Hudson Valley Area Activities for Families
We moved to Cornwall from Brooklyn in July 2020 and are exploring the family-friendly haunts of Hudson Valley little by little, well, the ones open and relatively safe during the Pandemic, anyway! I'll be growing this list as well as other resources gradually, please do shoot me an e-mail if you have anything to add or edit!! You may also find this "Family Friendly Day Trips and Weekend Getaways from NYC" list helpful!

​** denotes link to my personal review blog post and/or youtube video
​PUBLIC LAKES:
Be sure to check the individual park's page for updated closure info - some reach capacity and get closed by 10am, others get closed due to algae growth or other reasons.
​
  • ** Canopus Beach Lake (Fahnestock State Park) - (watch our video) a large sandy beach with swimming, bathrooms, outdoor shower, and picnic tables. Located in Putnam County NY (15 miles to Beacon, 28 miles to Cornwall). No lifeguards - swim at your own risk. $7 parking per car. Best to get there by 11am as parking lot may fill up.
  • Lake Hennessey's Circleville Park - a 60-acre lake with beach, lifeguards, and pedal boats available for rent. $3 / person to swim. Open 10am-6pm M-F / 11am-7pm weekends. Located in Wallkill, NY (29 miles to Beacon, 30 miles to Cornwall).
  • ​Lake Tiorati Beach (Harriman State Park) - nice lake with sandy beach and swimming. Reaches capacity early on weekends, still quite full on weekdays, too. Swimming allowed 10am-5:45pm M-F / 11am-6:45pm weekends. Located in Rockland County NY (20 miles to Cornwall, 26 miles to Beacon).
  • ** Lake Welch Beach (Harriman State Park) - (watch our video) nice lake with sandy beach and swimming. Reaches capacity early on weekends, still quite full on weekdays, too. Swimming allowed 10am-5pm M-F / 9am-6:45pm weekends. Located in Rockland County NY (20 miles to Cornwall, 26 miles to Beacon).
  • Wawayanda Beach - large park with camping, hiking, lake swimming, and more. $10 / car on weekdays, $20 on weekends. Open for swimming 10am-6pm. Located in Hewitt NJ (30 miles from Cornwall, 45 miles from Beacon).
BEACHES WITHIN 2 HOURS:
  • Asbury Park Beach (NJ) - 2 hour drive from Cornwall. Daily beach access rates $6 M-F, $9 weekends. Seasonal rates $70 for adults, $20 for seniors and teens, ages 12 and under free with adult. Boardwalk with shops and restaurants, very lively.
  • Jones Beach (NY) - 90 minute drive from Cornwall. $10 per car. $5 for pool, $7 mini golf, $4 nature center, etc. Zach's Bay has calmer water.
  • Gateway National Recreation Area (Jacob Riis Beach, Sandy Hook Beach & Great Kills Park) - NJ - 90 minute to 2 hour drive from Cornwall. Rated one of the nicest beaches in NJ. Lifeguards Memorial Day through Labor Day.No entrance fees to Gateway National Recreation Area, but there are parking fees.
  • Harbor Island Park Beach (NY) - 1 hour drive from Cornwall. Spray Ground open to public Friday - Sunday. Beach is limited to Mamaroneck residents Fri - Sun 9am-noon and open to public outside of those hours. Day pass $11 adult, $8 child, $12 parking. Open May 28 - September 6, 2021 with lifeguards 9am-5:30pm.
  • Long Beach (NY) - 1 hour 40 minute drive from Cornwall. Daily beach access $15 (12 and under free).
  • Long Branch (NJ) - 2 hour drive from Cornwall. Daily beach access: $5 weekdays, $7 weekends/holidays, $3 ages 14-17, free under 14 and over 62.
  • Point Pleasant Beach (NJ) - 2 hour drive from Cornwall. Beach fee $11 weekdays, $12 weekends/holidays, kids ages 5-11 $3 weekdays $4 weekends/holidays, under 5 free. Boardwalk and amusement park, very lively. 
  • Rockaway Beach (NY) - 90 min drive from Cornwall. The city's only legal surfing beach.
  • Rye Town Park & Beach (Westchester) - 1 hour from Cornwall. Parking $10-25/car, beach access $10-20/person
  • Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park (Long Branch, NJ) - 2 hour drive from Cornwall. Beach season starts Memorial Day Weekend (May 29, 2021) - life guards weekends May 29 - June 13 and daily from June 19 through Labor Day. Tony's Place is their amazing new skateplex. Seasonal access fee $75 per person age 16 - 64, $30 for seniors, parking $75.
