Page 24 - Westchester Travel and Meeting - 2016-17

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
A Breath of FRESH AIR
Westchester County is home to miles of open spaces and natural wonders, places to hike and explore, and quiet spots to dream and recharge.
Teatown Lake Reservation
Legend has it that Teatown’s moniker dates to 1776, when local women liberated a chest of tea from a profiteer, giving the land its name. Today, Teatown is a center of environmental education and awareness, with
some 1,000 acres that include lakes, swamps, hemlock forests and laurel groves. You can walk nearly 15 miles of trails, cross-country ski in the winter, or take a guided tour of Wildflower Island — home to over 230 native and endangered wildflower species. Hike along bubbling streams, cross a blue bird meadow, feel the flutter of wings in the butterfly garden, and pass dramatic rock outcroppings and cascading waterfalls. Education is a key part of the preserve’s mission, with seasonal programs on birding, insects, maple sugaring, geology and more. And don’t miss sign-ups for star gazing, canoeing and snowshoeing.
Croton Point Park
Croton Point Park
Croton comes from a Native American name meaning “Wild Wind” — a perfect fit for this 500+-acre park on
a peninsula jutting into the Hudson River and surrounded by water on three sides. Explore miles of river shoreline and, at the peninsula point, look for signs of its earliest inhabitants: a
dump of oyster shells, the oldest on the North Atlantic coast, dates back as
far as 7,000 years. This popular park is perfect for swimming, launching your canoe or kayak, and camping — there are cabins, campsites and RV hook- ups. Stop at the Nature Center for a briefing on local flora and fauna, grab a park map and then set out to discover historic ruins scattered across the site. Look up and you might spot a Bald Eagle — or a remote-controlled model airplane, that hobby enthusiasts fly from their own park runway!
Flying High
Did you know that over 150 bald eagles spend the winter along Hudson Valley waterways? At Teatown’s EagleFest at Croton Point Park you can track these majestic birds, enjoy storytelling and children’s programs in heated tents, and catch free rides to viewing sites.
Sweet
Every winter, visitors can stop by Teatown’s Sugar House to learn facts and folklore about maple syrup-making, from tapping the tree to filling the
sap bucket to
boiling and bottling.
22 WESTCHESTER Official Meeting & Travel Guide 2016-17