Things to do
Summer Activities In Bear Mountain State Park
Photo source GSI.
Merry-Go-Round Pavilion
This Pavilion is home to the always enjoyable Merry-Go-Round ride. Bring your kids and enjoy a pleasant ride on this fan-favorite.
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Photo source Sivan Hermon.
Bear Mountain Pool
This beautiful, spacious pool is open for the summer from 10:00am – 5:30pm starting in mid-June. Children’s Playground and Basketball Court. These are both available in the park. Ask the front desk for more information and directions.
Photo source Vince Ferraro.
Trailside Museums and Zoo
There are four museums at Trailside open daily from 10:00am to 4:30pm.
Photo source GSI.
Hiking and walking trails
There is an abundance of different hiking and walking trails located in the Bear Mountain area for you to choose from.
Photo source GSI.
Perkins Memorial Tower
Located at the top of Bear Mountain, this tower has viewing benches, telescopes, and a spectacular 360-degree view of the Hudson River, Harriman State Park, and the Palisades.
Photo source GSI.
Boat Rentals
We offer hourly paddle and row boat rentals from 11am to 5pm during weekdays and 11am to 6pm on weekends (weather permitting). Those under 16 years old MUST have someone over 16 in the boat with them, no exceptions. Ask the front desk for more information.
Photo source Parks.ny.gov.
Iona Island National Estuary
Iona Island is one of the largest tidal wetlands along the Hudson, with about 270 acres of freshwater and brackish cattail marshes. It is dominated by narrow leaved cattail, but non-vegetated tidal flats, subtidal aquatic beds, and rocky uplands also occur. Bald eagle sightings are not uncommon here.
Area Activities
Photo source westpointtours.com
West Point Military Academy
Starting from the West Point Visitors Center, board a comfortable, air-conditioned bus and listen to knowledgeable guides bring the history of West Point to life. Three different great tours are available to choose from. (Tours run daily with the exception of a few holidays and West Point events)
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Photo source stormking.org
Storm King Art Center
Widely celebrated as one of the world’s leading sculpture parks, Storm King Art Center has welcomed visitors from across the globe for more than fifty years. This is the setting for a collection of more than 100 carefully sited sculptures created by some of the most acclaimed artists of our time.
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Photo source coldspringliving.com
Village of Cold Spring
The quaint Putnam County village of Cold Spring, long characterized by the row of antique shops along Main Street, draws in tourists and residents alike with a diverse mix of stores and restaurants. You may find yourself spending a whole day here in this delightful town shopping and enjoying wonderful cuisine.
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Photo source www.boscobel.org
Boscobel
Boscobel is a restored Federal-period house built between 1804-1808 with magnificent period interiors and gardens. The site is recognized nationally for its quality as a historic house museum, its exquisite collection of furniture and decorative arts, and its breathtaking views.
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Photo source visitmanitoga.org
Manitoga
Manitoga, the House, Studio and 75-acre Woodland garden of mid-century designer Russel Wright (1904-1976), is a National Historic Landmark. Here, you can tour Dragon Rock, Wright’s experimental home which he built onto the rock ledge of an abandoned quarry while masterfully orchestrating the surrounding landscape into a series of outdoor rooms of varying character and delight.
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Photo source prideofthehudson.com
Pride of the Hudson
Cruise through the majestic Hudson Highlands aboard the luxurious Pride of the Hudson. A two hour boat tour where you can bask in the open air on the spacious sundeck or enjoy the comfort of their climate controlled main salon featuring huge wrap-around windows. Cruises start May 1st and continue to October 31st.
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Photo source riverrosecruises.com
River Rose Cruises
Board the River Rose, an authentic stern driven Mississippi paddle wheeler and enjoy a breathtaking cruise on the majestic Hudson River. This two hour cruise will take you on a tour of Bannerman’s Island, the Catskill Water Aqueduct, the Village of Cold Spring, and more. The ship also includes a full service bar.
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Photo source trinitycruises.com
Trinity Cruise Company
The Trinity Cruise Company offers three different boat cruises on the Hudson River. Cruises are run until the end of October, 2017. Public Sunset Cruise, a more relaxing ride designed to watch the sunset and with no captain commentary. Departs most Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in the evening.
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Historical Sites
Photo source constitutionisland.org
Constitution Island and the Warner House
Each summer, the Constitution Island Association offers walking tours of its beautiful grounds, impressive gardens and fortifications, and the formidable Warner House. Learn about the Island’s Revolutionary War history and the life of the Warner Family on the Island.
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Photo source nps.gov
FDR’s Home, the Val-Kill Cottage, and Vanderbilt Mansion
The Springwood Estate in Hyde Park, NY was the birthplace, lifelong home, and burial place of the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Tour an abundance of different Roosevelt Sites, FDR’s home, the FDR Presidential Library and Museum, and the Vanderbilt Mansion.
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Photo source parks.ny.gov
George Washington Headquarters
Visit the nation’s first publicly owned historic site and tour the rooms where American history was made. In the critical months that General George Washington spent at Newburgh, he made some of his most important contributions to shaping the American republic.
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Photo by hudsonvalley.org
Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate
Kykuit is a preeminent Hudson Valley landmark. For architecture, remarkable gardens, art, history, and spectacular scenery, a trip to Kykuit is simply amazing. Five tours of this landmark are offered on the Hudson Valley website, all varying in degree of involvement and price.
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