PLAYGROUNDS: ​
​​​​Mommy Poppins: Best Playgrounds in Hudson Valley
Waterfalls are best in spring! Check out the trickle in summer compared to the full blast in spring at Awosting Falls!!
HIKING:

Explore options and plan your hikes with All Trails App, NY NJ Trail Conference, or Hike the Hudson.
FARMS & ORCHARDS:
  • ** Barton Orchards - 175 acre farm with 1 admission price that includes petting zoo, pick your own produce, corn maze, fun park, haunted house, tap room, live music, ice cream stand, farm market (free on weekdays and non-holiday weekends, though fun park not usually open). Open daily from April with Pick Your Own from July or August. Treetop Ropes Course additional fee ($40/person for 3 hour block). 2021 events: Day Days of Summer June 19-20, Sunflower Festival 2 weekends in August. Located in Poughquag NY (29 miles to Cornwall, 21 miles to Beacon).
  • ** DuBois Farms (see our summer peach picking video here and our June strawberry picking video here) - Pick Your Own seasonal produce on a 70 acre farm. Masks required, no pets allowed. Farm market, cafe, and bakery. Visits with farm animals. Great "Tiny Town" play area and playground for kids. Tavern with hard cider, craft beer and wine. Porta potties and 2 nice indoor bathrooms behind where you pickup your produce boxes. Free admission & parking!! Open Daily 10am-5pm May 31 - November 25. Located in Highland NY (16 miles to Beacon, 19 miles to Cornwall).
  • Fishkill Farms - Pick Your Own produce by reservation only. Pick your own from June 5 (though a few reservations open from May) through October (see produce calendar here). With cider bar and yoga events. Located in Hopewell JCT NY (20 miles to Cornwall, 12 miles to Beacon).
  • Hurds Family Farm - 120 acres of apple & pumpkin picking from August 28. Tons of kid-friendly activities from corn maze and bouncing to gem mining and feeding the animals (most starting in September) - pay by the activity or get a $20 wristband. Drive through farm store, farm to table dining, family hayride by appointment only. Located in Modena NY (20 miles from Cornwall, 17 miles from Beacon).
  • ​** Jones Farm (watch our video / tour here) - Home grown produce for purchase. Country Store. Dine in or order and pickup meals. Hayride & Pumpkin Patch September through Halloween. Located in Cornwall (12 miles to Beacon).​
  • Kelder's Farm - Activities include pick your own flowers / fruit / vegetables (reservations required, from June for strawberries), jumping pillow, combine tractor slides, farm animals, mini golf, climbing spider web, corn maze, tube slides, wall games, fishing, giant tic tac toe & connect four, tether ball, apple canons, and more! Tickets for $15 or $25 at the door (discount online), based on package, ages 2 and under free. Season passes for $30/person or $99 for a family of 5. Technically in the Catskills, located in Kerhonkson (40 miles to Cornwall & Beacon)
  • Lawrence Farms Orchards - Pick Your Own Produce. Open 9am-4pm daily June - October. $5/person (under 2 years free) or get a season pass for $10/person. Concession stand. Located in Newburgh NY (11 miles to Cornwall, 8 miles to Beacon).
  • Minard's Family Farm - Opens in September for the season. Pick your own apples. No admission fee for wagon ride and apple picking, or to accompany a child but not participate in activities yourself. $12 Wrist Band includes unlimited play at the bouncy pillow, sand pit, chalk bus, petting zoo, spider web, pony hop, barnyard football and baseball, tug of war, tic-tac-toe, apple checkers, pumpkin bowling, tire mountain, peddle carts, corn maze and corn hole. $20 Super Wrist Band also includes gem mining, apple cannon (4 apples), One (1) ride on the busy bee train and One (1) small ice cream cone. Fridays are Parents Appreciation Day, listen to music and get a free bag of kettle corn. Located in Clintonville NY (22 miles to Cornwall, 19 miles to Beacon).
  • Pierson's Farm - A natural beef farm with an October Festival from the last weekend in September through October includes pumpkin patch, hay ride, corn maze, petting zoo, play area, and evening haunted events. 10-6 weekends and 12:30-5 weekdays. Wristband $10 per person, $7.50 for seniors and military, 2 and under are free, includes 3 mazes, animals, spider web climb, tube glider swings, barnyard bingo game, and access to pumpkin patches (pumpkins range from .69 - .89 cents per pound). Located in Middletown NY (34 miles from Beacon, 35 miles from Cornwall).
