Since my wife and I became parents, I feel like we've both become playground connoisseurs. We've…read moremade quite a list of good playgrounds in the tri-state area, but one of our absolute favorites is Julie's Jungle in Hopewell Junction, New York. Inceptioned in 2012, the playground was named after Julie Keating. Young Julie was afflicted with both physical and cognitive disabilities and was often unable to join in on the fun at her local park. She tragically passed away in 2007 at the age of 15. Her younger sister Natalie later wrote a letter to the East Fishkill recreation committee asking them to build a handicapped-accessible playground. The town accepted the proposal. Phase I of the playground opened in 2016 and Phase II was completed in 2018. Julie's Jungle was the first fully accessible playground built in Dutchess County. It was built for children of all abilities to play and learn together. It's equipped with accessible routes and paths throughout, ramps, spacious decks, short stair heights, Braille play panels, and even a sensory garden. Whenever my family and I are passing through the area, we always make a point to stop at Julie's Jungle. Both of my sons love playing here. They have so much fun that our visits seem to end in the blink of an eye. We wish that more playgrounds were like this. FUN FACT: For those parents like me who enjoy good craft beer and wood-fired pizza, Sloop Brewing Company is just a three-minute drive away!

An amazing playground with something for everyone! My 2,3 and 4 year old grandchildren were…read morethrilled. The only hard part is getting them to leave!

Advice: arrive early for a parking spot. Sometimes the parking lot is full because there is a…read morehiking group, other times it's individuals or families. This is a great short hike about 45 mins per the park ranger but without stopping you probably can finish around 30-40 minutes just strolling. You can climb up the hill for a better view though the climb down is a bit steep and rocky, not recommended for toddlers. There is also a beach that is full of tree trunks for a nice break. Go breathe the fresh air and get away from the city.

A beautiful, yet easy, hike. Make sure you go down by the water and check out the caves and the hut…read moremade of logs

This playground is one of my favorite in the area. It seems to be on the newer side, as the…read moreequipment is in great shape. There's an area for younger kids, and an area for older kids; and both sections have robust options. (That's not always the case!) There's also ample shade here. I cannot stress how delightful that is, especially in the summer. There's an area of musical instruments, which I've seen at a handful of other playgrounds, but, again, it's in pretty great shape here. The sand area is relatively clean. At least for now! It's also close to downtown in case you have any errands you need to do on your way.

This is a very nice playground. It's an interactive space with plenty of different areas to explore…read morefor children that may have different interests. There are musical instruments, swings and multiple structures to climbs, as well as a small sand park area. Many of the structurs have ages printed on them. I would suggest that parents definitely watch smaller kids on some of the structures so they don't hurt themselves. There's a structure with rolling pieces and I would definitely see a kid falling and hurting themselves or getting a finger pinched while moving across. The swingset has swings for different stages and abilities which I love. People form the community gave back to build this wonderful park and it's a great addition to the neighborhood. Be careful walking across the street. The multiple stop signs make drivers impatient and they speed up almost as if to scare you out of the way, despite rushing to another stop sign.

Great playground for the kids. Has a great area for sports like soccer or softball playing…read more Bathrooms and ample parking available.

Twin Brooks Park is a very beautiful and well maintained park. It has a nice paved walking/bike…read morepath with flowers and trees that bloom in spring and summer. There are a total of 5 ponds/lakes, two of which people sometimes fish at. There are swings (in very good condition) and a playground that is suitable for kids around age 4-13. In the winter Twin Brooks has easily the best sledding hill in a 10 mile radius. It's such a good sledding hill that it can actually be dangerous due to the sheer distance. With most sleds you don't have to worry but with high quality inner tubes you can generate a lot of speed. Sledding not your thing? No problem! There is also an extensive network of mountain biking/hiking trails in the woods to the north of the park. In fact you can mountain bike or hike from Beach Memorial Park all the way to Twin Brooks! Twin Brooks is beautiful in all 4 seasons, just don't forget your Trumbull parking pass. If you don't have one there is street parking on Franklin Street.

Place is gorgeous and even better it was a little over an hour away from my house ! After recently…read moregoing to Niagara Falls on that long 8 hour drive I was thinking about how nice it was and wanted something somewhat similar. Yes it's just a state park but it has some nice walking trails and beautiful views . The bridge over the dam reminded me of the rainbow bridge over the Niagara river. They have paid parking for 10 bucks although today to my delight was free the booth wasn't open to pay lucky me . I parked easily I guess during October it's off peak season. My advice park at the bottom walk up to the top and then walk back down . Spend two hours or more enjoy take photos enjoy the sun and be one with nature .

Went here for the first time and it was gorgeous! Parking is $10 flat fee, I went on a week day so…read moreit wasn't busy at all. The hiking trail was a bit tricky to find because they don't have any signs telling you where to go, but once I figured that out then it was easy! The hiking trail itself was nice, amazing views once you're up top and waterfalls were gorgeous! Great place for a picnic or to spend time with family!

We made a day of going up to Peekskill one Sunday in late August of '19 just to grab a quick lunch…read morethen noticed Riverfront. The short stay, strolling and absorbing the sun was relaxing and peaceful- especially being up close to the Hudson River. One of the things hubs and I always appreciate is how much art work Peekskill has included in their landscape. And what a nice and quiet retreat it was for us. Even though it was a 20 minute trip heading north to come this way- this was the perfect way to slow down and go outside. Just step outdoors to appreciate this park's contemporary sculptures. And whether you're looking to escape with a book, come for a picnic or just lay on your blanket.....Isn't this what a breath of fresh air is all about?

