River Pool
One unique way to experience the Hudson River is in the River Pool at Beacon. This quiet, peaceful spot is a floating, colorful water ring that remains attached to the shoreline, accessible by a short walkway. The circle is lined with seats on the outside, the middle is open space, the bottom is a permeable net. Staffed by lifeguards, this experience is perfect for folks who just want to sit and rest their feet in the water and read, young kids who like the security of a small swim space without the sand or minnows or kids practicing short, shallow underwater jaunts. It took our family a few minutes to get used to the feeling of the mesh floor of the River Pool, as well as what to do there; then we had a fantastic time. There are dressing rooms nearby, as well as a playground.
The River Pool is free and open to the public of all ages and is open in early July for the season from Tuesday through Sunday, 12 noon to 6 p.m. The River Pool is located at Riverfront Park in Beacon, near the Beacon train station. For more information, call (914) 629-4598 or visit www.riverpool.org.
Woody Guthrie evening sails
Just down the lane from River Pool and also near the Beacon train station is the Beacon Sloop Club, founded by Pete Seeger and others interested in the health of the Hudson River. Are you ready for the best-kept secret in the Hudson Valley? Here it is: free sailboat rides on the Woody Guthrie all summer long. Free! What? I’m serious. No catch! You simply call the reservation hotline and leave a message with three reservation dates for the organizer to choose from and the number of people in your party, and you get a callback to confirm. Then you arrive that evening at 6 p.m. at the Beacon Sloop Club boathouse, right in front of the Beacon train station, to get your lifejacket; then you climb aboard at about 6:30 p.m.
