Falling Waters Preserve
I love everything about this hike. You can choose the woodland jogging stroller-friendly gravel carriage road trail to the Falling Waters site, complete with chairs to sit and appreciate its beauty, and return the same way that you arrived. Or you can continue along the trail to the more rugged part along the Hudson River, which creates a full loop and offers spectacular views. There’s also a separate small trail with its own waterfall. Each portion of the trail is manageable for young legs.
Free and fantastic, highly recommended, Falling Waters Preserve is located off York Street in Saugerties. For more information, call (845) 473-4440 or visit www.scenichudson.org.
Hudson Valley Renegades
Summer just doesn’t feel complete to our family without doing the Wave at a Renegades baseball game. This family-friendly outing includes lots of interactive games with the spectators between innings, amazing post-game fireworks on special dates, bounce houses for kids for an additional fee and of course concession stands, which continue to creatively expand their menus, including gluten-free and vegetarian options introduced last year.
The Renegades have a Kids’ Club for youth age 12 and under: “This season, every Monday and Tuesday will be declared Kids’ Club days at the ballpark where members will have the opportunity to receive a free General Admission ticket, as well as participate in Kids Run the Bases after the conclusion of the game.” Scan their calendar for their special youth-focused games too, such as Little League Night or Scouts’ Night.
Admission to Renegades games ranges in price from $6 to $15. Dutchess Stadium is located at 1500 Route 9D in Wappingers Falls. For more information or to get tickets, call (845) 838-0094 or visit www.hvrenegades.com.
Maverick Concerts
Did you know that the oldest continuous summer chamber music festival takes place right in Woodstock every summer? Maverick Concerts offer incredible musicians and artists from around the world, as well as our local area. They also show their commitment to families and youth with their Young People’s Concerts, which are free for children and cost only $5 for adults.
Young People’s Concerts take place on Saturday mornings at 11 a.m. and last for approximately one hour. This year’s series features Elizabeth Mitchell & Friends on June 29; the Eribeth Chamber Players on July 6; Ilya Yakushev on July 20; and Marc Black on August 3. The setting is serene: a simple music chapel in the woods. The music? Sublime. And be sure to see who performs the evening and matinée regular concerts.
Maverick Concerts are located at 120 Maverick Road in Woodstock. For more information, call (845) 679-8217 or visit https://maverickconcerts.org.
North/South Lake
Just driving to North/South Lake is worth it. I feel like I’m spiraling into the magical world of Rip Van Winkle, disappearing into the Catskills.
North/South Lake is a campground with swimming and boating as well as hiking trails. But I’ll let you in on a secret: It’s a fantastic place to do a camping day trip. Here’s how it works. I reserve my campsite online for $22. I pack up a tent, food to grill and a change of clothes for our family. We swim and play, grill dinner, hang out around the campsite, then clean up and leave! It’s like all of the joy of camping with half the gear. I’m sure that it’s fun actually to stay overnight, but this is one way for families to experience the joy of the space without the commitment of sleeping there.
