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Bear Mountain - Orange County Children | Kids - Things To Do
Bear Mountain Bridge - Orange County
Click
to enlarge photo of Early Fall at the Bear Mountain Bridge.
Bear Mountain State Park is located in Bear Mountain, New York within the Hudson River Valley, about 45 miles north of New York City. Bear Mountain Park, approximately 5,067-acres (20.51 km2), is heavily forested and is primarily a day-use park offering magnificent scenery, photo opportunities and hiking trails for all levels of hikers.
Bear Mountain Bridge
The Bear Mountain Bridge is a toll suspension bridge in New York State, carrying US-6 and US-202 across the Hudson River, from Bear Mountain State Park (at the northern tip of Rockland County) to the northwestern corner of Westchester County. The western approach to the bridge actually lies on the border of Orange County and Rockland County.
The Bear Mountain Bridge was completed in 1924; making it the longest suspension bridge in the world. A couple of years later, in 1926, the Benjamin Franklin (Philadelphia-Camden) suspension bridge became the longest suspension bridge in the world.
Click
to enlarge photo of the Bear Mountain Bridge Tablet.
This Tablet hangs on the wall of the Bear Mountain Bridge Toll Plaza.
BEAR MOUNTAIN BRIDGE
The first highway bridge to span the Hudson River South of Albany
Begun March 24th 1923 - opened Nov. 27th 1924
To all who
With thought labor and loyalty have
Contributed to the construction of
This bridge and highway
This tablet is inscribed
Total length of bridge = 2257 ft.
Length of suspended span = 1632 ft.
Height of towers = 355 ft.
Clear height above river = 153 ft.
Diameter of cables = 18 ins.
Number of wires in each cable = 7252
The roadway of the Bear Mountain Bridge has eight-foot-wide shoulders for pedestrians and cyclists. The bridge also carries the Maine-to-Georgia Appalachian Trail. Crossing the bridge on foot offers magnificent views, wonderful photo opportunities, and an invigorating walk. For equally beautiful views, walk both sides of the bridge.
From the walkway of the bridge, face northwest, and you can see 3 more bridges: the Popolopen Suspension Bridge, the Popolopen Creek Suspension Footbridge, and the MTA train tracks. All of these bridges cross
Popolopen Creek.
Click
to enlarge photo of View of the Hudson River from Bear Mountain Bridge.
Look ahead, facing north, as the Hudson River moves toward the hamlets of Manitou, a Metro North train stop, and Garrison, also an MTA train stop. Garrison on the water faces West Point. Look east and you will see the mountain known as Anthony's Nose, 900 feet up.
The
Appalachian Trail
is America's first National Scenic Trail. The trail stretches from Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia. It was originally conceived as a greenway between these states in the 1920's and has become the most popular trail for day-hikers and thru-hikers alike that want to see the scenic wonders of the Appalachian Mountains. The Appalachian Trail is approximately 2160 miles; it is a well-maintained hiking only trail and has shelters conveniently spaced for overnight stays.
Popolopen Creek
Popolopen Creek is a stream that is mostly fed by Lake Popolopen, Stillwell Lake, and Weyant's Pond. Eventually, the creek drains into the Hudson River. In 2002, New York's Governor George Pataki, dedicated a long suspension foot bridge that spans Popolopen Creek. The footbridge connects the trail between the twin forts of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton, carrying the Appalachian Trail on the western side of the Bear Mountain Bridge.
Popolopen Creek Suspension Footbridge
The Popolopen Creek Footbridge, for pedestrians only, was designed to create an economic and esthetically pleasing river crossing of 140m on the Appalachian Trail in Bear Mountain Park. You can access the bridge on a path near the Bear Mountain Bridge toll booths. However, the Popolopen Creek footbridge is most easily accessed through Fort Montgomery. Just park your car at the Fort Montgomery Visitor Center off 9W, north of the Bear Mountain Bridge, and walk down to Popolopen Creek.
The American Revolution in the Hudson River Valley
Fort Montgomery is just north of Popolopen Creek in Bear Mountain State Park. Fort Montgomery and its sister fort, Fort Clinton, were the scenes of fierce American Revolutionary War battles for control of the Hudson River and the Hudson Highlands. On October 6, 1777, the British captured both Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery. Read excerpts from several moving accounts of the American Revolution and the battles that captured
Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton.
Today, Fort Montgomery is an archeological site and a historic ruin. Fort Montgomery State Historic Site is a genuine vestige of our nation's struggle for independence. Visitors will see the actual foundations of the fort's buildings and remains of the fort's earthworks. Visit Fort Montgomery and tour the remains of the 14 1/2 acre fortification, perched on a cliff overlooking the Hudson River.
The Bear Mountain Ice Rink, offering Figure Skating and a Hockey Club, is located in Bear Mountain State Park. The ice rink is outdoors and uncovered, so be sure to dress appropriately, in warm clothes.
Ice Activities and Attractions
Birthday Parties
Ice Rental
Skate Rentals
Ice Skating
Figure Skating in the center of the rink
Public Skating
Ice Hockey
Hockey Club
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for session hours and fees, holiday hours, skate rentals, private rental, birthday parties, hockey club, figure skating and more about ice skating at the Bear Mountain Ice Rink. Call (845) 786-2701 ext. 266 for more about ice skating at the Bear Mountain Ice Rink.
Popolopen Creek at Bear Mountain "Scenic Hudson Valley"
Click
to enlarge photo of Popolopen Creek from Bear Mountain Bridge.
The Bear Mountain Bridge offers spectacular views of the Hudson River Valley. The bridge's roadway has eight-foot-wide shoulders for pedestrians and cyclists and incorporates the Maine-to-Georgia Appalachian Trail. Crossing the bridge on foot offers magnificent views, wonderful photo opportunities, and an invigorating walk.
On the walkway facing northeast, you can see 3 bridges from the Bear Mountain Bridge: the Popolopen Suspension Bridge, the Popolopen Creek Suspension Footbridge, and the train tracks. These bridges cross Popolopen Creek.
Popolopen Creek
Popolopen Creek is a stream, that is mostly fed by Lake Popolopen, Stillwell Lake, and Weyant's Pond. Eventually, the creek drains into the Hudson River. In 2002, New York's Governor George Pataki, dedicated a long suspension foot bridge that spans Popolopen Creek. The footbridge connects the trail between the twin forts and carries the Appalachian Trail on the western side of the Bear Mountain Bridge.
Popolopen Creek Suspension Footbridge
The Popolopen Creek Footbridge, a bridge for pedestrians only, was designed to create an economic and esthetically pleasing river crossing of 140m on the Appalachian Trail in Bear Mountain Park. The Popolopen Creek Suspension Footbridge is located in Fort Montgomery in Bear Mountain Park. You can access the bridge on a path near the Bear Mountain Bridge toll booths. Or, you can get to Popolopen Creek from Fort Montgomery. Parking is available at the Fort Montgomery Visitor Center off 9W, just north of the Bear Mountain Bridge, where you can hike down to the creek.
American Revolution
Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton, forts on each side of Popolopen Creek, were the scenes of fierce American Revolutionary war battles for control of the Hudson River. On October 6, 1777, the British captured both forts; destroying Fort Montgomery in the days that followed.
Today,
Fort Montgomery is an archeological site and a historic ruin. Fort Montgomery State Historic Site is a genuine vestige of our nation's struggle for independence. Visitors will see the actual foundations of the fort's buildings and remains of the fort's earthworks. Visit Fort Montgomery and tour the remains of the 14 1/2 acre fortification, perched on a cliff overlooking the Hudson River.
Bear Mountain Park: Trailside Museum and Wildlife Center
The study of native animals and their habitat at Bear Mountain has a long history. In 1921, theAmerican Museum of Natural History installed a facility at the Boy Scouts headquarters on Lake Kanawauke. Four years later, the same Museum began a program for the study of insects in Harriman State Park. The Commission added a bear den in 1926, which became a small zoo, as the facility took in more injured animals in need of shelter.
Today's Trailside Museums and Zoo occupy 40-acres on a bluff 250 feet over the Hudson River. The trails, including the first section of the
Appalachian Trail, are among the oldest in the country; they link the various homes of Samantha, the eagle, and other birds of prey, the bear den, as well as habitats for beavers, a river otter, foxes, coyotes, and more.
Children enjoy the various presentations of indigenous wildlife, geology and herpetology. On display are Native American artifacts, models of Revolutionary War battles fought on-site, and an exhibit of the origins of the Boy Scouts, and four Museum buildings. See the bald eagle, black bear, owl, river otter and more animals local to Bear Mountain.
The Trailside Museum and Wildlife Center also highlight the history of the area. Learn about the importance of Bear Mountain in the
American Revolutionary War. Visit historic
1777 & 1779 Trails that retrace the routes taken by the British army during the American War of Independence. Visit Fort Montgomery, a Revolutionary War fort built to defend the Hudson Highlands and protect American control of the Hudson River and learn about the
Battle of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton.
Young children, older children, and adults all enjoy visiting each of the Museum buildings that house different exhibits. Visit the Local Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fish Museum, the Geology Museum, History Museum and Nature Study Museum.
Go bowling at Colonial Lanes, a bowling center offering 32 bowling lanes, located at the Chester Mall Shopping Center, 78 Brookside Ave, Chester, NY 10918 in Orange County. "Our innovative split house design allows us to have open lanes available even during league play."
Things To Do
Birthday Parties (parties for kids and adults)
Bowling lanes (32)
Bowling leagues (womens, mens, mixed, senior, youth)
Bumper bowling for children
Open bowling
Open play specials
Pirate's Cove Arcade (3000 sq ft of non-stop games)Youth programs
Black Rock Forest is a nearly 4000-acre natural living laboratory for field-based scientific research, conservation, and education. The Black Rock Forest Consortium is a unique alliance of colleges and universities, public and independent K-12 schools, and leading scientific and cultural institutions that operates the Black Rock Forest, located 50 miles north of New York City in the Hudson Highlands.
The Forest features dramatic topography with over 1000 feet of relief, numerous lakes and streams, and high habitat and species diversity.
Things To Do at Black Rock
Birding
Hiking Paths / Walking
Scenic Views
Additional Activities
"Activities in the Black Rock Forest include faculty and doctoral research, staff and teacher training, undergraduate education and research, and elementary, middle, and high school programs. The Consortium also emphasizes ecological resource management, “green” and “smart” construction, and environmental monitoring."
In addition to the Black Rock Forest, the Hudson Highlands offers several state parks and protected areas where you can hike, enjoy nature walks and birding. In addition to hiking, several parks offer outdoor activities that will immerse you in the natural wonders of the Hudson Highlands. Find attractions and activities including
Hudson Highland Nature Museum offers the Outdoor Discovery Center and the Wildlife Education Center.
Outdoor Discovery Center
100 Muser Drive, across from 174 Angola Road
Cornwall, NY 12518
Wildlife Education Center
25 Boulevard
Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
Founded in 1959, the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum is a center for nature, with a focus on environmental education an a mission to develop responsible caretakers of the natural world. Over the years it has developed quality educational programs for students and the public that focus on the unique ecology of the Hudson Highlands and promote knowledge and appreciation of our natural world. Each year the Museum reaches over 30,000 children and adults.