  • ** Weed Orchards & Winery (watch our video here) - Pick your own produce; outdoor dining and live music, winery, yoga; no playground (but we found one open in the way back of the farm beyond the flowers), hayrides or corn maze due to covid policies. Free admission & parking (update: $3 per person on weekends and holidays). Located in Marlboro NY (15 miles to Cornwall, 12 miles to Beacon).
  • Wright's Farm - Pick Your Own seasonal produce on this 453 acre farm. $12 per adult (inc. 1 peck bag), $6 per child (inc. half peck bag. Located in Gardiner NY (20 miles to Cornwall, 18 miles to Beacon).
SUMMER: PUBLIC POOLS & SPLASH PADS:
  • Swimming lakes (see section at top of post)
  • Barnhardt Park - 2 playgrounds and water park with sprinklers. Sleepy Hollow NY (40 miles from Cornwall).
  • Beacon Pool (2021 TBA)
  • Bear Mountain Pool - anticipated open 6/19/21 - 6/20/21 Weekend ONLY, 6/26/21 - 9/7/21 Weekdays & Weekends; $5 per person cash only.
  • Bowdoin Park Playground - with splash pad, hiking trails, fields. Wappinger Falls NY (17 miles from Cornwall).
  • Cornwall Community Pool (2021 opening TBA)
  • Delano Hitch Aquatics Center in Newburgh - 2021 TBA. 25 meter pool, 25' high water slide, spray zone, lockers & showers. **Probably old info from 2019: Open from June 24th to August 20th. There will be two sessions, 12:30pm to 2:45pm & 3:30pm to 5:45pm. Season pass $100 for family of 4. Daily pass (2.5 hours) $2 / adult, $1 / child. 2020 season not confirmed open.
  • Louis Engel Waterfront Park - Playground, picnic tables, spray park (2021 TBA, 2020 opening was July 6 - Labor Day). Ossining NY (27 miles from Cornwall).
  • Pierson Park – On paved Westchester Riverwalk footpath, summer concert series, playground with splash fountains, tennis & basketball courts. Near train station and restaurants. Tarrytown NY (40 miles from Cornwall).​
  • Rockland Lake State Park & Pool - featuring a 25,000 square foot zero entry swimming pool with diving boards, sprayground, 2 large water slides, picnic area with grills, boat launch, hiking, tennis, golf, 3.2 mile paved trail around the lake, and great views of the Hudson River. Schedule: 5/29/2021-6/27/2021, 6/28/2021-8/22/2021 Weekdays, Weekends Only, 8/23/2021-9/6/2021. $10 per car parking. Swimming $5 per person weekends/holidays, $3 per person weekdays. Located in Rockland County NY (28 miles from Cornwall, 33 miles from Beacon).
  • Swimply - search for nearby private pools & jacuzzis to rent by the hour.
  • Tallman Beach & Pool Club - a pool offering season and day passes ($10 per child and $15 per adult weekdays, $15 per child $20 per adult weekends). Featuring sandy beach area, adult pool, kiddie pool, swimming lessons, and summer concert series. Live music Friday and Saturday nights - Summer concert series $10 admission. Located in Sparkill NY (42 miles from Beacon, 38 miles from Cornwall).
  • Westchester Residents Only: ​Tibbets Brook Park (Yonkers), Sprain Ridge Park (Yonkers), Willson's Waves in Willson's Woods Park (Mt. Vernon).
AMUSEMENT PARKS & WATER PARKS:
  • Frog Falls Aquatic Park - Members Only waterpark (2021 sold out as of May 4). Dover NJ (70 miles from Cornwall).
  • Lake Compounce Amusement & Waterpark - Weekday adult $52.99 / child $42.99, weekend adult $54.99 / child $44.99. Online discount. Bristol CT (90 miles from Cornwall).
  • LEGOLAND NY - previews from May 29, 2021, TBA when fully open. Located in Goshen NY (20 miles from Cornwall).
  • ​Quassy Amusement & Waterpark - Seasons Pass from $302. Weekday pass (45"+) $31.71, weekend pass (45"+) $33.71. Cheaper for waterpark only and after 4pm. Middlebury CT (75 miles from Cornwall).
