sailing lessons
Take sailing lessons at the Croton Sailing School, Senasqua Rd, Croton-on-Hudson, +1 800 859-SAIL, (http://www.crotonsailing.com).
Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture
In sleepy hollow's pocantico hills village, promotes regional agriculture through its educational programs and its demonstration gardens and greenhouses.
Caramoor
149 girdle ridge road, katonah, +1 914 232-5035, (http://www.caramoor.org). take afternoon tea and tour or attend one of their evening concerts. mediterranean villa set on an 80 acre estate. museum, gardens, concerts.
Taste local vintages
There are two wineries in the county. see pleasantville.
Visit Art Galleries
In the heart of tarrytown, main street is home to a few fine art galleries worth experiencing. tappan z gallery (http://www.tappanzgallery.com) features all american artists, many of whom are located in the hudson valley region.
Ride the Dragon Coaster
At playland. enjoy the historic amusement park circa 1928 and ice casino public skating. yes, the board walk is the very same from the 1980s movie big. playland park, playland parkway, rye, +1 914 813-7000, (http://www.ryeplayland.org). seasonal. admission to the park is free it is a county park, after all but rides and parking do cost a bit, yet very reasonable compared to the big-name theme parks. free concerts and fireworks in season; first come, first served in the picnic and barbecue area.
Visit a farmer's market or farmstand
Farms are scarce in this mostly suburban county, but agriculture is alive and well in the form of farmers markets. find markets in places like pleasantville, tarrytown, larchmont, lewisboro, and ossining. you can still find a few orchards and farms in the northern end of the county that offer pick-your-own fruit and vegetables in season: wilkens farm, 1335 white hill rd, yorktown heights, +1 914 245-5111, (http://www.wilkensfarm.com), pick your own apples, pumpkins, and christmas trees; outhouse orchards, hardscrabble rd, croton falls, +1 914 277-3188, year round farm stand, pick your own apples in season; salinger's orchards, guinea rd, croton falls, +1 914 277-3521; stuart's farm, 62 granite spring rd, granite springs, +1 914 245-2784, (http://www.stuartsfarm.com), nearly 200 acres of fruit and vegetables.
kayak
Rent a kayak, take a guided tour, or launch your own kayak/canoe. Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center, Route 6 & 202, Annsville Circle, Cortlandt Manor, +1 914 739-2588, (http://www.paddlesportcen...). Good starting point for paddling the scenic Hudson Highlands.
Old Croton Aqueduct
(http://www.aqueduct.org/i...). go hiking or biking on the trailway that tops the original now defunct water supply to new york city. the trail runs on the western side of the county, passing through yonkers, hastings-on-hudson, dobbs ferry, irvington, tarrytown, sleepy hollow, briarcliff manor, ossining, and croton-on-hudson.
Take in a show
At the paramount center for the arts, 1008 brown st, peekskill, +1 914 739-2333, (http://www.paramountcenter.org). features stage productions, live performances of music and dance, classic films and recent major releases, and visual arts exhibitions.
Take in a show
At the tarrytown music hall, 13 main st, tarrytown, +1 914 631-3390, (http://www.tarrytownmusic...). nonprofit venue regularly hosts jazz concerts, classic movies, and cultural events. show dates are posted outside the music hall's main entrance and on its web site.
Follow Ichabod Crane's route
(http://www.sleepyhollowce...). fans of washington irving's legend of sleepy hollow can follow the route of ichabod crane from the center of tarrytown north into sleepy hollow. but don't expect to find the "western woods" or anything else from the 1999 movie sleepy hollow. tim burton's production is only loosely based on irving's story, and was filmed largely in hertfordshire, england.
bicycle
Explore the county from the perch of a bicycle seat. Moab it isn't, but if you've got a mountain bike you've got your pick of three county parks that sport mountain bike trails. For flatlanders, the Old Croton Aqueduct is a mostly level dirt trail, and the paved North and South County Trailways follow the relatively gentle grades of the old Putnam Line railway. There is presently a gap between the North and South County Trailways in Elmsford that requires a connection via local streets.
Mountain biking
Blue Mountain Reservation,
Peekskill. seven miles of trails in 1,600 acre county park. trails are marked for level of experience.
Graham Hills Park,
Pleasantville. five miles of trails through 431 acre county park, geared toward riders with some experience. park is located in the middle of the county at the junction of the saw mill river, taconic, and sprain brook parkways.
Sprain Ridge Park,
In yonkers. on 278 acres of wooded terrain located in the southern end of the county offers trails for beginners as well as advanced.
Hybrid or road bike
South County Trailway,
+1 914 864-7275, (http://www.westchestergov...). multi-use paved trail runs from eastview in the town of greenburgh to just over the yonkers border. enjoy a rest stop at one of the benches around woodland lake.
North County Trailway,
+1 914 864-7275, (http://www.westchestergov...). multi-use paved trail runs 22 miles from eastview in the town of greenburgh to somers. the former railroad bridge over the new croton reservoir is especially scenic.