Kids Things To Do
Animals and Nature programs
Birthday Parties at the Wildlife Education Center
More birthday parties ideas for children.
Hiking Trails (Guidebooks at the Outdoor Discover Center)
Summer Science and Nature Camp
Weekend Nature Programs
Young Naturalists Classes
Things To Buy for Kids
The Museum Nature Shops have a wide selection of items to spark a child’s imagination, great books to enjoy and beautiful jewelry to wear. They offer a wonderful supply of small toys, birthday party goodie bag items, nature guide books, nature crafts and nature-themed books for children, jewelry, bird feeders and bird seed and more.
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for more about the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum for children, families, and grownups.
Mohawk Mountain Ski Area is located at 46 Great Hollow Road, West Cornwall, CT 06796.In 1947, Skiing Hall of Fame member, Walt Schoenknecht, created Mohawk Mountain Ski Area amidst the beauty of the Southern Berkshire Mountain. The following winter he invented snowmaking, which is currently used at winter resorts throughout the world. Mohawk Mountain has remained a family business and a favorite destination for succeeding generations of families.
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for current Mohawk Mountain stats, trail conditions, and more about Mohawk Mountain Ski.
Winter Outdoor Activities
Night skiing trails
Skiing
Snowboarding
cross-country Trails
Cross county skiing
Snowshoeing
Note: Mohawk State Forest has cross-country trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing at the top of the mountain but are not maintained or connected with the Ski Area. Access is obtained off of Rt. 4 in Cornwall CT.
Ski Area Features . . .
Rental equipment
Ski lessons for children
Ski lessons for adults
Ski or Snowboard Packages
Mountain Statistics
Elevation Summit = 1600 feet
Elevation Base = 960 feet
Vertical Drop = 650 feet
Longest Trail = 1.25 miles
Night Skiing Trails = 12 Trails
Number of trails = 24
Snowmaking = 95% of all terrain.
Acreage = 107 skiable acres on 350-acres of state forest
Lifts = 7
Esty & Hellie Stowell Trailhead
Storm King Mountain
Cornwall-On-Hudson, Orange County
Hudson River Valley, New York State
The Esty & Hellie Stowell Trailhead provides access to Storm King Mountain, where Scenic Hudson got its start in the fight to Save the Land that Matters Most.
Esty & Hellie Stowell Trailhead offers 11.2 miles of trails on 1,900-acres and provides access to Storm King State Park with hiking and great views of the Hudson River and Hudson Highlands.
Stowell Trailhead offers hikers a new way to access the spectacular summit of Storm King Mountain. Hikers heading uphill from the Esty and Hellie Stowell Trailhead soon enter Storm King State Park, with miles of trails affording magnificent Hudson Highlands vistas that Scenic Hudson has been protecting since 1963. Storm King Mountain was the stage for the epic fight to stop the development of a massive pump storage hydroelectric facility that gave birth to Scenic Hudson's campaign to Save the Land That Matters Most.
Things To Do
Hiking Trails with Hudson Highlands views
Scenic Vistas
Directions
From Newburgh-Beacon Bridge: 4.5 miles south on Rt. 9W, right on Rt. 218. Trailhead is 1.6 miles on right.
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for Scenic Hudson, hours of operation, maps, photos and more about Esty & Hellie Stowell Trailhead
Founded in 1959, the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum is a center for nature, with a focus on environmental education and a mission to develop responsible caretakers of the natural world. Over the years it has developed quality educational programs for students and the public that focus on the unique ecology of the Hudson Highlands and promote knowledge and appreciation of our natural world.
Things To Do at Outdoor Discovery Center
The Outdoor Discover Center is located at 100 Muser Drive (entrance to the center is on Muser Drive across from 174 Angola Road) in Cornwall, NY.
Things To Do at Wildlife Education Center
See the Living Hudson Exhibit; a multi-sensory experience full of the flora and fauna native to the Hudson Estuary. Follow the journey as water trickles down a highland creek into a wetland pond. The pond empties into a freshwater stream which then joins the Hudson River Estuary.
Press blue button
to learn more about upcoming events, featured programs, and to
Meet the Animal
of the week.
Kenridge Farm
Cornwall, Orange County
Hudson River Valley, New York State
Scenic Hudson purchased this historic 178-acre farm in 1993 so that the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum could establish an "Outdoor Discovery Center".
Nature trails on the grounds of this former farm (now home to the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum) are helping to inspire the next generation of environmentalists. Three miles of trails are owned and managed by the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum.
Things To Do
Hiking / Walking Trails
Nature Study
Scenic Views
Directions
Kenridge Farm is on Muser Drive, across from 174 Angola Road. Take Route 9W to the Angola Road Exit. Go .1 mile west on Angola Road.
After a day of hiking, nature study, or a casual walk at Kenridge Farm, dine at one of many excellent
restaurants in Orange County, New York.
The D&H Canal Park and the Neversink Valley Area Museum are located in Cuddebackville, Orange County, NY along the banks of the Neversink River. The Neversink Valley Area Museum preserves and documents the history of the peoples and industry of the Neversink and Shawangunk valleys of New York's Catskill region.
The Neversink Valley Area Museum occupies historic canal-era buildings in the D&H Canal Park right on the Neversink River.
For the Kids
The Neversink Valley Area Museum has a number of activities that are especially suited to kids and their families.
The County Park, our home, has lots of grass and a playground.
Children love our Narrated Boat Rides along the D&H Canal (Sundays: 30 minute boat rides, boat seats 12 people, rides are $5.00).
Discover the beauty of the Neversink Valley
This lovely region of Orange County is home to the Neversink, the Minisink, the amazing D&H Canal, a rich archaeological history and a network of small museums and historical societies devoted to presenting it all to you. Join us at the Neversink Valley Area Museum and our sister institutions for a tour of the natural beauty and rich history of our little corner of New York State.
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for Kids & Family, events, and more about Neversink Valley Area Museum
Click
to enlarge sign about Fort Montgomery in the American Revolution.
The interpretive sign reads:
Welcome to Fort Montgomery
"You are standing near the western end of Fort Montgomery:
a Revolutionary War fort built to defend the Hudson Highlands
and protect American control of the Hudson River.
On October 6, 1777, the British captured Fort Montgomery
and destroyed it in the days that followed.
"Trails from this parking area lead to two of the fort's redoubts.
The trail that passes beneath the highway will take you to
the Fort Montgomery visitor center and Fort Montgomery's
remains where interpretive signs will help you understand
the history of the fort and the battle."
Fort Montgomery State Historic Site
Fort Montgomery is located in Fort Montgomery, NY 10922 at Bear Mountain in the historic Hudson River Valley.
Fort Montgomery was the scene of a fierce battle for control of the Hudson River during the American Revolutionary War; the Hudson was considered strategic by both the Americans and the British during the American War for Independence. Today, Fort Montgomery stands as an archeological site and a historic ruin.
Building Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton
"Early in the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress realized that the Hudson River was critical to the American cause. If the British controlled the river, they could divide the rebellious colonies. Therefore, the Americans began work on Fort Montgomery in March 1776. . .
"Fort Montgomery was a bustling community of hundreds of people. Soldiers, laborers, merchants, families, servants, and slaves lived at or visited the fort. Ships and boats arriving and departing added to the atmosphere of a small city.
"Supplies were often hard to obtain, morale was often low, and discipline was a chronic problem. Nevertheless, Forts Montgomery and Clinton were largely complete by October 1777, when the British attacked them."
Fort Clinton
"Originally, the commissioners in charge of the work were confident that no overland attack on the fort was possible, but misgivings led them to begin extending the fortifications inland. They began fortifying several pieces of high ground that became Fort Montgomery's three redoubts.
"When the Americans discovered that the land on the opposite side of the Popolopen Creek was higher and would threaten Fort Montgomery if held by the enemy, they began constructing a second fort there, called Fort Clinton. They connected the two forts by a pontoon bridge.
Click
to enlarge sign about the Battle of Fort Montgomery.
The interpretive sign reads:
Battle of Fort Montgomery
"To aid Lieutenant General John Burgoyne's British army stalled at Saratoga, Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton sailed from New York with 3,000 British, German, and Loyalist soldiers and a flotilla of warships. On the morning of October 6, 1777, Clinton landed 2,100 of his men on the west side of the Hudson River near Stony Point. This force followed a narrow trail through the mountains, where they ran into a party of 30 men sent from Fort Clinton to detect the British advance. After beating the Americans back, Sir Henry Clinton sent 900 men around Bear Mountain to attack Fort Montgomery. The rest would wait to attack Fort Clinton until the first group had reached Fort Montgomery.
"In the afternoon, the British began an assault on both forts, which were defended by no more than 700 men. At Fort Montgomery, the Americans kept the British at bay as the two sides exchanged musket fire. When the Americans refused to surrender, the British stormed both forts. Taking advantage of the growing dark and the smoky haze from the battle, many of the Americans escaped, but as many as 275 were taken as prisoners to New York City where they remained for much of the war.
"Following the battle, the British destroyed Fort Montgomery, garrisoned Fort Clinton, and burned New York's capital at Kingston. Then, receiving orders to join Sir William Howe's army near Philadelphia, Clinton's men destroyed Fort Clinton and sailed back down the Hudson. Although captured and destroyed, the forts had presented enough of an obstacle to keep the British forces in New York from aiding Burgoyne's army. The following year, in 1778, the American began rebuilding their defenses, this time at West Point."
Click
to enlarge photo of the Wounded Patriot at the Battle of Fort Montgomery.
Men in the photo represent two American patriots: Private, Ulster County Militia, and Private, 5th New York Regiment. The militiaman, in civilian clothing, is armed with a British musket. He assists his wounded comrade carrying a French musket from the 1750s.
The American Revolution - 1777: History of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton
The following historical accounts record the Battles of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton from different historical perspectives:
The War of the Revolution
, by Christopher Ward, Volume II (Macmillan, 1952)
"An opaque fog lay close to the surface of the Hudson River on the morning of October 5, 1777. The awakening bugles of General Israel Putnam’s Continentals at Peekskill on the eastern shore of the river seemed muted by the white and misty blanket. The slow-rising sun burned irregular holes in it, however, and through these the General’s sentinels, who had been posted south of his encampment during most of the summer, saw something that banished their accustomed boredom. There were barges and galleys downriver—many of them—and above the low lying haze rose the towering masts of British frigates. From downriver, too, came the muffled sounds of alarm guns. The long-dreaded invasion of enemy troops from occupied New York had begun.
"The elderly Yankee Israel Putnam was busy at once. An oarsman, rowing desperately, bore messages across the wide stream to Fort Montgomery, an unfinished cluster of earthworks then under the command of the thirty-eight-year-old governor of the new state of New York, Brigadier General George Clinton. At this bastion, nearly a hundred and fifty feet above the spot where the Popolopen Creek joins the Hudson, the Governor received Putnam’s letter. Immediately he sent a summary of its contents to his older brother, General James Clinton, then in command of Fort Clinton, a smaller stronghold on the steep south bank of the narrow creek.
