Westchester County, New York: History and Fresh Flavors in the Hudson Valley

Many of New York State’s most notable figures and families made the Westchester County region their home, building spectacular estates on the banks of the Hudson River and in the serene countryside. Kykuit, The Rockefeller Estate, in Sleepy Hollow, is where the Rockefeller family lived for four generations. Today, you can take tours of the opulent main house, extensive art galleries and gorgeous terraced gardens. In Tarrytown, see the Gothic Revival-style Lyndhurst Mansion. A variety of tours of the home are available, with some including strolls on the expansive grounds and even a visit to the restored two-lane bowling alley in the Recreation Pavilion. Sign up for the popular Upstairs-Downstairs tour for a 90-minute excursion to explore from the top of the tower to the basement. You’ll see everything from original paintings and furnishings to the kitchens and servants’ spaces. At the Jay Heritage Center in Rye, see the home of John Jay, a founding father who helped lead the USA toward independence and later served as the country’s first Chief Justice. Take a guided tour of the 1838 mansion and gardens, then browse exhibits on his life and work in the Jay Estate Visitor and Education Center. You’ll also see preserved artifacts from and hear the stories of the Indigenous societies who lived on this land before the estate was built. A tour of the Glenview Mansion is a staple experience at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, which also houses an art collection and planetarium. Round out your experience with a visit to Katonah to check out live symphonic, opera and chamber music performances at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. Architecture lovers aren’t left out: The historic Rosen House onsite makes a great pre-concert stop.

No visit to Westchester County would be complete without spending some time soaking up magnificent landscapes. Surround yourself in the area’s serene waterways with kayak and stand up paddleboard rentals, tours and lessons with Hudson River Recreation and Hudson River Expeditions. Head to New Rochelle to learn to sail on the Long Island Sound with Port Sailing School, or rent a rowboat to paddle Mohansic Lake at Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown. If you’d prefer to explore on land, paved hiking and biking trails like the Bronx River Pathway and North-South County Trailway connect Westchester to New York City. Adaptive hiking experiences are easily accessible, with the Trail Without Limits Hiking program offering rentals of all-terrain trackchairs for free after pre-registering. Sports enthusiasts can tee off on a variety of scenic public golf courses (including one designed by famed golf architect Pete Dye) and cheer on the professional Westchester Soccer Club in Mount Vernon. Deepen your connection to the natural world with a visit to the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, a unique wildlife preserve and educational center offering a close-up look at the efforts to rehabilitate injured wolves and conserve their natural habitats.

Dig into a delectable dining scene packed with farm-fresh flavors and local ingredients. Many of Westchester County’s notable restaurants grow their very own produce on site, with options like Harvest on Hudson in Hastings-on-Hudson and Purdy’s Farmer & the Fish in North Salem providing their own twists on farm-to-table (and sea-to-table) dining concepts. RiverMarket Bar & Kitchen in Tarrytown and Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills expand the local and sustainable focus of their dining rooms to their adjoining market spaces, where you can browse artisan goods after enjoying a meal full of seasonal ingredients. Wash all that local bounty down with a hand-crafted drink on the Westchester Craft Beverage Trail. Explore 21 breweries, distilleries and cideries for tours and tastings of local libations, all surrounded by the natural beauty of New York State.

Take a direct flight to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York City, or fly into New York Stewart International Airport (SWF) in New Windsor, New York. Connecting flights are available to Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains.

Rent a car or make use of trains and buses with multiple stops in Westchester County: Amtrak’s Northeast Regional and Empire Service passenger trains make stops in Yonkers, New Rochelle and Croton-on-Hudson, and Metro-North Railroad connects Westchester directly to New York City and points north.