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Brotherhood Winery
Brotherhood Winery is one of the oldest wineries in the USA. It was established in 1839, a few years before our house was built! They offer a great brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. It is definitely a neat spot to check out. www.brotherhood-winery.com |
Palaia Vineyards
This vineyard is about 10 miles from our house and is located in Highland Mills, NY. Stop by on the weekend when they have live music. In addition to their own wine, they also carry several craft beers and hard cider. www.palaiavineyards.com |
Applewood Winery
Applewood Winery makes wine and hard cider! They are located in Warwick, NY. Their cellar is on their farm. They also have a seasonal cafe and live music. www.applewoodwinery.com |
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Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery
Located in Warwick, NY, this winery and distillery is open all year round. They have regular wine tastings and no reservations are required. There is also a cafe on cite which is open Thursday - Sunday. Check their calendar to find out about music happenings and other events. www.wvwinery.com |
Newburgh Brewing Company
If you're not a fan of wine, be sure to check out this local brewery located in Newburgh, NY. Their selection changes pretty often so be sure to look on their website for what they have to offer. www.newburghbrewing.com |
Orange County Distillery
A very local distillery, the owners do everything themselves. They are truly your farm-to-bottle operation. The owners would be happy to talk to you about their distillery processes. They are very warm and friendly guys! www.orangecountydistillery.com |
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The Exposures Gallery
If you are looking for art for fine homes, corporate and health care settings, this is the place to go. Located in the quaint town of Sugar Loaf, this is a great art gallery to see. Pacem in Terris This gallery is a trans-religious sanctuary. The creator, Dr. Fancks; art has been on display throughout the world. This gallery is rated as one of the top galleries in the area. Storm King Art Center Highly regarded as the United States best art sculpture parks, Storm King Art Center is definitely a place for art and nature lovers. The 500-acres of land is carefully landscaped with fields, artwork, and woodlands. The hours depend on the season, so be sure to check out their website: www.stormking.org/visit |
Be sure to take a drive to the lovely town of Sugar Loaf. This town is a community of artists. Shops sell handmade arts and crafts, pottery, leather goods, local American Indian items, artwork, hand made toys, wood working, fine art, candles and soaps, stained glass as well as beautiful one of a kind jewelry. If you are looking for a special gift, this is definitely the place to find one-of-a-kind pieces. The stores are owned by the local artists and many have been around for decades. This is such a cute town. You don't want to miss out on visiting. Open year round.www.sugarloafnewyork.com/fun
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Harriman State Park
Our favorite hiking spot is in Harriman State Park. Harriman State Park is home to wildlife with an abundance of wildlife. There are 8 different hiking trials that anyone can visit. There are separate hiking trials for experienced hikers only. Harriman State Park has over 52,000 acres, 235 miles of hiking trails and countless lakes, beaches, ice skating in winter, fishing and boating. This is the second largest state park in NY. Check out this map for further direction and information. |
Sterling Forest State Park
For more experienced hikers, you may want to check out Surprise Lake in Sterling Forest. The hike is about 4.0 miles but has a lot of steep climbs, rough terrains and rocks. Check out this website for more information. More Forests and Parks within 20 minutes • Bear Mountain State Park • Ringwood State Park • Norvin Green State Forest • Abram S. Hewitt State Forest • Wawayanda State Park |
Golfing |
Miniature Golf & More |
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There are more than 5 golf courses within 10 miles of our home. Located just down the road is Mansion Ridge Golf Course. This 220-acre estate is open to the public and designed by Jack Nicklaus. They are open all year round and booking for tee time can be done on their website. West Point Golf course has an 18-hole golf course nestled in a mountain layout and is spikeless. You can also check out the 18-hole golf course at Falkirk Estate and Country Club, and the Monroe Country Club.
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In case the kids are not ready for the pro golf-courses, you can take them to the Castle in Chester, NY. The Castle Fun Center also has several other kids activities such as laser tag, go-kart racing, roller skating, rock climbing and much more. Be sure to check out there website.
www.castlefuncenter.com |
Swimming |
Boating |
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If you prefer to change it up and go for swim somewhere else besides our pool, be sure to go visit these lakes. Lake Welch and Tiorati Beach with crystal clear water, sandy beaches and areas to jump off of rocks is set inside Harriman State Park within over 47,000 acres and is the 2nd larges park in New York State.
Hot Balloon Rides |
Boat rental is available at Harriman State Park. Another option would be to visit Greenwood Lake, where you can rent boats from the Marina.
Watersports |
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Take a ride in a hot air balloon. There is no better way to experience the breathtaking aerial views of the lush Hudson Valley. Incredibly quiet and peaceful and only 20 minutes from Orchard Hill.
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Check out Harriman State Park and Greenwood Lake for lots of water sport activities.
