A Winter Playground for Family Fun
Start the day in Yorktown Heights at White Oak Farm, Westchester’s commercial maple syrup producer. Pick up some syrup to take home in the farm store along with delicious treats like maple sugar, maple popcorn, brittle, candies and butter. Join a sugaring season tour in February and March to see how the sap collected from maple trees on the farm is turned into tasty maple syrup.
From there, it’s just a short drive to meet the award-winning huacaya alpacas and Icelandic horses at Faraway Farm Alpacas (be sure to reserve your private tour in advance). Drop by the gift shop for artisan creations including homegrown yarn, sweaters, shawls, hats, scarves, gloves; ultra-soft throws, hand-woven rugs, and the world’s softest stuffed animals.
After a fond farewell to your new furry friends, turn west toward the Hudson River and the charming art-filled town of Peekskill. Stop by Taco Dive Bar for lunch and enjoy some flavorful tacos and nachos.
Snow or no snow, your next stop is Croton Gorge Park, where, depending on the weather, you can spend an afternoon sledding. Or, take a stroll across the road (open to pedestrian and bike traffic only) that spans the Croton River for spectacular views of historic Croton Dam.
Take a break to warm up at Baked by Susan and enjoy freshly made savories including cookies, brownies, muffins and scones. Next, continue on your way to see how many wintering bald eagles you can spot at Croton Point Park and George's Island Park. Scan the treeline near the water to find the eagles roosting in trees, or catch a glimpse as they soar overhead (look for wings held straight across).
For an additional adventure, travel a bit farther south (and back in time) to the historic village of Sleepy Hollow to tour the cemetery where Washington Irving is buried.
Afterwards, head to The Parlor for authentic wood-fired pizza in unique flavors like "Everything Bagel" and "The Lemonator." After dinner, turn your day of exploration into an overnight stay at one of several nearby hotels including Hilton Garden Inn, located close to the Ridge Hill shopping center and LEGOLAND Discovery Center or enjoy the indoor pool at the Sheraton Tarrytown.