Normally I only come out here to go jogging, 4th of July or memorial Day parade type stuff…read more However, it was a pretty nice day over the weekend and we went out there to sit by the pond which was actually full and not bug. Infested. Algonquin Park itself has a bunch of nice trails and it's so peaceful out there when the wind is blowing and you have a slice of pizza and some drinks from the place across the street. It's very family friendly and well kept. Don't remember any Canadian geese being out there actually, which was quite a surprise. Happy that the parks department for the town Newburgh takes care of this place.

This is a huge sprawling neoghbourhood park that has all the things we typically expect and want in…read moresuch a park - a variety of trails, a year-round stream, a bridge, remnants of historical structures, shaded pocnic spots, restrooms, a (very large) children's playground, and ample free parking. The water levels for the stream apparently can vary quiet a bit, as we've seen them swell up to a river early spring versus the typical babbling brook. I hope efforts continue to maintain and preserve this natural space for all to enjoy.

Beautiful park with variety of trails and scenic views…read more Harriman State Park has been one of our family's all-time favorites for the past 25 years, offering spectacular foliage and awesome hikes of different difficulty levels and lengths. The park features lakes, panoramic views, and scenic drives, making it a perfect destination just outside New York City. We highly recommend Harriman State Park for anyone seeking nature, forest hikes, and stunning views.

Fascinating Revolutionary War fort that affords an easy walk along a foot path to all the key…read morelocations. Along the way the interpretive kiosks tell the story of the 1779 Battle of Stony Point, a midnight raid that was conducted so expertly by Continental forces, led by "Mad Anthony" Wayne, that it would make SAS Commandos envious. Due to some construction the museum was not open on the day my wife and I visited, and there were no reenactors around but it was still well worth a visit. Much of that had to do with Eric, one of the site's docents. Eric was very informative, educational and just an all around great guy to talk to. I knew a bit about the battle but Eric's detailed information was illuminating. And it wasn't just history of the battle we learned about. He told us about everything from the 19th century lighthouse to the ancient glacial fjord that formed the Hudson to the Eastern Cicada-Killers! Thanks, Eric! All in all, Stony Point Historic Site is well worth a visit. You could probably cover most of it in an hour or two but if you're history freaks like us you'll want to plan for three to four.

PROS: this place was very neat. Loads of hiking trails, scenic roadway to the parking lot…read more CONS: no museum, historic signs, or anything that would teach you about the battle OVERALL: for hiking and scenic roads this place is good, especially since there's free parking, but it isn't the best for history

The Klara Sauer Trail is wonderful, connecting Long Dock Park to the beginning of Dennings Trail,…read moreand also Madden Brett Park via the Dave Miller Connector Trail. The trail lasts 1.1 mile, running parallel to the Hudson River, with different viewpoints along the way, viewing the river. In the north end of Klara, there's a strip of sand that runs along the river, with enough room to sit up some chairs and take everything in. It's like a mini beach if you will. At the southern end of the mini beach, there's a trail that connects back to Klara. Along the way, the trail also comes across the former Beacon Line, which can be walked on to make a lot of space for walkers, and that section is filled with cement. In cool seasons, expect to see many people on the Klara Trail. I still enjoy this trail, and making this stop is well worth it.

Carnwath Farms Park was a huge discovery, and boy, it's a beautiful treat to stop at. The trail…read morethat runs through this park is called the Wappinger Greenway Trail with so many surroundings to explore, and also views to observe across the Hudson River, specifically, to the south and west, Newburgh, West Point, and The Hudson Highlands State Park, to the north, Mid Hudson Bridge, and east, a bit of Fishkill with not a whole lot of viewing. The trail starts as you enter the park, beginning on the right side before the parking lot. There are a couple of spots to park right at the trailhead. It mainly parallels the Hudson River in the woods with a couple of fields until finally reaching more fields. Following the signs, it will end toward Wheeler Hill Road with a downhill with woods. This may go down as my favorite park in the Hudson Valley. The judging belongs to you.

