40 Things to Do Outdoors in Westchester, Rockland, and Bergen Counties with Your Kid

Use this as your spring to-do list of outdoor activities in Westchester, Rockland, and Bergen counties for family fun.

By Stacey Feintuch May 13, 2021

After being cooped up all winter, it’s finally possible to head outside for some family fun. You’ll find outdoor activities galore to do with your kids in Westchester, Rockland, and Bergen counties. Here are some you’ll want to check out this month If you visit any of these places, tag @NYMetroParents when you share your pics on Instagram!

Westchester County

1. Croton Point Park

Croton Point Park is home to the Croton Dam and a huge waterfall, which is the centerpiece of the park. Rich in natural and human history, the park is also the site of historic wine cellars that are thought to be the oldest in New York State and the Croton Point Nature Center.

2. Kensico Dam Plaza

Take in the beauty of the Kensico Dam Plaza. Kids will gaze in wonder at this dam that’s 307 feet high and 1,843 feet long.

3. FDR Park

Rent a rowboat or pedal boat to use at Mohansic Lake or Crom Pond, which are part of FDR Park. You can also stroll along the 2-mile paved loop or play at the playground with climbing walls, swings, and other equipment.

4. Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park at Tarrytown

This public park, Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park at Tarrytown, offers magnificent views stretching to the Manhattan skyline. It features a riverside esplanade, grass terraces and lawns, and an eco-corridor filled with native plants.

5. Untermyer Gardens

Located in Yonkers, Untermyer Gardens is a natural gem that your whole family will enjoy. You can visit it throughout the year, and you’ll always experience something new at every visit.

6. Faraway Farm Alpacas

High on a hilltop in the historic Hudson Valley, Faraway Farm is home to award-winning huacaya alpacas, prized for their soft, colorful fleece. Schedule a visit to tour the farm and see the alpacas and Icelandic horses here.

7. Greenburgh Nature Center

Enjoy forest trails, native meadows, seasonal organic gardens, and open green spaces at the Greenburgh Nature Center. Explore one of the many outdoor animal habitats surrounding the Manor House.

8. Brookside Mini Golf

Tackle challenging obstacles at the 19-hole Brookside Mini Golf. The course has been totally renovated including reconstructed bridges, putting greens, and landscaping.

9. Saxon Woods Park

A 700-acre property, Saxon Woods Park has an 18-hole golf course and mini-golf course. It houses the county’s largest swimming pool and the county’s only accessible playground.

10. Teatown Lake Reservation

A nonprofit nature preserve and environmental education center, Teatown Lake Reservation has 15 miles of hiking trails ranging from novice to moderately difficult. You’ll find a 2-acre island refuge for more than 230 species of native wildflowers, and wildlife exhibits.

11. John Jay Homestead

John Jay Homestead was the home for five generations of the Jay family, including Founding Father John Jay. Walk through the Sun Dial Garden, Herb Garden, and Terrace Garden. Picnic on the grounds, shop at a farmers’ market, or see an outdoor movie here.

12. Pruyn Sanctuary

Pruyn Sanctuary protects 92-acres of open space. Enjoy more than 2 miles of hiking trails through diverse habits including a system of boardwalks through Gedney Swamp.

13. Lasdon Park and Arboretum

The 234-acre Lasdon Park & Arboretum has woodlands, open-grass meadows, and formal gardens with flower and shrub specimens from around the world. The park is also home to a museum that honors Westchester veterans.

Rockland County

1. Bear Mountain State Park

Bear Mountain State Park is just over the Bear Mountain Bridge. Picnic and enjoy the views as you eat near Hessian Lake. Kids will love the old-fashioned carousel, playground, and open spaces where they can run.

2. Nyack Beach State Park

Nyack Beach State Park is home to one of the best hawk and raptor viewing areas in the U.S. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Hudson as you look for birds flying overhead.

3. Tappan Golf Center

Play the 18-hole miniature course at Tappan Golf Center. Have fun at the driving range, batting cages, and go-karts, too.

4. Piermont Pier and Marsh

See if the fish are biting at Piermont Pier and Marsh. Park at Bridge Street and enjoy a leisurely stroll along the marsh edge. Or canoe/kayak (available for rent) to the marsh and Sparkill Creek.

5. Stony Point Battlefield

History buffs get ready. A historic site, Stony Point Battlefield is the location of the 1779 Battle of Stony Point during the American Revolutionary War. Check the website for updated schedules: Stony Point often hosts living history re-enactments.

6. Edward Hopper House Art Center

Explore the birthplace and celebrate the legacy of artist Edward Hopper at this unique art center, Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center. Not only did the house influence young Hopper’s vision, the neighborhood where he grew up did too. See more of Edward Hopper’s world through a self-guided walking tour map here.

7. High Tor State Park

Take in scenic views of the Hudson River at High Tor State Park. The 691-acre park has two peaks—High Tor at 797 feet and Little Tor at 620 feet. They’re the highest peaks in the park as well in all of the Hudson Palisades. See the New York City skyline from the summit of High Tor, a striking landmark.

