Elmsford's
Cactus Jacks.
For a taste of something a bit more elegant, head to Chappaqua
to soak in the sounds of live jazz at Crabtree's Kittle House.
The Jacob Burns Film Center, in Pleasantville, hosts independent,
foreign, and documentary films and retrospectives. Also within
the film center are a cafe and a rooftop terrace and gallery used
for exhibitions and receptions.
The
Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford gets rave reviews
for its productions.
For more info on nightlife in Westchester County, visit
westchestertourism.com.
|
TRANSPORTATION
|
|
CAR:
Only 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, Westchester is accessible
via I-87 (The New York Thruway), I-95 (The New England Thruway),
and I-287 (the Cross-Westchester Expressway).
BUS:
Shortline Buses offer special tours and packages to the
area. The Bee-Line Bus offers local transporation.
FERRY:
NY Waterway operates daily cruises and special tours up
the Hudson River.
TRAIN:
While much of Westchester is best accessed by car, Metro-North
does tri-sect the county on three lines. Conveniently, the railroad
passes through Westchester's river towns, and the stations are
generally just a block or two from the downtown area.
One
of the first stops on Metro-North's Hudson Line is Tarrytown and
neighboring Sleepy Hollow. From the station to the Tarrytown shopping
district, it is a fifteen- to twenty-minute uphill walk. Taxis
are available at the station and are a much more pleasant way
of reaching town if arriving on foot.
Amtrak
also serves several stations within Westchester.
AIR:
The Westchester County Airport is located in White Plains.
|
WEATHER
|
|
|