"In the meantime, the British under Sir Henry Clinton (a distant cousin of the American generals of the same surname) were disembarking at Verplanck’s Point on the east bank of the Hudson, not far below Putnam’s headquarters. The grating of their boats in the shallows of the river, the sharp voices of their officers ordering immediate formations, came strangely through the thick fog to the ears of Putnam’s scouts, informing them only that the invaders were in considerable numbers . . .
". . . Perhaps the Battle of Fort Montgomery would have been utterly neglected had not two young American soldiers chosen to visit the site on a sunny spring day of the following year. Historians do not usually end their chapters on such footnotes as these men provided, but their reports have so documented the narrative that they deserve place here. One of them, a young chaplain named Timothy Dwight (later president of Yale College), wrote in his journal that while he was climbing from a river barge to the place where the battle had been fought, the stench of dead bodies caused him great distress.
"We found, at a small distance from Fort Montgomery, a pond of a moderate size, in which we saw the bodies of several men, who had been killed in the assault upon the fort. They were thrown into this pond, the preceding autumn, by the British … Some of them were covered at this time; but at a depth so small as to leave them distinctly visible. Others had an arm, a leg, or a part of the body, above the surface. The clothes which they wore when they were killed, were still on them, and proved that they were militia; being the ordinary dress of farmers. Their faces were bloated and monstrous; and their postures were uncouth, distorted and to the highest degree afflictive . . ."
Battles Of The Revolutionary War
: 1775-1781 by W.J. Wood (Dec 23, 2003)
"On October 6th, 300 Continental soldiers of the 5th New York regiment, 100 artillerymen of Lamb's Artillery, and some 300 Levies and militiamen defended the unfinished Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton against a combined force of roughly 2,100 Loyalists, Hessians, and British regulars led by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton attacked Forts Montgomery and Clinton from the landward side (which was only partially completed) with support from cannon fire from British ships on the Hudson River. The land columns attacking from west of the fort consisted of the New York Volunteers, the Loyal American Regiment, Emmerich's Chasseurs, the 57th and the 52nd Regiments of Foot.
"The Americans had emplaced an iron chain and a boom across the Hudson River, protected by four warships, to impede the British flotilla.
"Lt. Col. Mungo Campbell and several British regulars approach the fort with a flag of truce indicating that they wish to avoid `further effusion of blood.' Clinton sends Lt. Col. William S. Livingston to meet the enemy. The British officer requests that the patriots surrender. They are promised that no harm would come to them. Livingston, in turn, invites Campbell to surrender and promises him and his men good treatment. Fuming at this audacity, the British resume the fight. British ships working against an ebb tide attack the forts and American vessels. A steady volley ensues with each side receiving a share of the bombardment. British officers Campbell and Vaughan close in on all sides of the twin forts. Leading his men into battle, Campbell is killed in a violent attack on the North Redoubt of Fort Montgomery. Vaughan's horse is shot from under him as he rides into battle at Fort Clinton.
"After a fierce battle lasting until dark, the British pushed the courageous Americans from the forts at the points of their bayonets. The defenders are overpowered by sheer numbers and the British gain possession of Forts Montgomery and Clinton. American casualties numbered about 350 killed, wounded and captured, while the British paid a price of at least 190 killed and wounded. Those who were not killed or did not escape are shipped to the infamous Sugar House Prisons in New York City and then onto British "hell ships" (prison ships) in the harbor. A "return," or report of prisoners, is sent to communities in the Highlands to inform families of their loved ones' capture. It is up to the families to send provisions lest the prisoners starve. Countless patriots perish on the prison ships.
"U.S. Army battle map, The Battle of Fort Montgomery, 5-6 October 1777 U.S. Army battle map, The Battle of Fort Montgomery, The British Attack, Dusk, 6 October 1777 Forts Montgomery and Clinton, located just south of West Point, were built for the defense of the Hudson Highlands in 1776. It was here that British and loyalist troops overwhelmed Clinton's outnumbered patriots in October.
"Although the Americans lost the battle for the Highlands, a relative handful of Americans aided in delaying British reinforcements from joining Burgoyne in the upper Hudson Valley and allowed Gates to gain much needed militia reinforcements in time to ultimately win Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga."
A guide to the Battles of the American Revolution
by Theodore P. Savas and J. David Dameron (Savas Beatie LLC, NY 2006)
American Perspective:
"Waiting within the American fortifications on Bemis Heights was the bloodied Continental Army led by Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates. Not an audacious commander, Gates was content to await General Burgoyne's next move. While Gates market time on Bemis Heights, Patriot forces assigned to defensive positions guarding the entrance to the Hudson Highlands worked to complete two forts on the Hudson River 100 miles south of Albany, New York. Their commander was Brig. Gen. George Clinton (not to be confused with the British commander with the same last name). The forts over which the American Clinton (who was also governor of New York) labored were named Montgomery, in honor of fallen Patriot Gen. Richard Montgomery, and Clinton, after himself as commander of the forces in that region. Built on opposite banks of Popolopen Creek, which emptied into the Hudson River on its western shore at a strategic bend, eight miles south of West Point, the bastions were key to the strategic defense of the Hudson Highlands.
Fort Montgomery guarded the northern bank of the creek and Fort Clinton the southern bank. To the "east of both forts flowed the majestic Hudson River. All told, the American fielded 600 men and 20 pieces of heavy artillery. The Patriots strung a heavy iron chain across the river and seeded the water with log obstacles to disrupt any maritime assault upon the American forts. Patrolling the Hudson were two Americans warships, Montgomery and Congress, supported by a handful of smaller vessels . . .
"Fort Clinton was constructed on the south side of Popolopen Creek on a rocky ridge overlooking the Hudson River below, oriented to cover a 400-yard wide plain before the drop to the waterway. Fort Montgomery also overlooked the Hudson River, but was situated on the northern shore of Popolopen Creek, which ran west from the Hudson . . .
"After a perfunctory request that the defenders capitulate (which was rejected), the twin assaults began. There was no element of surprise or effort at finesse. The British attached nearly simultaneously with the sun setting behind Lt. Col. Archibald Campbell's columns. Sir James Wallace's British river fleet also arrived and opened fire on the American vessels and forts, providing the British land forces with supporting fire.
"Fort Montgomery fell first . . . Fort Clinton's defenders offered a better account of themselves, but the outcome was the same. Sir Henry Clinton ordered his command to launch a direct attach (there was little room to maneuver). His regulars and Hessian allies swept forward through a line of obstructions, taking terrible casualties during the approach and in the close-quarter fighting that followed. The weight of British metal carried the day, however, and within a short time the garrison was dead, wounded, captured, or fleeing . . .
"By 7:30 or 8:00 p.m. the fighting was over. Only 300 Americans, including Generals James and Governor George Clinton, escaped, most from Fort Montgomery . . . Casualties: British: 190 killed and wounded; American: 350 killed, wounded, and captured."
Fort Montgomery as a Historic Ruin
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has decided not to recreate Forts Montgomery and/or Clinton. "Because of the limits of available information, any recreation would be inaccurate and would hide the violent end of these massive fortifications. Instead, the remains are preserved, just as the have survived the ages, as hallowed ground."
Fort Montgomery stands as an archeological site and a historic ruin.
Fort Montgomery, Today
Today, Fort Montgomery is an archeological site and a historic ruin. This Historic Site is a genuine vestige of our nation's struggle for independence. Visitors will see the actual foundations of the fort's buildings and remains of the fort's earthworks. Visit Fort Montgomery and tour the remains of the 14 acre fortification, perched on a cliff overlooking the Hudson River.
The site includes a Visitor Center and interpretive trail that guides visitors past the fort's ruins to breathtaking views of the Hudson River. The Visitor Center features artifacts discovered in Fort Montgomery, mannequin displays, a 3 dimensional map model, and a 14 minute orientation film.
Information Source
The history of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton during the American Revolutionary War; a War of Independence between the Americans and England, is sourced from interpretive signs at the Fort Montgomery Visitor Center and on the Fort Montgomery historic trails.
Things To Do at Fort Montgomery
Audio-Visual Programs
Demonstrations
Group Tours
Hiking
Historic Site
Interpretive Signs
Museum
Scenic Views
Self Guided Tours
Visitor Center
Sources:
Ward, Christopher.
The War of the Revolution
, Volume II (Macmillan, 1952)
Wood, W.J.
Battles Of The Revolutionary War: 1775-1781
(Dec 23, 2003)
Savas, Theodore P. and Dameron, David J.
A guide to the Battles of the American Revolution
Savas Beatie LLC, NY 2006
The sign reads:
Fort Montgomery's West Redoubt
"Fort Montgomery's West Redoubt was one of three strong points built to defend the fort from an overland attack. New York State's Governor, Brigadier General George Clinton, commanded Fort Montgomery during the battle on October 6, 1777. Clinton ordered his men into the fort's three redoubts, where they were attacked by 900 British and Loyalist soldiers. After mounting a brave resistance, the Americans were driven from the redoubts and were forced to abandon the fort."
One of the drawings in the sign shows that "Aware that the British were approaching, Governor Clinton ordered some of his men to take a 3-pounder cannon down the road that lead to the fort, and delay them. The Americans were able to temporarily stop the advancing British and Loyalist soldiers, but were eventually forced to abandon the gun and return to the fort."
Click
to enlarge trail marker for the Historic 1777 & 1779 American Revolution Trail.
The sign reads:
The Historic 1777 & 1779 Trails
"You are walking part of the 1777 historic trail that retraces as nearly as possible the routes taken by the British army during the Revolutionary War.
"The 1777 trail represents the route taken by British General Sir Henry Clinton's forces on October 6, 1777. After landing 2100 men at Stony Point, he marched north to capture Forts Clinton and Montgomery. At Doodletown, the trail splits. The east branch of the trail follows the march of forces under Sir Henry Clinton and Major General John Vaughn that captured Fort Clinton. The west branch follows the route of Lieutenant Colonel Mungo Campbell's force, which captured Fort Montgomery.
"The 1779 trail traces the route taken by Brigadier General Anthony Wayne's Corps of Light Infantry in its assault on the British fortifications at Stony Point just after midnight on July 16, 1779. After a brief but fierce fight, Wayne's men captured Stony Point, achieving one of the Continental Army's most spectacular victories."
Walk the grounds of the Historic 1777 & 1779 Trails at Fort Montgomery Historic Site. You can pick up the 1777 & 1779 trails close to the Bear Mountain Bridge and/or near the Fort Montgomery Visitor Center.
Things To Do on the American Revolution Trail
Educational Trail
Hiking
Historic Site
Museum at the Fort Montgomery Visitor Center
Click
to enlarge photo of Popolopen Suspension Footbridge.
Popolopen Creek
Popolopen Creek is a stream, mostly fed by Lake Popolopen, Stillwell Lake, and Weyant's Pond, that drains into the Hudson River. In 2002, New York's Governor George Pataki, dedicated a long suspension footbridge that spans Popolopen Creek. The footbridge connects the trail between the twin forts of
Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton, carrying the Appalachian Trail across Popolopen Creek.