8. Tallman Mountain State Park

Tallman Mountain State Park overlooks the Hudson River and Piermont Marsh. The park boasts a running track, tennis courts, walking trail, hiking, and picnic areas.

9. Haverstraw Bay Park

Haverstraw Bay Park, a 27-acre park on the Hudson River waterfront, houses a large gazebo in the middle of the field. Watch the kids run around the three playgrounds (each geared for different ages), fish at the freshwater pond, fly a kite on the field, or reflect at the Sept. 11th Memorial & Patriot Garden.

10. Rockland Lake State Park

Cool off at this park (located on a ridge of Hook Mountain above the west bank of the Hudson River) thanks to its new water complex with a 5,000-square-foot, zero-entrance swimming pool with diving boards, a spray ground, and two large water slides. Walk, jog, roller blade, or bicycle on the 3.2-mile, non-motorized use, paved trail that goes around Rockland Lake at Rockland State Park.

11. Blauvelt State Park

Blauvelt State Park is 590 acres of forested green space in Rockland County. Hiking trails give the only access and spectacular views of the Hudson Valley.

Bergen County

1. Van Saun County Park

Within its 146 acres, Van Saun County Park has a zoo, train, carousel, spray ground, and large playground. Enjoy lunch or a snack at one of the pavilions with tables or the grassy picnic areas located throughout the park.

2. Abma’s Farm

Come on down to Abma’s Farm and check out its barnyard petting zoo. Visit the goats, sheep, alpaca, donkeys, ponies, bunnies, pigs, and more. Kids will love one-of-a-kind features like its goat walk, duck pond, and ‘Bunnyville.’

3. Flat Rock Brook Nature Center

A 150-acre preserve and education center, Flat Rock Brook Nature Center is on the western slope of the Palisades in Englewood, NJ. Explore the 3.6 miles of trails as you hike, birdwatch, or have other outdoor fun.

4. Paramus Mini Golf

Challenge the kids to a round of mini golf at Paramus Mini Golf. It’s right next to the Paramus Golf Course if the mini variety is too easy for your crew.

5. Fort Lee Historic Park

American history buffs will adore this spot. You’ll find a 33-acre, cliff-top park area with scenic overlooks and a reconstructed Revolutionary War encampment at Fort Lee Historic Park.

6. Aviation Hall of Fame

Learn about New Jersey’s role in achieving innovative air and space accomplishments. Founded in 1972, the Aviation Hall of Fame houses historic aircraft right in the great outdoors.

7. Lorrimer Sanctuary

Lorrimer Sanctuary in Franklin Lakes has a self-guiding trail system that winds through the 14 acres of land. You’ll find lots of second-growth woods (mostly oak, maple, ash, and beech) and small stands of planted evergreens.

8. Palisades Interstate Park

Enjoy 2,500 acres of Hudson River shorefront, uplands, and cliffs at Palisades Interstate Park. The park boasts 30 miles of hiking trails, a scenic riverside drive, and cliff-top overlooks.

9. James A. McFaul Environmental Center

This 81-acre wildlife sanctuary features a waterfowl pond, bird shelters, nature trail, memorial gazebo, and natural science exhibits. At the James A. McFaul Environmental Center, you’ll find gardens and a naturalized field and woodland area with many plant species.

10. Ramapo Valley Reservation

The Ramapo Valley Reservation is a popular destination for hikes and nature lovers. This 3,000-plus acre county park offers hiking along a mountain brook with a waterfall and fishing without a license for kids younger than 14.

11. Demarest Farms Drive-In Movie

Watch a flick from the comfort of your own car. Demarest Farms, a farm and garden center in Hillsdale, transforms into a drive-in theater so you can catch movies all spring and summer.

12. Demarest Nature Center

This center aims to educate the young and old about the beauty of nature and the importance of protecting our environment. At Demarest Nature Center, take a walk and explore the wildlife in their natural habitat.

13. Closter Nature Center

Enjoy this oasis in the middle of suburban Closter. With 136 acres of ponds, brooks, meadows and forests to explore, you’ll relish the beauty at Closter Nature Center.

14. The Hermitage Museum

The museum building and visitor’s services are closed, but the grounds are open daily at The Hermitage Museum, a National Historic Landmark and historic house museum. The original house was built in the 1750s and was the home of Theodosia Prevost during the American Revolution, when the house was visited by George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Aaron Burr, who later married Theodosia at the Hermitage.

15. Tenafly Nature Center

Located on nearly 400 acres, Tenafly Nature Center offers a dozen trail options. They can be combined for a little over 7 miles of hiking, with trails varying from short to about 2 miles.

16. Easton Tower

A scenic tower built next to the Saddle River in 1899, Easton Tower is part of a landscaped park of the estate owned by Edward Easton, a notable figure in American technological history. The tower was built in 1899 on land where a grain mill, the Red Mill, once stood.