Page 50 - The Business Council of Westchester - 2018 Relocation Guide

FOR KIDS
Play a new way
One of the great things about living in Westchester is that with such an abundance of activities and events for kids, boredom is hard to find. Sports enthusiasts can always find a team or camp to enhance their
skills; budding actors have access to theaters and theater groups; and there are plenty of classes and courses for cooking, dance, karate, art, horseback riding, and more.
iFly Indoor Skydiving at Ridge Hill in Yonkers
Vladimir Zolottev shares his expertise at Ki Martial Arts in Tuckahoe. Takahashi Karate Doto in Mount Kisco has been teaching traditional Japanese Shotokan Karate for over 30 years.
EQUESTRIAN INSTRUCTION
Horseback riding takes full advantage of living in the Hudson Valley. Riders range from beginners to competitors. Hollow Brook Riding Academy offers lessons and boarding in Putnam Valley with miles of great trails. Echo Farm in South Salem and Summit Farm in North Salem are just two of the reasons these areas are horse coun- try. Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, in Pleas- antville and Brewster, is available to make riding accessible to all.
ART
Artists can explore their creativity at several art centers with after-school and summer programs. The Katonah Art Mu- seum and Hudson River Museum are just two locations where painters, sculptors, and sketchers can turn their next inspira- tion into works of art.
OTHER FUN SPOTS
Explore the fashion scene at the West- chester Fashion Academy for Children in White Plains. Get your kids cooking at Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture in Pocantico Hills. Put your little builders to work at LegoLand Discovery Center at Ridge Hill in Yonkers, where you can also safely soar the indoor sky at iFly. Or visit the massive brand-new 40,000 sq. ft. Spins Hudson entertainment complex in Peekskill. Of course, for fun on a historic level, nothing beats the legendary Rye Playland, which not only boasts the iconic Dragon Coaster but has been a National Historic Landmark since 1987.
READING
Libraries throughout the region spon- sor reading programs year-round. Many encourage older children to read to young- er children. Some create a bedtime-story atmosphere by encouraging participants to wear PJs and bring a plush toy. A num- ber of libraries sponsor special summer reading programs that include reward sys- tems and special events at the end of sum- mer to celebrate readers’ success.
SPORTS
Make the most of your serve at the Ar- monk Tennis Club, with 14 indoor and outdoor courts, or practice your return at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy at Lake Isle in Eastchester.
Sculpt your little Tiger Woods or Mi- chelle Wie at The First Tee in White Plains, a comprehensive, multifaceted program available to kids ages 5 and up.
Want to learn the ins and outs of soc- cer? Joe Palumbo and his soccer academy in Putnam Valley have the answer.
At 120,000 sq. ft., the House of Sports in Ardsley is the largest indoor sports complex in the New York-Metropolitan area. More than 2,000 athletes train week- ly with academies available in basketball, lacrosse, and baseball.
When it comes time to rest after all that activity, take in a Westchester Knicks pro- fessional NBA game at the County Center in White Plains.
THEATER
A number of the children’s theaters in the region can point to their performers on the Broadway stage. Explore options at Lighthouse Youth Theatre in Armonk, Random Farms Kids Theater in Elmsford, Yorktown Kids Theater, The Depot Theatre in Garrison, Drama Kids International
throughout Orange County, and Helen Hayes Youth Theater in Nyack.
MUSIC
Make merry music as early as preschool. Programs like Musical Munchkins and Music Together help caregivers and young children find their rhythm with classes in a number of towns. For instrument train- ing, join programs at the Music Conserva- tory of Westchester in White Plains. Ex- plore classical, jazz, rock, folk, and more. There are many expert teachers from Larchmont Music Academy to Putnam Music Center in Mahopac.
DANCE & GYMNASTICS
From ballet to tap to hip-hop, students take to dance floors throughout the valley. Hudson Dance and Tumble in Montrose performs their recitals at SUNY Purchase. Dance for Joy in Yorktown has become a holiday tradition with its Nutcracker per- formance. In White Plains, students train at City Center Dance, home of the West- chester Knicks Dance Team.
Meanwhile, for the bars and beams, head to Westchester Gymnastics and Cheer in Hawthorne to see students soar. There’s also Spotlight Gymnastics in Pel- ham Manor and Dynamic Gymnastics in Mohegan Lake, which begins working with kids at age 2. Ziggy’s Gymnastics Academy in Middletown includes classes for special-needs students.
KARATE
Students learn personal discipline while staying fit, whether preparing for a yellow or black belt in classes or on teams. West- chester Martial Arts Academy in East- chester includes classes in self-defense, kick-boxing, and the traditional martial arts. World Cup Karate Champion Sensei
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LIVING IN WESTCHESTER AND THE HUDSON VALLEY | RELOCATION & MOVING GUIDE