Popolopen Creek Suspension Footbridge
The Popolopen Creek Footbridge, for pedestrians only, was designed to create an economic and esthetically pleasing river crossing of 140m on the Appalachian Trail in Bear Mountain Park. You can access the bridge on a path near the Bear Mountain Bridge toll booths. However, the Popolopen Creek footbridge is most easily accessed through Fort Montgomery. Just park your car at the Fort Montgomery Visitor Center off 9W, north of the Bear Mountain Bridge, and walk down to Popolopen Creek.
American Revolution
Popolopen Creek and the Popolopen Suspension Footbridge are located in Fort Montgomery, NY 10922 in Orange County; adjacent to Bear Mountain State Park. The
Battle of Fort Montgomery was the scene of an American Revolutionary War battle that was fought for control of the Hudson River. Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton were built to secure the Patriots control of the Hudson River.
"On the afternoon of October 6, 1777, the British began an assault on both forts, which were defended by no more than 700 men. At Fort Montgomery, the Americans kept the British at bay as the two sides exchanged musket fire. When the Americans refused to surrender, the British stormed both forts. Taking advantage of the growing dark and the smoky haze from the battle, many of the Americans escaped, but as many as 275 were taken as prisoners to New York City where they remained for much of the war."
During these American Revolutionary battles, there was a pontoon bridge connecting Fort Clinton to the south and Fort Montgomery on the north side of Popolopen Creek. Today, Fort Montgomery State Historic Site stands in memory of the Battles of Forts Montgomery and Clinton.
Fancher-Davidge Park is located at 130 Lake Avenue, the end of Lake Avenue, Middletown, NY 10940 in Orange County. Enjoy picnicking, outdoor grills, ice skating, swimming, playing fields and fishing. Fancher-Davidge Park is 112-acres and offers a large lake with enough room for hockey and family skating. Lights are on for night skating. Open to the public, weather-permitting and admission is
free
.
Things To Do
Fishing
Picnicking
Playing Fields
Swimming
Winter Activities
Night Skating
Ice Hockey
Ice Skating
The Orange County Audubon Society is located in Middletown, NY 10940 in Orange County within the Hudson River Valley. We offer many areas of interest. Our meetings and field trips are open to the public free of charge.
Our Sanctuary sites include 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary in Gosham, Frankel Sanctuary in Blooms Corners Rod in the Town of Warwick, Wolfson Tract Sanctuary in the Town of Warwick, Corbett Road Sanctuary in Montgomery, Spanktown Road Sanctuary in the Town of Warwick and Stateline Sanctuary in the Town of Warwick.
Our field trips, although designed primarily for bird watching, are intended to create interest in flora, fauna, and all natural beauty in Orange County and vicinity. Most outings are on Sunday for a half day (unless otherwise stated) and normally around one mile in walking distance. The public is always welcome.
Press blue button
to learn more about the Orange County Audubon Society.
Go bowling at Quinnz Pinz, a bowling center offering 20 bowling lanes, located at 13-19 Railroad Ave, Middletown, NY 10940 in Orange County.
Things To Do
Birthday Parties (parties for kids and adults)
Bowling coupons
Bowling lanes (20)
Bowling leagues
Bumper bowling for children
Cosmic bowling
Open bowling
Pro Shop
Specials
Tournaments
Walnut Grove Farms, offers fresh vegetables in season, and is a source of all natural beef. Walnut Grove is located at 285 Youngblood Road, Montgomery, NY 12549, Orange County in the Hudson Valley.
"The Roebuck family, through Walnut Grove Farms, is committed to bringing you all natural fresh and preserved produce with the assurance that no pesticides or chemical fertilizers are used in the growth and harvest of their vegetables. . . . Also available is natural grass fed beef raised on grass and hay grown on fields that have not had chemicals of any kind for 25 years."
Storm King Art Center is located at Old Pleasant Hill Road, Mountainville NY 10953, Orange County in the Hudson Valley. Storm King is widely recognized as one of the world’s greatest sculpture parks."Storm King Art Center is a museum celebrates the relationship between sculpture and nature. Five hundred acres of landscaped lawns, fields and woodlands provide the site for postwar sculptures by internationally renowned artists. At Storm King, the exhibition space is defined by sky and land. Unencumbered by walls, the subtly created flow of space is punctuated by modern sculpture. The grounds are surrounded by the undulating profiles of the Hudson Highlands, a dramatic panorama integral to the viewing experience. The sculptures are affected by changes in light and weather, so no two visits are the same.
History of Storm King Art Center
"Ralph E. Ogden and H. Peter Stern, then joint owners of Star Expansion Company founded Storm King Art Center in 1960. Originally Ogden envisioned a museum of the Hudson Valley painters, however after visiting a marble quarry in Austria in 1961 he became partially interested in sculpture. Early purchases were set outside the building as part of a formal garden scheme. Six years later, Ogden saw sculptures by David Smith (1906-1965) set in open fields outside his home in Bolton Landing. The Art Center purchased thirteen works from the artist’s estate and inspired in part by Smith’s sculpture fields soon began to place works outdoors in a new way that directly responded to the landscape of Mountainville. Since that time, each sculpture has been sited as part of a visual fabric that includes its immediate surroundings and the distant landscape scene – expanding the context for viewing far beyond traditional garden confines. In 1972 the Art Center began acquiring a permanent collection of large-scale sculptures. Works are acquired selectively, always with attention to the potential interaction of sculpture with the Storm King landscape. Ogden died in 1974; H. Peter Stern continues to serve as both Chairman and President of the Art Center.
Museum Building:
"Completed as a residence in 1935 for the late Vermont Hatch, the French Normandy-style building was designed by architect Maxwell Kimball. The building's granite stones were salvaged from Danskammer, the 1834 Edward Armstrong mansion located north of Newburgh that stood overlooking the Hudson River for almost 100 years. The five Ionic columns now situated on the Art Center's property formed the front of Danskammer. The interior of the museum building contains many period details such as walnut paneling, and walnut and oak parquet floors. Inside are nine exhibition galleries, a museum shop, and offices.
Landscape
"At Storm King, visitors are encouraged to enjoy nature as well as art, to meander on trails and discover sculptures, or to traverse the fields to walk among monumental works. The grounds are under a carefully supervised program of maintenance and change. Recently the Art Center has developed the North Trail and a wooded grove with sculptures, and has restored several walking paths."
Visitors may walk through the grounds or take a self-guided tour aboard a handicap-accessible tram that travels through the main portion of the grounds. An audio-guide is available for rental at the museum shop.
Press blue button
to learn about the collections, current exhibitions, membership, photos, and more about Storm King Art Center.
The word is
Fabulous collection of modern and majestic sculptures in an exceptional outdoor setting that complement each and every piece of art. Storm King is magical in all seasons, especially in the Fall. Bring the children, a picnic, and dine under a tree; four miles of hiking trails are also available.
Storm King State Park offers unsurpassed views of the Catskills and the Hudson Valley. The park is undeveloped. There are no toilets and limited parking.
The Storm King State Park is located near The Storm King Art Center which is an outdoor museum that celebrates the relationship between sculpture and nature. Storm King comprises 500 pristine acres of carefully maintained fields, hills, and woodlands, on which more than 100 works by major international artists are thoughtfully sited. At Storm King, the exhibition space is defined by sky and land. Visit
Storm King Art Center for more information.
Things To Do
Hiking Paths / Walking
Hunting
Scenic Views
Go bowling at Pat Tarsio Bowling Time Lanes, a bowling center offering 42 bowling lanes, located at 2922 US Route 9W, New Windsor, NY 12553 in Orange County.
Things To Do
Birthday Parties (parties for kids and adults)
Bowling coupons
Bowling lanes (42)
Bowling leagues
Bumper bowling for children
Cosmic bowling
Open bowling
Pro Shop
Snake Hill
New Windsor, Orange County
Hudson River Valley, New York State
Bushwhackers who explore this 500-foot hilltop outside of Newburgh are rewarded with spectacular views of the Hudson River and Hudson Highlands.
Snake Hill is 94.5-acres with no trails. The colorfully named Snake Hill is the dominant feature of the landscape surrounding Newburgh. Although there are no maintained trails on the property, adventuresome hikers can find their way to the summit and some rewarding views.
Things To Do
Birding | Bird Watching
Hiking
Nature Study
Picnicking
Directions
From Newburgh-Beacon Bridge: 3.2 miles south on Route 9W, then right on Union Avenue Proceed 1.8 miles to 398 Union Avenue and proceed to end of driveway.
Press blue button
for Scenic Hudson, hours of operation, maps, and more about Snake Hill in New York.
Audrey Carey Park, located at 253 Liberty Street, Newburgh, NY in Orange County, honors former Mayor Audrey L. Carey, the first African American female mayor of a city in New York State. On June 13, 2006, the park was re-dedicated after the addition of playground equipment and other amenities for active play for neighborhood children.
Press blue button
for more information about Audrey Carey Park.
Things To Do at Audrey Carey Park
Grassey areas to read and relax
Playground for the kids
Chadwick Lake Park is located immediately to the northwest of Junction NY32 and 300, in the Cronomer Valley section of Newburgh NY 12550, Orange County in the Hudson River Valley.
Chadwick Lake is a reservoir supplying water to the Town of Newburgh. The reservoir was created by damming Quassaick Creek in 1926. Today, most of the town's water is supplied by New York City's Delaware Aqueduct, with the reservoir acting primarily as a backup.
Chadwick Lake Park is open to the public with recreational facilities near the southern end of the park. Attractions include three picnic shelters, a playground, walking trails, boating launches, basketball courts, ice skating and a roller rink. Fishing is also allowed on the lake; largemouth bass is a common catch.
Note:
A permit is required for entrance to Chadwick Lake Park.
Things To Do at Chadwick Lake Park
Basketball
Biking Trail around the lake
Boating
Boat launches
Bocce
Fishing
Picnic Shelter
Playground
Roller Hockey Rink
Roller Rink
Walking/Hiking Trail around the lake
The 26-acre Delano-Hitch Recreational Park, at 401 Washington Street, Newburgh, NY 12550 in Orange County, includes a 2000-capacity baseball Stadium, a soccer field, a men's softball diamond, three little league baseball diamonds, four tennis courts, four basketball courts, an Aquatic Center, two playgrounds, horseshoe pitches, a soccer/football field, the Fast Pitch Softball Hall of Fame, and the multipurpose Activity Center.
There are various recreational activities and programs for youth, adults, and senior citizens. Activities include a Little League Baseball Program, American Legion Baseball Programs, men's slow pitch softball, Mount Saint Mary College Baseball Program, Newburgh Free Academy Varsity Baseball Program & Softball Programs, Newburgh Generals Collegiate Baseball Team, basketball leagues, horseshoe pitching leagues, Pop Warner Youth Football Program, men's soccer league, Newburgh PUMAS Youth Soccer, and the Club 60 Senior Citizen Program.
Press blue button
for more about Delano-Hitch Recreational Park.
Things To Do at Delano-Hitch Recreational Park
Activity Center
Aquatic Center
Baseball and Softball programs
Baseball Stadium
Basketball Courts
Horseshoe Pitches
Little league Baseball Diamonds
Playgrounds (2)
Programs for kids, adults, and seniors
Soccer Field
Softball Diamond
Swimming Pool
Tennis Courts
Downing Park is a 35-acre landscape park located at Carpenter Ave/3rd Street, in the heart of the City of Newburgh in Orange County. Filled with hills and valleys, streams, a pond, and a rich variety of vegetation, the park has serpentine paths and picturesque vista, features very similar though on a different scale, to those of New York City's Central Park, created by the same designers.