We love Bowdoin Park for so many reasons. The park is so spacious with so many nooks and crannies…read morethat there's something for everyone. Multi use sports fields, swing sets, toddler play areas, great spaces for picnicking, and for my purpose, Dog exploring. My black lab mix has to sniff frequently to feel gratification. So our trips to Bowden Park happened roughly once a week so he can read all the "Social PEEdia.". Regardless of what time or day it is, you'll always find people enjoying the trail, walk, quiet, picnic, entertaining children, or using one of the several permanent gazebo structures to host a celebration. I think it's still possible to rent out the lodge for overnight stays and private parties. I would defer to them to confirm that There's a little chapel on site and I've never been inside, but it looks absolutely adorable. This could be a great place for a casual country wedding celebration and picnic in place of those high priced extravagant weddings. This is our third visit this month and I have failed to report in two other times. If you have a dog, this is a great place to visit but make sure you bring your 6 foot leash. It is mandatory Like all parks in the county, the park closes at dusk. Be respectful and carry your trash out with you if you can't find a receptacle of which there are many. And by all means, clean up after your pet and your children. Keep the Park beautiful for everyone. The location of Bowden Park is on the edges of the Hudson River. You can't see the river from everywhere but you know it's there parallel to the train path to New York City and up to Poughkeepsie

Bowdoin Park is one of those parks where "I wish I discovered this place many years back." Driving…read morein leads to many things to do, a playground for the kids, and two big fields with one providing a baseball and soccer field. Picnic tables are scattered throughout the park along with pavilions. The pavilions are in great shape and in use. Bathrooms are provided in the main building. Also, be on the lookout for upcoming mini concerts, which are performed on the hilly field just as you enter. There are a total of six trails that are assigned a color, starting at one point and ending at a different location (with some reconnecting with the same path), except the blue trail, which does a loop, and also the Wappingers Greenway Trail, which passes through. I've enjoyed exploring, with decent views and scenery. The intersections of different paths need to be marked clearly, and instead, the sign is further in. Reading the map is key to not getting lost, which Bowdoin Park provides. There's a lot to offer for all ages, and it's a destination anyone won't regret along the Hudson River with a touch of nature.

Wow what a beautiful place to take the family. This zoo is very well hidden and was near empty when…read morewe visited. You would never know it's there unless you purposely look for it. Free entry but pay to park certain times of the year.

Pros: 1) Great add-on activity pre/post-hike…read more 2) Lots of cute animals that are pretty close-up. 3) Low cost for admission (it's donation based) 4) You can see the staff feeding the animals, if you time it right. Cons: 1) Quite a few of the animal enclosures were closed. 2) The amenities in the zoo and museum look so dated. (Some don't even work) My wife and I gave our donation upon arrival. However, I noticed many, many, many people walk right past the donation box without even care in the world. I get it, money is tight nowadays. However, if we want these sites to look nice we really should pitch in. Just leave a dollar per person, and it will add up. I really enjoyed my time there, and the workers were really friendly. Pro tip: 1) Don't take your pets into the zoo. We saw a lot of these people. 2) Don't blast music on your bluetooth speaker while walking in the park. That's why we invented headphones, papi.

This was a very quiet and accessible hiking point with a few options for trails with some views. We…read morewalked around and got lost for a bit while trying to go to the top of the rock but it was really nice along the way. We walked by at least two huge reservoir areas. The only thing about the trails are that they deviate from the paved path and you have to look out for the colored markers which takes you "off" the paved path but is the right way to go. We ran into some locals on the way and they were all so so helpful in giving us advice on navigating the area. I personally loved that this area wasn't too packed with people. If you park in the official lot, it's $5 and the people in the front were very nice. There's multiple points to park not so legally too if you want to risk that.

I'm an avid hiker and Black Rock has got to be my least favorite hike despite the mountain having a…read morevast amount of trails to hike. I hiked the entire outskirts of this mountain grabbing all the view points which aren't many but the few that it has were pretty darn nice but in my opinion not worth going out of your way to hike. The trails are well maintained but for some reason I'm just not a huge fan of these trails. I do however frequent Storm King mountain across the road which I visit very frequently so why not stop by here more often, I just can't pin point why I don't really like these trails. Maybe it's not super hard that's why I'm not a fan. I always recommend checking it out for yourself because maybe you'll love this place.