10/10/25 Visit. Riverfront Green Park has a little something for all ages!…read more It's right by the Peekskill train station *Kids- A wonderful and colorful playground area with swings and slides. Decent restroom facilities are nearby. *Adults- Seating areas to view the beautiful waterfront and stunning sculptures. Please see attached sculpture photos. Saw several men out fishing the day we visited. Across from the park, there's several places to eat. Unfortunately, cleanup needs to be done due to the Canadian geese droppings in the children's section.

7th September 2026 Untermyer Gardens…read moreYonkers, NY Very Sunny 72°F Did you know that in 1913 Samuel Untermyer hired William Bosworth who was the same designer of Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate in Pocantico, to design the "finest garden in the world"? His vision was of a theatrical, magnificent landscape blending Indo-Persian, ancient Greek, Roman, and Italian Renaissance designs. When I was last here in 2013, the Untermyer gardens looked sadly desolate and neglected. Today, the gardens have been restored to their true remarkable glory thanks 100% to generous donations in the millions. We could not have chosen a more perfect day to visit the celebrated historical Untermyer Gardens overlooking the Hudson on this glorious Labor Day Monday. I took many photos which do not do justice to the gorgeous scope and details of the beautiful manicured 43 acres. ***Open 7AM to 7PM - seasonally.*** There's more information on their website and QR codes at the entrance with rules to respect the environment. Good job! **Get there early.** We went at 8:30AM. By the time we were leaving at 11AM the park was packed and parking impossible. Thank you so much for reading.

Untermyer Gardens is one of the most beautiful hidden gems in the New York area. The grounds are…read morealways stunning, but they're especially spectacular in September when everything is in full bloom and the gardens are filled with vibrant colors. Admission is completely free, although donations are accepted to help preserve this incredible place--which is amazing considering how well maintained it is. It's the perfect destination to spend about two hours, whether you want to enjoy a peaceful stroll, take plenty of photos, or do a little of both. The breathtaking views of the Hudson River and the Palisades make the visit even more memorable. There's also plenty of free parking, which makes getting there easy. The only reason I'm giving four stars instead of five is that it can get fairly crowded on beautiful weekends, but it's absolutely worth visiting and returning to throughout the year.

Great place. The views here are amazing. We used the yellow trail to hike around the park. There is…read morea water wheel, monument, a old brick building. The walk is short, only takes 30 mins to go through the 0.5 mile hike.

I found this spot to be pretty cool, right in the Cold Spring Train Station parking lot with a…read morelittle pull-off. There are only two parking spots in the area, one for handicapped and also general. The view is very decent, observing the Hudson River in the west and south, being the only highlight. Benches are also provided in the park, to rest and take in the wonderful creation all around. Even though the park is small, Foundry Dock Park is the place to en[joy]!

I visited Hudson Highlands State Park for the first time to hike the Blue Trail, also known as the…read moreCornish Trail. It was only my third time hiking, and that's when I realized how much I love hiking. I definitely plan to hike more often. The Blue Trail is considered beginner-friendly, I found parts of it a bit challenging because of the incline. Still, the effort was worth it, the view of South Beacon Mountain was absolutely beautiful. The hike itself was a great experience, especially with friends. Near the train station, there are small shops where you can grab food, drinks, or any last-minute supplies. There are also restrooms by the station and portable toilet near the trail areas. I would definitely come back to hike there again, maybe do the red trail.

One of the best hikes that I have gone on this year! Initially, we were going to do the Bull Hill…read moreFull Loop which is an estimated 3-4 hours. This is definitely a moderate trail. If you go in the winter, take caution with the ice when climbing to the top. After about an hour into the trail, you will see a sign to continue on the Full Loop or the Short Loop. When we reached that point, we switched to the Bull Hill Short Loop. It took around 3 hours to complete. The trails have beautiful views! You will see other hikers, but everyone keeps a safe distance. Take time to stop and enjoy the surrounding. There are portable toilets at the beginning of the trail with hand sanitizers if you need to use a bathroom.

Excellent park, the disc golf course is great…read more Now if everyone that the park would clean up after themselves, it would be a far better place to be. People are walking their dogs and leaving their half-empty coffee cups all over, tossing single-use plastic bottles wherever they want, leaving packaged food wrappers to blow away in the wind, and having the audacity to pick up their dog's poop with poop bags only to leave the tied off bags laying on the ground. This park is for public use, and on top of that, is inhabited by many wild animals. This is their home, and park patrons are literally trashing it. Please be more considerate of your environmental impact by reducing your waste through use of reusable cups/bottles, and leave the space you occupy looking better than it was when you found it. Otherwise, stay home and trash your own house.

FDR park is a spacious 960 acre park. This open park has nice trails for long walks, jogging, and…read morebicycling. There are basketball courts, fields for playing soccer or softball, and a children's playground. I could not believe the many areas for barbecuing with plenty of picnic tables, charcoal grills, and some areas even had volleyball nets,. Perfect for cookouts, and nice pavilions for events. There is also a beautiful scenic lake where you can rent row boats, and fish. It is also home to the largest pool of all New York State parks that can accommodate 3,500 people.