History of Downing Park
Most of Downing Park was a farm owned by the Smith family, whose 1750s farmhouse stood at the present location of the pergola. The idea to build a park was conceived by Mayor O'Dell in the late 1880s. Citing the population growth and increases in property values, he acquired the 25-acre Smith estate, later adding ten more acres.
The City offered the commission to design the park to Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted, the designers of New York City's Central Park. The landscape designers agreed in 1889, stipulating that it be named after their mentor (and Vaux's former partner) Andrew Jackson Downing. Actual construction began in 1894, and the park was opened to the public in 1897.
In addition to the farmhouse, the park originally featured an observatory and a bandshell. The observatory, designed by Calvert's son Downing Vaux, rested on the highest point in the park, commanding spectacular Hudson River views. The structure was torn down in 1961 as part of an "urban renewal" project. Little is known about the original bandshell, and no clear pictures exist. Described as being built in Downing's 'rustic style,' it was removed in the late 1920s.
At the turn of century, the farmhouse was turned into a smallpox sanatorium. In 1908 the flu epidemic ended; the city condemned the house, and it was burned to the ground. Later that year, architect Frank Estabrook designed the pergola to be built on the farmhouse foundations. The Shelter House, designed in 1934 by Gordon Marvel, provided shelter in the winter for those ice skating on the Polly Pond.
The outdoor amphitheatre was built in 1946. Used for weekly band concerts for many years, the amphitheatre originally had a moat filled with goldfish at the front of the stage.
Things To Do at Downing Park
Art Exhibits
Farmers Markets
Festivals
Gardens
Walking
Ice Time Sports Complex is located at 21 Lakeside Road, Newburgh NY 12552, Orange County in the Hudson Valley. Ice Time is an indoor rink and sports facility that is open all year. Ice Time offers many attractions including public skating, skating lessons, figure skating, youth and adult hockey.
Ice Time Sports Complex runs sessions of Learn To Skate Classes for all ages. These progressive classes take each student from the basics of getting up and skating forward, to jumps and spins for those wanting to be figure skaters, to those skaters that are looking forward to playing the fun game of hockey.
Ice Activities and Attractions
Freestyle Sessions
Public Skating Sessions
Ice Skating
Figure Skating Lessons
Figure Skating Lessons - Summer
Ice Skating Lessons for Adults
Ice Skating Lessons for Children
Learn To Skate Camps
Go bowling at Pat Tarsio Lanes, a bowling center offering 36 bowling lanes, located at 173 South Plank Road, Newburgh, NY 12550 in Orange County.
Things To Do
Birthday Parties (parties for kids and adults)
Bowling lanes (36)
Bowling leagues (junior and adult leagues)
Bumper bowling for children
Cosmic Bowling
Open bowling
Pro Shop
The River Rose, whose home port is Newburgh, New York, is an original New Orleans Paddle Wheel Boat built in 1984. Length approximately 100 Feet, Width 26 Feet. She has 2 Decks with a bar on each deck There is an awesome panoramic view of the Hudson Valley from the upper deck. The lower deck is fully enclosed and air conditioned. The upper deck can either be open air or fully enclosed for inclement weather. The boat accommodates 150 passengers plus a first class crew.
The River Rose offers private charters and various Sight Seeing Cruises including: Sunday Brunch Cruises. Also available are Fishing and Day Trips (accommodates 6 people) on a 24 ft. Cabin Cruiser.
Press blue button for rates, boat information, the River Rose "Hudson River Cruise Schedule" and more.
From April 1782 to August 1783, General George Washington, commander in chief of the Continental Army, made his military headquarters and residence at the Hasbrouck family's farmhouse in Newburgh. Washington's Headquarters is located 12 miles north of the forts at West Point.
George Washington (February 22, 1732 - December 14, 1799), also called Father of his Country, was an American general and Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) and later the first President of the United States (1789–1797). He also served as President of the 1787 Constitutional Convention. George Washington is recognized as one of the most important figures in U.S. history. George Washington played an important role in both the "French and Indian War" and in the "American Revolution".
In 1754, Washington was commissioned as a colonel in the Virginia militia. In 1755, Washington accompanied the Braddock Expedition of the British Army during the French and Indian War. In 1757, he resigned his commission and married Martha Dandridge Custis, the wealthy widow of Daniel Parke Custis. The couple moved to Mount Vernon where he took up the life of a genteel farmer. He became a member of the House of Burgesses. By 1774, Washington had become one of the colonies' wealthiest men. In that year, he was chosen as a delegate from Virginia to the First Continental Congress and the next year to the Second Continental Congress. He did not support colonial independence until 1776, when he read Thomas Paine's "Common Sense".
In the First Continental Congress, twelve colonies sent delegates to discuss how to return to a state of harmonious relations with the Mother Country and not have a revolution! But radical thinking won out. Parliamentary acts were declared "unconstitutional". Taxes were not paid, an import-export ban was established, and Colonists were urged to arm themselves. The "shot heard 'round the world" was fired at Lexington where armed colonists tried to resist British seizure of an arsenal. Eight Americans and 273 British soldiers were killed. The Revolutionary War began. The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775 and they declared themselves the government. They also named George Washington Commander in Chief of the newly organized army.
The Revolutionary War ended in 1783 and unlike many other revolutionary leaders, Washington voluntarily relinquished power. On December 23, 1783, General George Washington resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Army to the Congress, which was then meeting at the Maryland State House in Annapolis. This action was of great significance, establishing the precedent that civilian elected officials, rather than military officers, possessed ultimate authority. If Washington had wanted to retain power he may have been able to seize it. There was some support among his most devoted followers for making Washington a permanent ruler or king, but Washington, like most of the Founding Fathers of the United States, abhorred the very idea. This established an important precedent of republican democracy throughout the world.
On February 4, 1789, America's first presidential election took place. On April 30, 1789, standing on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York City, Washington took his oath of office as the first President of the United States.
Congressman Henry Light Horse Harry Lee, a Revolutionary War comrade, famously eulogized Washington as "a citizen, first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen".
7 Lakes Drive, Orange and Rockland counties
Hudson River Valley, New York State
7 Lakes Drive in Harriman State Park, built in 1913, runs approximately 20 miles between Sloatsburg, NY on the southern end to Bear Mountain State Park on the northern end. A scenic ride along Seven Lakes Drive passes lakes Sebago, Skanatati, Askoti, Kanawauke, Tiorati, Nawahunta and Silver Mine Lake.
Click
to enlarge photo of Lake Askoti in Harriman State Park.
Lake Askoti, approximately 41-acres in size, is located in Harriman State Park. Lake Askoti, a tributary of Lake Skannatati River in Orange County, is surrounded by hiking trails offering beautiful vistas and great hiking.
Fishermen enjoy excellent fishing throughout the year, including the winter freeze, when many return for ice fishing on the lake. Lake Askoti also offers excellent bird watching sites.
Each of these lakes offer seasonal activities for the whole family. Find many things to do, including photography, at one or more of these beautiful lakes. Go fishing in spring, summer, and fall; and ice-fishing in the winter. Hike in all seasons. Hiking is especially invigorating in the fall when the air is cooler and you can see the stunning foliage of autumn in New York. Winter hiking can also be great fun and exercise, especially when its time to stop and have a hot drink from your thermos.The lakes that comprise 7 Lakes Drive, offer activities and attractions year round; including swimming, boating, fishing, and fabulous bird watching.
The lakes that comprise 7 Lakes Drive, offer activities and attractions year round; including swimming, boating, fishing, and fabulous bird watching.
Click
to enlarge photo of Lake Skannatati in Harriman State Park.
Lake Skannatati, approximately 36.3 acres in size, is located in Orange County in the Town of Tuxedo, New York. Lake Skannatati is located very near Lake Askoti and is one of 31 lakes and reservoirs in Harriman State Park.
The parking lot, located adjacent to Lake Skannatati, provides convenient parking close to a boat launch site and provides easy access to several hiking trails.
Lake Skannatati offers hiking trails for all levels of hikers, including trails, at varying elevations, around the lake. Launch your boat and enjoy kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. Fish species present include Largemouth Bass, Brook Trout and Pan fish.
Things To Do at Lake Skannatati
Birding | Bird Watching
Boat Launch Site (next to parking lot)
Boating (canoeing, kayaking, row boats)
Fishing (NYS fishing license required)
Fishing spots in Hudson Valley (NYS fishing license required)
Food
Group Camping
Hiking trails in Hudson Valley
Click
to enlarge photo of Lake Tiorati in Harriman State Park.
Lake Tiorati Beach in Harriman State Park is located in Orange County, New York
Lake Tiorati was formed by clearing swampland in Harriman State Park and constructing a concrete dam to make two ponds into one large lake. Surrounded by meadows and rolling, wooded hills, the park offers excellent swimming, fishing, boating and picnicking. In winter, if conditions allow, the lake may be used for ice fishing. Bona fide groups may use the pioneer campsites near the lake.
Above The Clouds is a special attraction, located at 100 Airport Road, New Hampton, NY 10958 in the mid-Hudson Valley. A hot air balloon ride isn't something you'll do every weekend. Safety has always been our #1 priority. Ballooning is limited to times of good weather and light winds. If the weather doesn't cooperate with us on the day of your flight, we'll reschedule with you for another time. Each pilot is certified by the FAA with a commercial license and attends an annual safety seminar. In addition, all pilots receive a bi-annual safety flight review to ensure proficiency.
The Lower Hudson Valley
Our flying area is one of the most beautiful in the country. We have rolling green hills, small towns, lakes and streams. On most morning flights we'll spot deer and Red Tailed hawks! On a calm and clear day, we can easily pick out the New York City Skyline. Only an hour from the City, we are one of the closest balloon ride operators to the metro area.
Each flight ends with a traditional champagne toast. On our morning flights, we offer a nice continental breakfast after the flight.
Press blue button
for more information about Above The Clouds.
Appalachian Trail in Bear Mountain - Orange County
The Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, designated a linear National Park by the 1968 National Trails System Act, is a continuous, marked public footpath extending approximately 2,144 miles from Mount Katahdin, Maine to Springer Mountain, Georgia along the Appalachian Mountain range.
Click
to enlarge photo of Appalachian Trail Sign.
The sign reads:
"APPALACHIAN TRAIL
Footpath for Hikers
2100 Miles Georgia-Maine
Maintained by Volunteers
NY - NJ Trail Conference"
Note:
Look for this sign on the Rockland side of the Bear Mountain Bridge tollbooths.
"The [Appalachian] trail maintains a wilderness character by following the scenic ridges of the Appalachian Mountain ranges of the White, Green, Berkshire, Ramapo, Kittatinny, Blue Ridge, Great Smoky, and Nantahala Mountains. The Appalachian Trail is protected along most of its course by federal or state ownership of the land. The entire trail environment is maintained as a place for everyone to hike and enjoy the Appalachian Mountains, while at the same time conserving the natural, scenic, historical and cultural resources of this one-of-a-kind, linear park."
