Your Best Bets: What to Do This Weekend (and Beyond)

Good morning! Today is Wednesday, March 30, and you are reading today’s section of Examiner+, a digital newsmagazine serving Westchester, Putnam, and the surrounding Hudson Valley.

Need to subscribe — or upgrade your Examiner+ subscription to enjoy full access to all of our premium digital content? Details here.

For me, settling my mind always included visiting the water. As a teenager in the Bronx, I would hop on my bicycle and ride over to Country Club to sit by the water. I had a favorite rock to just sit and be. Now a Westchester resident for more years than I lived in the Bronx, I have found a number of beautiful places by the water to walk and be. What a wonderful way to start this new Spring season.

Peekskill Riverfront Green Park

I love walking at Peekskill Riverfront Green Park because it includes the scenic Hudson River, but you can also feel the bustle of spring activities. Kids are running around the playground, people are bringing their boats to the launch. Others are already sailing along the River. It is a wonderful place to just take in Spring. Sometimes a visit to one of the coffee shops or artist lofts wraps up the experience, but often, I am just there for a walk along the River. There is some free parking available for four hours for those who want to enjoy the park.
1 Robin Dr
Peekskill
www.visitwestchesterny.com/listing/peekskill-riverfront-green-park/82/

Scenic Hudson Park

https://instagram.com/p/CRC4UWYMH_K/

Another great place to take in Hudson River views is Scenic Hudson Park in Irvington. Aptly named, the Park provides a walkway along the riverbank and just lets you soak in its majesty. Take a look downriver and enjoy the New York City skyline in the distance. Depending on the weather, the views of the city are clear or just peeking through a haze. The trails are part of the Hudson River Greenway Water Trail site and the Westchester River Walk for longer adventures.
71 Main St
Irvington
www.irvingtonny.gov/90/Scenic-Hudson-Park

Glen Island Park

Glen Island Park in New Rochelle always makes me think of my childhood. As Bronxites, we always visited in the off months when a park pass was not required. My family spent so much time watching the draw bridge go up and down, flying kites, and just walking along the water. As an adult, I rode the paths there on my bicycle taking in all the sounds of the Long Island Sound. The 105 acres include sculptures, cannons, a beach, picnic areas, and remnants of castles. Glen Island Park is beautiful every season for a quick stroll or a day in the park.
Weyman Avenue
New Rochelle
parks.westchestergov.com/glen-island-park

Croton Gorge Park

When I think of waterfalls in Westchester, the first place I think of is the Croton Dam in Croton Gorge Park. People can be seen hiking, fishing, picnicking, and in the winter cross country skiing and sledding. The waterfall and spillway catch the sun differently every time I see them. I love to watch the light dance as I listen to the rush of the water.

The history is just as intriguing as the waterfall. According to the Westchester parks website, “Completed in 1842, it was the prototype for many municipal water supply dams in the east during the mid-nineteenth century.”
35 Yorktown Road
Croton-on-Hudson
https://parks.westchestergov.com/croton-gorge-park

Cranberry Lake Preserve

When water just isn’t enough and I want to catch some nature too, Cranberry Lake Preserve is a perfect choice. Nestled in West Harrison, the 190-acre park is home to all sorts of wildlife, including turtles, a variety of bird species, and many other plants and animals. The preserve includes a variety of habitats including the lake, a swamp, a mixed hardwood forest, vernal pools, scrubland, and cliffs. Each brings a unique set of animals and plants to see while walking on the trails. The Nature Center at the Preserve has formal family programs and interactive educational displays to round out weekend visits.
1609 Old Orchard St
West Harrison
parks.westchestergov.com/cranberry-lake

A media specialist in the education and not-for-profit sectors, Patrice Athanasidy has written in the Hudson Valley for over 25 years. A Bronx native, she loves exploring all the Hudson Valley has to offer from parks to theaters to historic places. Athanasidy is an adjunct professor of communication at Manhattan College and also an alumna. Now a resident of Westchester County, she is a wife and mom of three grown children and has written columns about living family life on the autistic spectrum.

We hope you’ve enjoyed today’s section of Examiner+. What did you think? We love honest feedback. Tell us: examinerplus@theexaminernews.com

For hyperlocal news coverage of Westchester and Putnam from our four community newspapers, visit our sister site, www.theexaminernews.com

Robert Schork

Robert Schork is Examiner Media’s Digital Editorial Director.

Visit Robert’s full author bio here.