  • SplashDown Beach & Waterpark - 2021 opening day May 29. Weekends, from June 24 - September 6 daily. $129.99 season pass. Daily pass 42" and over $44.99 / weekend $49.99, under 42" (and seniors) $39.99 weekday / $42.99 weekend. Discount after 3pm. Fishkill NY (15 miles from Cornwall).
  • Zoomflume Water Park - 2021 season opening June 19. $35.99/person, $28.99 kids 7 and under (under 2 free). Premium Season Pass $89.99, Regular Season Pass $74.99. Cabana rentals and birthday party packages available. Located in East Durham, NY (80 miles from Cornwall.
DRIVE-IN MOVIES:
  • Fair Oaks Drive-In - Middletown NY - $20 / car or $40 carload family pack (popcorn, drinks, candy).
  • Newburgh Summer Drive-In on Ann Street - August 6 - Frozen II, August 13 - The Lion King (2019), August 20 - Abominable, August 27 - Space Jam; may arrive from 6pm, movie starts around 8:30pm (may reach capacity of 100 cars and 22 walk-ins before this). Cannot leave car except to switch seats, no restrooms or refreshments available.
  • Skyline Drive-In NYC (Brooklyn)
  • Story Screen Drive-In (Beacon) - $10/adult, $8/child, order concessions online
  • Warwick Drive-In - order concessions online, port-a-potties available
OTHER OUTDOOR FAMILY FUN:
WINTER: ICE SKATING - SNOW TUBING - SKIING

ICE SKATING:
SLOPES (SKIING / SNOWBOARD / TUBING) within 90min drive of Cornwall
  • Belleayre Mountain: Skiing. Highmount, NY (75 miles from Cornwall, 90min drive).
  • Big Bear at Masthope Mountain: Snow Tubing $30 / person, min 42" tall, 2 hour sessions, Saturday & Sunday only. Children 5 and under free lift ticket with paying adult; lift tickets $40 - $70 (vary by day / time). Lackawaxen, PA (74 miles from Cornwall; 90min drive).
  • Campgaw Mountain: Snow Tubing $20 - $30, min 42", max 300 pounds, 1 person per tube. Ski lift $24 - $47 (varies by day / time). Mahwah NJ (31 miles from Cornwall, 40 min drive).
  • Holiday Mountain Ski & Fun Park: Snow Tubing $20 / person, min 44" tall, Fri/Sat/Sun only, must purchase tubing tickets in advance. Lift tickets $27 - $42 (varies by day / time). Monticello, NY (47 miles from Cornwall; 1hr drive).
  • Hunter Mountain: Skiing. Hunter, NY (70 miles from Cornwall, 1hr 20min drive).
  • Mohawk Mountain: Snow Tubing $35/person, 1hr 45min sessions, Thurs-Sun, min 42". Skiing, $10 - $67 per person. Cornwall CT (61 miles from Cornwall, 90min drive).
  • Mountain Creek: Snow Tubing $30/person, min 42" and 5 years old, 2 hour sessions, 1 rider per tube, Wed-Sun. Ski passes $50-90; ages 6 and under free with paying adult. Vernon Township, NJ (36 miles from Cornwall, 1 hour drive).
  • Mount Peter Ski Area: Snow Tubing $30-35/adult, $20-25/child under 42" for "Little Tikes" area, 36"-48" child may ride tandem with paying adult, Thurs-Sat only, 600-foot tubing run. Must be 42" to ride solo. Skiing $35 - $67 / adult, 4 and under free with paying adult. Warwick NY (24 miles from Cornwall; 40min drive).
  • Mount Southington: Lift tickets $18 - $62. Plantsville, CT (82 miles from Cornwall, 90min drive).
  • Shawangunk Country Club: Snow Tubing $10 / person, children 5 and under free with paying adult. Ellenville, NY (36 miles from Cornwall, 1hr drive).
  • Shawnee Mountain: Snow Tubing $30/person midweek, $45/person weekend, limited number of tandem tubes available for 1 adult and a child 46" and under, tubing not recommended for under age 5. Lift tickets $40 - 70; 46" and under free with paying adult, 70+ free. Stroudsburg, PA (77 miles from Cornwall, 90min drive)
  • Thunder Ridge Ski Area: Lift tickets $25 - $65.
  • Victor Constant Ski Area at Westpoint: Daily snow pass M-F 3-9pm general public $27, weekends $32 (must be "authorized user" on weekends), discounts for DoD. Westpoint, NY (8 miles from Cornwall).