Source:
Signage at the Visitor Center on the Palisades Interstate Parkway.
A Bit of History
In 1921, the idea for the Appalachian Trail originated with a volunteer forester Benton MacKaye. He conceived "
The Trail
" as a refuge from modern stresses, stretching along the spine of the Appalachian Mountains, where hikers could re-connect with the natural world. Once MacKaye's idea was published, over the years, volunteers from hiking groups in the Northeast made that dream a reality - a 2,144-mile-long hiking trail that became our nation's first National Scenic Trail.
Through a network of 32 hiking and trail clubs from Maine to Georgia, volunteers form the basis of a unique, volunteer-based, cooperative management system for this national parkland. Volunteers take an active role in safeguarding the quality of the Trail both for the hiking public and local communities. The private Appalachian Trail Conference oversees the volunteer effort along the Trail's length.
Click
to enlarge photo of the Bear Mountain Bridge.
The roadway of the Bear Mountain Bridge carries the Maine-to-Georgia Appalachian Trail. The Bear Mountain Bridge has eight-foot-wide shoulders for pedestrians and cyclists to comfortably walk on both sides of the bridge.
Click
to enlarge photo of View of the Hudson River.
The photo of the Hudson Valley is taken from the northwest side of the bridge. Experience wonderful views of the majestic Hudson River when walking the Appalachian Trail on the Bear Mountain Bridge.
The Appalachian Trail enters New Jersey at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and runs northward along the ridgeline of the Kittatinny Mountains to High Point State Park. There it strikes east along the NJ/NY state line, crosses the Wawayanda plateau, and enters New York state on the ridge overlooking Greenwood Lake. It traverses Harriman-Bear Mountain State Park (where the Appalachian trail was first conceived), crosses the Hudson River on the Bear Mountain Bridge, heading northeasterly towards and through Fahnestock State Park. Continuing northeast, it crosses into Connecticut near Kent, CT.
Click
to enlarge photo of Popolopen Creek from the Bear Mountain Bridge.
The Popolopen Creek Footbridge, a bridge for pedestrians only, connects the trail between the twin forts, Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton, and carries the Appalachian Trail on the western side of the Bear Mountain Bridge.
Popolopen Creek
Popolopen Creek is a stream that is mostly fed by Lake Popolopen, Stillwell Lake, and Weyant's Pond. Eventually, the creek drains into the Hudson River. In 2002, New York's Governor George Pataki, dedicated a long suspension foot bridge that spans Popolopen Creek.
Located in the Hudson Valley
Village of Warwick, New York
Admission is FREE
Applefest began in 1989 as a simple harvest celebration to support the Warwick Valley Community Center. Named one of the “Top 100 Events” in the country, over 30,000 visitors now attend the one-day event, traveling from neighboring states to experience the extraordinary variety of Warwick’s apples, culture, and entertainment. The festival is produced by the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Warwick Valley Community Center. Festival proceeds benefit these and other local non-profit organizations.
Things To Do and See at the Festival
Over 200 craft vendors
Dozens of food vendors
50 local non-profit exhibitors
Music & entertainment on several stages all day
Children’s Carnival
Farmers’ Market
Walk to Village shops, restaurants & businesses
2:09 AM 12/10/2012
Apple Pie Baking Contest (slices for sale)
Applefest Visitor's Guide
An updated Applefest Visitors’ Guide will be posted on the website before Applefest next fall, and will also be available for free at the festival.
This 32-page booklet contains schedules of Applefest events, transportation information, directories for craft/food vendors, wineries, u-pick apples, a user-friendly map of the festival area, ads for local businesses and more.
Press Blue Button
for more information about Applefest.
Bear Mountain State Park is located on the west side of the Hudson River in Orange County and Rockland County, New York. The 5,067-acre (20.51 km2) Bear Mountain State Park, flagship of the Palisades Interstate Park System, is renowned for its natural beauty and rugged mountains and is just 45 miles north of New York City, in the historic and beautiful Hudson River Valley.
Lakes, ponds, forest, hills, and mountains abound at Bear Mountain. Bear Mountain is heavily forested, offering the natural beauty of sights such as
Perkins Memorial Point,
Of interest to hikers, the historic Appalachian Trail is carried across the
Bear Mountain Bridge and the Popolopen Suspension Bridge. Although campgrounds and lodging are available, Bear Mountain Park is primarily a day-use park offering magnificent scenery, photo opportunities, and great hiking for all levels of hikers. The historic Bear Mountain Inn, situated in Bear Mountain Park, overlooks Hessian Lake and provides food and overnight accommodations. Food is also available at several vendors around Hessian Lake and in other areas of the park.
Bear Mountain Park attractions and activities include a large playing field, picnic groves, rowboat docks on
Hessian Lake, swimming pool and bathhouse, nature trails including key segments of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and the Long Path, basketball court, Trailside Museums and Zoo, Iona Island Estuarine Reserve and Bird Refuge, Perkins Tower, and the Merry-Go-Round. Many winter activities are available at Bear Mountain Park, including an outdoor rink that is open for ice-skating from late October through mid-March.
Perkins Memorial Tower sits 1,305 feet above the Hudson River, atop Bear Mountain. Perkins Point and Perkins Memorial Tower afford spectacular views of the park, the Hudson Highlands and Harriman State Park. Driving, biking, or hiking along Perkins Memorial Drive offers breathtaking views from many vantage points leading to
Perkins Memorial Tower perched at the top of the mountain. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at one of many picnic spots that are available along Perkins Memorial Drive.
Click
to enlarge photo of sign - Popolopen Creek Trail to Fort Montgomery.
Popolopen Creek Trail to Fort Montgomery
Walk the Popolopen Creek Trail to Fort Montgomery where you will "standon the site of Fort Clinton, which was built along with Fort Montgomery to prevent British ships from sailing up the Hudson River during the Revolutionary War. On October 6, 1777, the British captured both forts and destroyed them shortly thereafter.
"This trail leads down to the Popolopen Creek and across the
Popolopen Suspension Footbridge to Fort Montgomery State Historic Site. Fort Montgomery is an archeological site and a historic ruin. Interpretive signs and an audio tour are available to help understand the history of the fort and the battle."
Educational attractions that are fun for kids include the Trailside Museum and Zoo, and the Merry-Go-Round featuring 42 hand carved seats of native animals. After a ride on the merry-go-round, visit the zoo and see how many native animals you can recognize. (Perhaps your children can help name the animals.) .
Kids Attraction - Merry-Go-Round
The Merry-Go-Round at Bear Mountain features hand painted scenes of the park and 42 hand carved seats of native animals including: black bear, wild turkey, deer, raccoon, skunk, Canada goose, fox, swan, bobcat, rabbit and more.
Kids Attraction - Trailside Museum and Zoo
There are four museums at Trailside. The Reptile and Amphibian House is home to a variety of turtles, snakes, frogs, toads, salamanders and skinks as well as many species of fish. The Nature Study Museum houses specimens originally created by the Museum of Natural History to educate people about animal identification. Visitors can learn about geologic formations of the Hudson Highlands in the Geology Museum and local Native American and early settler culture in the History Museum.
Things To Do at Bear Mountain State Park
Biking Trails
Boat Rentals
Dockage
Fishing (lake and river fishing)
Food at park and at Bear Mountain Inn
Hiking Trails / Walking
Merry-Go-Round Pavilion
Nature Trail
Perkins Memorial Drive & Tower
Picnic Tables
Playground
Playing Fields
Pool (very large pool)
Swimming
Trailside Museums
Zoo and Nature Park
Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival
A Music & Environmental Festival
Clearwater Environmental Organization
"One of the Top 4 Music Festivals in the U.S."
Outside Magazine,
"Clearwater is everything a Folk Festival should be; good music, good people and good fun.You'll find your community is bigger when you leave than when you came.",
Ani DiFranco
"Playing Clearwater was one of the most fulfilling experiences I've had in music. I feel lucky to have been invited.",
Josh Ritter
About Clearwater
"Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. is a 501(c)3 tax exempt nonprofit, member- supported corporation whose mission is to preserve and protect the Hudson River. In 1966, folk music legend and environmental activist Pete Seeger, in despair over the pollution of his beloved Hudson River, announced plans to “build a boat to save the river”. At the time, the Hudson was rank with raw sewage, toxic chemicals and oil pollution; fish had disappeared over many miles of its length. Seeger believed a majestic replica of the sloops that sailed the Hudson in the 18th and 19th centuries would bring people to the river, where they could experience its beauty and be moved to preserve it. Inspired by that vision, the 106-feet-long tall ship Clearwater was built and launched in 1969. The sloop was among the first vessels in the U.S. to conduct science-based environmental education aboard a sailing ship, virtually creating the template by which such programs are conducted around the world today.
"Since the launch of the Clearwater, more than 430,000 young people and hundreds of thousands of adults have experienced their first real look at an estuary’s ecosystem—fish, invertebrates, water chemistry and ecological principals—aboard the sloop. Clearwater’s environmental education programs now serve more than 15,000 students annually, and the organization also educates over 200 teachers each year through SUNY New Paltz, Pace University and other institutions. Clearwater’s members have helped advocate for the Clean Water Act, the Hudson River Park Act and removal of PCB’s from the Hudson.
"The Clearwater has become America’s Environmental Flagship, and was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 for its role in the environmental movement. Each summer, Clearwater re-connects Hudson Valley residents with their cultural heritage and traditions by bringing them down to the river for the Great Hudson River Revival, the country’s oldest music and environmental festival. The organization and its local sloop clubs also sponsor smaller local riverfront festivals throughout the year. Clearwater’s unique approach to public outreach has made the Clearwater a symbol of grassroots action through hands-on learning, music and celebration."
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for festival information, donations, and updated information about Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival.
Goosepond Mountain State Park is located in Bear Mountain, NY 10911, Orange County in the Hudson Valley. Goosepond is managed as 1,558-acres of open space. Almost completely wooded, the park is open to hikers and horseback riders. This park is undeveloped. There are no toilets and there is limited parking.
Harriman State Park, located in Rockland and Orange counties, is the second-largest park in the parks system, with 31 lakes and reservoirs, 200 miles of hiking trails, three beaches, two public camping areas, a network of group camps, miles of streams and scenic roads, and scores of wildlife species, vistas and vantage points. Harriman State Park includes Lakes Welch, Sebago, Tiorati and Silvermine, the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area, Sebago Cabins and Beaver Pond Campgrounds.
Highland Lakes State Park is a 3,000-acre park of undeveloped woods and lakes in Orange County. Visitors use the park for fishing, hiking, horseback riding and flying model planes. The park is undeveloped. There are no toilets and there is limited parking.
Lake Askoti - Harriman State Park in Orange County
845-786-2701
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to enlarge photo of Lake Askoti in Harriman State Park.
Lake Askoti, approximately 41-acres in size, is located in Harriman State Park. Lake Askoti, a tributary of Lake Skannatati River in Orange County, is surrounded by hiking trails offering beautiful vistas and great hiking. Enjoy excellent fishing throughout the year, including the winter freeze, when many fisherman return for ice fishing on the lake. Lake Askoti also offers excellent bird watching sites.