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Skiing |
Ice Skating |
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We are just a short ride from four ski resorts. Sterling forest is about a 15 minute drive (but it is under renovations for the 2016/2017 season as of now). Another great ski resort is at Mountain Creek. Mountain Creek has 4 peaks, 8 ski lifts and various options for different levels of skiers. They offer rentals for skis and snowboards and they also have a snow tubing section! Have you ever been snow tubing? It is so much fun! The kids will love it. Other options include to check out skiing at West Point and Mount Peter, which is about 20 minutes away. Ask us about ski and stay deals for skiing at Mt. Peter!!
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If you have your own skates, the town of Monroe offers free skating on the duck pond when the weather permits. If you don't have your own ice skates and want to skate outside, we would highly recommend going to Bear Mountain. Here you can skate under the open sky, you can also check out Harriman State Park, which is on the other side of Bear Mountain. However, if you would like to be inside, feel free to check out Ice Time Sports Complex, in Newburgh, NY.
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The Woodbury Commons |
Antique Shopping |
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Shop to your heart drops at the fabulous Woodbury Commons Outlets. These premium outlets are easily accessable from our home (only 1 mile drive). The Woodbury Commons is a frequent tourist destination and has over 220 stores!
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The Lower Hudson Valley is rich in history. While visiting, take a piece of history home. Visit the fabulous town of Sugar Loaf or Warwick for some great antique shopping. For hardcore antique collectors, visit the small towns running along the Hudson River.
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Museum Village |
Warwick Drive-In |
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Museum Village is an open-air historical museum. Visit here for the oppotunity to explore the 19th century American life. They have a wide range of eclectic artifacts, and they also provide hands-on experiences and exhibits that ilustrate the transition from rural to industral culture in America. This is a great spot to visit in the winter too.
Check out there website for admission rates and hours: www.museumvillage.org |
One of our ultimate favorite things to do in the area is to go to the Warwick Drive-In to catch a double feature. This is perhaps one of the few authentic drive-in movie theaters left in the country. The theatre was built in 1950 on 5 acres of land. There are 3 different screens, and each has a double feature. This is a definite must-do in the area. Although they close in the winter, the Warwick Drive-In opens in March!!!
Check out the current features at : www.warwickdrivein.com |
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Farmers' MarketsMonroe:
Tuxedo:
Cornwall:
Washingtonville
For other days of the week, please check out this website: http://orangetourism.org/explore/attractions/farms-and-markets/weekly-downtown-farmers-markets/ |
Visit the FarmBellevale Farms Creamery - excellent ice cream Warwick, NY Ochs Orchard - Apple, Pumpkin and Fresh Fruit Picking (seasonal) Warwick, NY Pennings Farm Market - Apple, Pumpkin & Fresh Fruit Picking (seasonal) Warwick, NY Blooming Hill Organic Farm 1251 Route 208 Blooming Grove, NY My Saddlebrook farm - animal rescue 163 Berea Road Walden, NY Gray Family Farm - meat, olive oil and maple syrup 261 Otterill Road New Windsor, NY Brookfields Farm - all natural beef sales 220 Route 17A Goshen, NY For other farms in the area, please visit: http://orangetourism.org/explore/attractions/farms-and-markets/ |
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Waterparks
There are two waterparks within 40 minutes from our house. Although they have skiing in the winter, Mountain Creek also has a waterpark in the summer. A little further away, you can visit Splashdown Beach in Fishkill, NY. Splashdown Beach has been termed the largest, little water park in the nation. Both places are great options. |
Renaissance Faire
The New York Renaissance Faire is located in Tuxedo, NY, which is about a 10 minute drive. The fair is open on Saturdays and Sundays from August 5 - Oct 1, 2017. Tickets can be purchased online. Not sure what the Renaissance Faire is? It is a recreation of a Renaissance or Medieval village. Take a step back in time and explore this village that is filled with laughter, shows and excitement. The Renaissance Faire features more than 125 performances on 20 stages, over 100 craftspeople, and is located on 65 acres of forest. |
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Monroe Cheese FestivalOne of the first cheese factories in the United States was built in Monroe, NY in 1873 by Julius Wettstein, a German immigrant. The factory was sold in 1878 when he returned to Germany. After many years of changing of ownership, the Monroe Cheese Company closed its doors in 1926. It was then sold to Velveeta Cheese, which was then bought out by Kraft. Starting in 1989, the town of Monroe decided to throw a festival in honor of the company and celebrate. This festival is held every year in September. You can read more about the cheese festival here.
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Forest of FearAfter the Renaissance Faire closes it doors, it is time for the Forest of Fear to open! This very scary attraction is not recommended for children under the age of 12. However, for adults, be prepared to be very very scared. With over 7 main attractions and several smaller acts, the forest of fear will definitely be all you need for the best Halloween experience ever. The Forest of Fear is open during the month of October. Check out opening times and ticket rates on their website: www.renfair.com/forestoffear
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