7 Lakes Drive in Harriman State Park, built in 1913, runs approximately 20 miles between Sloatsburg, NY on the southern end to Bear Mountain State Park on the northern end. A scenic ride along Seven Lakes Drive passes lakes Sebago, Skanatati, Askoti, Kanawauke, Tiorati, Nawahunta and Silver Mine Lake.
Lake Kanawauke is a 186-acre reservoir (mostly man made) in Harriman State Park. The lake is located in the Town of Tuxedo, Orange County, and in the Town of Haverstraw, Rockland County, NY. Lake Kanawauke is comprised of three parts, the lower, middle, and upper lakes.
The word is
Lake Kanawauke offers great fishing in Rockland County. The fish are plentiful with huge bass; also plentiful are perch, pan fish, and carp.
Scenic Drives
7 Lakes Drive in Harriman State Park, built in 1913, runs approximately 20 miles between Sloatsburg, NY on the southern end to Bear Mountain State Park on the northern end. A scenic ride along Seven Lakes Drive passes lakes Sebago, Skanatati, Askoti, Kanawauke, Tiorati, Nawahunta and Silver Mine Lake.
Lake Nawahunta, a reservoir in Orange County, New York, is part of the beautiful and scenic Harriman State Park, located in Rockland and Orange counties. Lake Nawahunta offers fishing, hiking trails, and is a top location for bird watching.
Scenic Drives
7 Lakes Drive in Harriman State Park, built in 1913, runs approximately 20 miles between Sloatsburg, NY on the southern end to Bear Mountain State Park on the northern end. A scenic ride along Seven Lakes Drive passes lakes Sebago, Skanatati, Askoti, Kanawauke, Tiorati, Nawahunta and Silver Mine Lake.
Lake Sebago Beach in Harriman State Park is located in Rockland County, New York. Lawns, fields and picnic areas surround Lake Sebago Beach. In addition to swimming on the sandy beach, anglers can fish for bass, perch, sunfish and more.
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for park description, hours of operation, getting there, fees, and more about Lake Sebago Beach at Harriman State Park.
Scenic Drives
7 Lakes Drive in Harriman State Park, built in 1913, runs approximately 20 miles between Sloatsburg, NY on the southern end to Bear Mountain State Park on the northern end. A scenic ride along Seven Lakes Drive passes lakes Sebago, Skanatati, Askoti, Kanawauke, Tiorati, Nawahunta and Silver Mine Lake.
Lake Skannatati - Harriman State Park in Orange County
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to enlarge photo of Lake Skannatati in Harriman State Park.
Lake Skannatati, approximately 36.3 acres in size, is located in Orange County in the Town of Tuxedo, New York. Lake Skannatati is located very near Lake Askoti and is one of 31 lakes and reservoirs in Harriman State Park.
The parking lot, located adjacent to Lake Skannatati, provides convenient parking close to the boat launch site and provides easy access to several hiking trails.
Lake Skannatati offers hiking trails for all levels of hikers, including trails, at varying elevations, around the lake. Launch your boat and enjoy kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. Fish speciesthat are present include Largemouth Bass, Brook Trout and Pan fish.
Scenic Drives
7 Lakes Drive in Harriman State Park, built in 1913, runs approximately 20 miles between Sloatsburg, NY on the southern end to Bear Mountain State Park on the northern end. A scenic ride along Seven Lakes Drive passes lakes Sebago, Skannatati, Askoti, Kanawauke, Tiorati, Nawahunta and Silver Mine Lake.
The Sebago Cabin Camp in Harriman State Park is on Lake Sebago. The camp offers rustic cabins and full service cottages. Also available: row boat rentals, beach, biking and hiking, organized sports, Saturday bonfire, rainy day movies and activities, play area, recreation hall, and tennis courts.
Note: Accessible indicates that, to the extent practicable, this facility or activity meets the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards. It is strongly recommended that you contact the facility in advance for a full description of what you can expect.
Things To Do at Sebago Cabin Camp
Beach
Biking
Boat Rentals
Cabins (Accessible)
Camper Recreation
Fishing
Grills
Hiking
Picnic Tables
Playgrounds
Recreation Programs
Showers (Accessible)Tennis
Silver Mine is part of the beautiful and scenic Harriman State Park, located in Rockland and Orange counties. The Silver Mine area of Harriman State Park offers picnic grounds, fishing, hiking, and a boat launch site.
Things To Do
Biking (helmets required)
Boat Launch
Fishing
Hiking trails
Picnic Tables
Winter Activities
Ice Fishing
Scenic Drives
7 Lakes Drive in Harriman State Park, built in 1913, runs approximately 20 miles between Sloatsburg, NY on the southern end to Bear Mountain State Park on the northern end. A scenic ride along Seven Lakes Drive passes lakes Sebago, Skanatati, Askoti, Kanawauke, Tiorati, Nawahunta and Silver Mine Lake.
Go bowling at Port Jervis Lanes, a bowling center offering 12 bowling lanes, located at 17-19 West Main Street, Port Jervis, NY 12771 in Orange County.
Things To Do
Birthday Parties (parties for kids and adults)
Bowling lanes (12)
Bowling leagues
Bumper bowling (call to arrange)
Open bowling
Pro Shop
Schunnemunk State Park, a 2,700-acre park, is located at 116 Old Forge Road, Tuxedo, NY 10987 in Orange County. Schunnemunk offers acres of rolling meadow and spectacular mountain top. Hikers encounter elevations up to 1664 feet and thrilling 360 degree views of adjacent valleys, portions of the distant Hudson River and surrounding forest and farm lands.
Eight marked trails include the Long Path, Jessup, Western Ridge, Trestle, Sweet Clover, Otterkill, Dark Hollow and Barton Swamp Trails totaling over 20 miles traverse the mountain and glades.
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for more about directions, permits and applications, and the activities at Schunnemunk State Park.
Things To Do at Schunnemunk State Park
Birding
Hiking trails
Picnicking
Sterling Forest State Park, a 21,935-acre park, is located at 116 Old Forge Road, Tuxedo, NY 10987 in Orange County. Sterling Forest State Park offers a nearly pristine natural refuge amidst of one of the nation's most densely populated areas, a remarkable piece of woodland, a watershed for millions, and a tremendous outdoor recreation area. This unbroken deep-forest habitat is important for the survival of many resident and migratory species, including black bear, a variety of hawks and songbirds and many rare invertebrates and plants. Hunting, fishing and hiking opportunities are available.
Learn about Sterling Forest's environment and history at the Visitor Center, overlooking Sterling Lake. The visitor center features exhibits about the local environment.
Sterling Forest Bird Conservation Area
The Sterling Forest® BCA is part of Sterling Forest® State Park. Sterling Forest® State Park is within a natural area of state and national importance due to its watershed, wildlife habitat, cultural resources, open space and outdoor recreation significance. Most of the park is covered by either ecological communities that have statewide significance or of such quality that they should be protected as significant examples within New York State. The park has considerable biodiversity including a diversity of bird species. A part of the Hudson Highlands, the area has strong relief ranging from 800-1200' in elevation.
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for more about biking, fishing, hiking, hunting, birding, and the Museum at Sterling Forest State Park.
Things To Do at Sterling Forest State Park
Biking
Birding
Fishing
Gift Shop
Hiking
Hunting
Museum / Visitor Center
Nature Study
Recreation Programs
Scenic Views
Tuxedo Ridge at Sterling Forest, is located at 581 Route 17A West, Tuxedo NY 10987 in Orange County. Whether you want to learn how to ski on our specially contoured Bunny Slope, cruise down our Tiger trails, shred in our terrain park, or ride in our new tubing park located on the Double Rainbow, Tuxedo Ridge is committed to making your experience the best.
Tuxedo Ridge is a year-round mountain facility that offers winter sports, paintball and music concerts. Tuxedo Ridge specializes in teaching skiing and riding to beginners and families but offers plenty of challenging terrain and programs for the seasoned skier/rider. Snowtubing and the innovative Snow Playground ensure fun for the kids and their families.
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for snow reports, kids attractions and winter activities for the whole family.
Ski Area Features . . .
100% Snowmaking capabilities
7 trails and 4 double chairlifts.
Lessons for children
Lessons for adults
Longest Trail: 2,750 ft ( more than 1/2 a mile), 400 vertical ft.
Rental equipment
Tuxedo Ridge is the closest New York ski area to New York City (NYC).
Tuxedo Ridge (Tiger Mountain) is part of the Ramapo Mountain Range in Sterling Forest.
Knox's Headquarters State Historic Site is located at Vails Gate, NY 12584 in Orange County in the Hudson River Valley. On several occasions during the Revolutionary War, Major General Henry Knox, Commander of the America artillery, established his military headquarters at John Ellison's 1754 Georgian-style house in Vails Gate. From October 1782 until the spring of 1783, as 7,000 soldiers and 500 "camp followers" were establishing winter quarters at the New Windsor Cantonment, and General Washington was lodged at Jonathan Hasbrouck's house in Newburgh, New York, Major General Horatio Gates occupied the elegant home from which he commanded the cantonment. Here the army awaited the end of the Revolutionary War that became effective when Washington issued the cease fire orders on April 19, 1783.
For most of the 18th and into the 19th century, the Ellison family had important commercial dealings in milling and trade. From their mill, flour was shipped down the Hudson River to New York City and the West Indies. At present, remains of the mill, with traces of the underground racecourse, and the Jane Colden Native Plant Sanctuary may be visited. Explore how the Ellisons and other families of the mid-Hudson Valley lived 200 years ago.
Point of Interest
Knox's Headquarters State Historic Site is fun for the children and family of all ages.
Attractions
Costumed Interpreters
Demonstrations
Educational Services
Gardens
Group Tours
Guided Tours
Hiking
Interpretive Sign
Picnic Area
Re-enactments
Scenic Views
New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site is located at Vails Gate, NY 12584 in Orange County in the Hudson River Valley. In October 1782, General George Washington moved his army to New Windsor, above West Point and just beyond the Hudson Highlands, to establish winter quarters. He was accompanied by 7,000 troops including 500 women and children or "camp followers." By late December 1782, they had erected nearly 600 log huts into a "cantonment," a military enclave. High-ranking officers were quartered in private homes.
Washington was pleased that the army was better housed, fed, and clothed than ever before in the long war, but life for the officers and troops at the Cantonment remained hard. It was at the New Windsor Cantonment that the cease fire orders were issued by Washington ending the eight-year War of Independence on April 19, 1783. The final success, however, was the gradual, orderly disbandment of the army at the Cantonment, and the peaceful march of its still largely unpaid officers and men back to their homes or new pursuits.
New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site is fun for children and family. See the staff in reproduction period dress and uniforms demonstrate musket drills, blacksmithing, military medicine and camplife activities. View the exhibits at the Visitor Center and the reconstructed Temple Building, which served as a chapel for the soldiers.
Go bowling at Hoebowl Orange Lanes - Walden, a bowling center offering 26 bowling lanes, located at 1492 New York 52, Walden, NY 12586 in Orange County.
Things To Do
Birthday Parties (parties for kids and adults)
Bowling coupons
Bowling lanes (26)
Bowling leagues
Bumper bowling for children
Open bowling
Pro Shop
Rock N Bowl
Applewood Winery is located at 82 Four Corners Road, Warwick NY 10990 in Orange County. Enjoy wine tasting at a real farm winery in New York's Hudson Valley. Discover New York wines at Applewood Winery. Our wines are made from our own vineyards, orchards and from across the state. We make Chardonnay's, Cabernet Franc, barrel fermented reds, in addition to that we have delicious fruit wines including Hard Apple Cider. Every wine is produced in a "limited edition" with almost every bottle spoken for as soon as its made. So you'll only find our wine at the tasting room and here in our online store.
Enjoy music every weekend in August. Music starts at 2:00 and ends at 5:00. The Cafe will be open serving fruit & cheese platters and sandwiches.
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for more about Applewood Winery.
Hesperides Organica Farm, a CSA farm, is located at 5 Owl Lane, Warwick, NY 10990 in the “Black Dirt” region of Orange County, NY. While other farmland may contain 5 percent organic matter, the black dirt or “muck soil” contains 50-90 percent organic matter. We sell our produce through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).
Hesperides Organica offers a full-season, weekly subscription for local, freshly-picked, sustainably-grown vegetables, herbs and flowers.
Why Buy Local
Local food tastes better; it hasn’t traveled thousands of miles and then sat in a warehouse.
Local food preserves diversity and the selection of produce that is healthy and tastes good; not because it has a long shelf life or can be machine harvested.
Why buy produce from China or Chile when we can support our own local farmers?
Hesperides Organica Coop Market
Artisan Cheese, Honey, Maple syrup
Farm fresh eggs (large brown and organic)
Grass-fed beef
Peanut Butter (freshly ground)
Organic dog biscuits
Organic wheat, pastry flour and spelt
and more
Midsummer Farm, a certified organic CSA farm, offering flowers, eggs, herbs, and more, is located at 156 East Ridge Road, Warwick, NY 10990, Orange County in the Hudson Valley. Midsummer Farm also offers Farm workshops, taught from a strictly Holistic and Organic standpoint. Class size is kept small to ensure individual attention.
Attractions
Midsummer Farm workshops, taught from a strictly Holistic and Organic standpoint. Class size is kept small to ensure individual attention.
Mount Peter Ski Area is located at 51 Old Mt. Peter Road, Warwick, NY 10990 in Southern New York; the heart of the Hudson Valley in Orange County. We are known for many things, like our famous Free Beginner Ski and Snowboard School, our great snowmaking and expert grooming, an awesome terrain park, our top-notch racing and development programs, and our family atmosphere.
Mount Peter known as “The Friendly One”, is the oldest operating ski area in New York State, and one of the few remaining family operated ski areas in the country.
In the 72-years since Mount Peter has opened, many things in the ski industry have changed. A snowplow is now called a wedge, skis have gotten shorter and have names like Parabolic and Shaped, and of course, snowboarding has emerged.
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for the Mount Peter Snow Report and more about skiing at Mount Peter.
Outdoor Winter Activities
Skiing
Snowboarding
Ski Area Features . . .
Rental equipment
Ski lessons for children
Ski lessons for adults
Go bowling at Pin Street at Warwick, a bowling center offering 28 bowling lanes, located at 154 State Route 94 South, Warwick, NY 10990 in Orange County. From bowling and billiards to arcade games and lounges, there is something for everyone at Pin Street Bowling Centers.
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for more about Pin Street at Warwick.
Things To Do
Birthday Parties (parties for kids and adults)
Bowling birthday parties (children's party)
Bowling lanes (28)
Bowling leagues
Bowl to the Beat on Saturday nights
Bumper bowling for children
Open bowling
Pro Shop
Rock N Bowl
Scoring (automatic)
Specials on website
Tournaments
Youth programs
U PICK APPLE AND PEAR ORCHARDS at the Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery, offering pick-your-own apples and pears, is located at 114 Little York Road, Warwick NY 10990, in the foothills of the Hudson Valley. Enjoy the lavish orchards and Pick-Your-Own apples and Pears.
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for complete list of apples and pears, picking dates, and more information about Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery.
Warwick Valley Winery is located at 114 Little York Road, Warwick NY 10990, Orange County in the foothills of the Hudson Valley. Situated between Mt. Eve and Mt. Adam, our tasting room provides the ideal setting for tasting wine, listening to music, and enjoying food. We invite you to come to the tasting room and celebrate Wine and Music and Food. Our wines and ciders are also available for purchase throughout New York and New Jersey.
Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery is open all year round. We sponsor a music series, "Uncorked and Unplugged n the Orchard" featuring live music every weekend - rain or shine. Our bakery is open every weekend year round. We offer fresh breads, pastries and specialty items, all prepared by our Culinary Institute of America trained chefs.
Pick-Your-Own apples and Pears
Every autumn, our guests are invited to enjoy our orchards. Pear picking begins in August. Apples begin to ripen shortly thereafter in early September. With thirty varieties, we have an apple for every palate. Please, bring your family to meet our family and enjoy our farm, winery and orchards.
We sponsor a music series, "Uncorked and Unplugged in the orchard" featuring live music every weekend - rain or shine. Doc's Cider House is our new venue to enjoy music, wine and food throughout the year. Enjoy our Bakery where we offer fresh breads, pastries and specialty items, all prepared by our Culinary Institute of America trained chefs. Every autumn, our guests are invited to enjoy our lavish orchards and Pick-Your-Own apples and Pears. Pear picking begins in August. Warwick Valley Winery and Orchards' commitment to fine food and wine are why we are referred to as a "Bit of Tuscany in the Hudson Valley".
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for more information about Warwick Valley Winery.
Constitution Island is part of West Point, the United States Military Academy, a National Registered Landmark.
Constitution Island is most famous for the Great Chain that was placed across the Hudson during the Revolutionary War. Constitution Island is also known for the Warner family who lived on the Island during the 19th century. The Warner House and ruins of the Revolutionary War fortifications are the primary points of interest. The Island’s 280 acres are covered with hiking trails that are enjoyed by the Island’s visitors. The Constitution Island Association was founded in 1916 to preserve and protect the history and traditions of this unique American site. Also learn about the
chaining of the Hudson.
Things To Do at Constitution Island
Hiking Trails
Historic Site
Warner House
Daily and Weekend Tours
Cold Spring Tours
Daily tours leave from West Point’s South Dock
Weekend tours & Special Events are served by a shuttle bus from the
Cold Spring Metro-Northtrain station.
Eisenhower Hall Theatre is located at West Point, NY 10996-1593 in Orange County.
From Eisenhower Hall Theatre
"The Eisenhower Hall Theatre at West Point is dedicated to bringing great performances to the United States Corps of Cadets and to its friends and neighbors throughout the Hudson Valley.
"Eisenhower Hall Theatre is the Hudson Valley's premiere performing arts center. It's a special showplace where stars appear regularly and where the excitement of Broadway plays and musicals are standard fare. Opera, dance, symphony orchestras, comedians, staged spectaculars, country and rock are all on the menu.
"Eisenhower Hall Theatre is situated on the West bank of the
scenic Hudson River
and is located on the historic grounds of the United States Military Academy at West Point. The theatre is one of America's largest (second only to New York's Radio City Music Hall)."
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for this season's calendar and more about Eisenhower Hall Theatre at West Point.
Set on a hilltop overlooking the majestic Hudson River, The Thayer Hotel at West Point is a national historic landmark located in the heart of the Hudson Valley. The majestic, Gothic-style, granite building sits at the south entrance to the U.S. Military Academy, offering dramatic views of the Hudson River and the Hudson Highlands.
With beautiful vistas, 151 luxury guest rooms, 10 meetings rooms, and fine dining, The Thayer Hotel at West Point is an ideal destination for a vacation. In keeping with the historic architecture, the dining room retains the old world charm with leaded glass windows, chandeliers and portraits of military leaders of the past. During the summer months, the Hudson Terrace offers alfresco dining and views of the Hudson River and historic Constitution Island.
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for more about The Thayer Hotel.
The United States Military Academy Museum is considered to be the oldest and largest diversified public collection of militaria in the Western Hemisphere. The museum is located in West Point, NY 10996 in Orange County.
About the West Point Museum
"As a department of the United States Military Academy, the Museum supports cadet academic, military and cultural instruction. Its collections include nearly all aspects of military history and encompass the history of West Point and the United States Military Academy, the evolution of warfare, and the development of the American Armed Forces. While only a portion of the collection is on display, all artifacts are available for cadet academic instruction, special exhibition and research.
"Based upon captured British materials brought to West Point after the British defeat at Saratoga in 1777, the Museum collections actually predate the founding of the United States Military Academy. When the Academy opened in 1802, many Revolutionary War trophies remained to be used for cadet instruction.
"By the 1820s, a teaching collection of artifacts existed at the Military Academy and after the Mexican War (1846 - 1848) West Point was designated by Executive Order as the permanent depository of war trophies. In 1854 the first public museum was opened and in 1989 the West Point Museum in Olmsted Hall opened at Pershing Center. Today it represents the culmination of more than two centuries of preserving our military heritage."
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for more about the United States Military Academy Museum at West Point.
Go bowling at West Point Bowling Center, located at Bldg. 622, Swift Road (near Buffalo Soldier Field), West Point, NY 10996.
Things To Do
Birthday Parties (parties for kids and adults)
Bowling lanes (10)
Bowling leagues
Bumper bowling for children
Galactic bowling (Fri. & Sat. 6 pm to 11 pm)
Open bowling
Specials
Dollar Night Wednesdays (All games only $1 between 6 - 9 pm)Family Nights on Tuesday (Unlimited bowling for 2 hours)
Visiting West Point
West Point is located in West Point, NY 10996, Orange County in the Historic Hudson Valley.
"The Visitors Center provides an excellent central starting point for all visitors to the U.S. Military Academy. The Visitors Center and West Point Museum are open to the general public on a daily basis. Visitors may enter the academy grounds only by guided tours, however, there are no guided tours during Graduation Week, on Football home game days, or on any days the Visitors Center is closed or closes early. Tours may be cancelled at any time. It is strongly recommended that visitors call the Visitors Center, (845) 938-2638 the week they are traveling to West Point to check on the status of the tours."
For current schedule of tours and prices, call West Point Tours at 845-446-4724.
"West Point is not open for self touring. Visitors may take a nominally priced guided tour of the Academy grounds departing from the West Point Visitors Center. Entrance is allowed for business, for visiting staff, faculty and cadets who live on West Point, and for public events such as concerts, sporting events, cadet reviews, and graduation. A valid photo ID is required for all adults 16 and over, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Please allow additional time to enter the post if coming for well-attended events such as football games and concerts.
"The original Visitors Center was officially opened May 1, 1952, in the field artillery sheds at the south end of post, a site now occupied by the provost marshal’s office. The current Visitors Center, which opened September 1, 1989, on the site of the former Ladycliff College Library, continues to attract, educate and inform the public about the Academy and its environs. Videos on cadet life and West Point history are shown continuously throughout the day."
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for more about West Point Academics, Military, News, History, and West Point Cemetery.