Westchester Walks

Back home around lower-Westchester, NY I have lots of natural gems that I grew up observing and walking about. These are places I would walk around to get in some fresh air, exercise, maybe see some interesting birds in a beautiful setting. One of them is Glenwood Lake. I can walk right from my childhood home here. This spot has a simple wooded trail around the lake. Watch for mallards, wood ducks, swans, turtles, and frogs. These turtles were soaking up the November sun.

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On my last visit home the foliage was stunning.

IMG_1446 There is a particular rock I love to stand upon and look out across the lake.

IMG_1448Over the summer I saw one of the largest frogs I’ve ever witnessed before!

10308386_10204039841374314_7342464529049827970_nSometimes you get lucky and this place is utterly desolate, sometimes it is filled with high school kids or other locals, either way it gets the job done and is a great close to home nature fix.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Lakeside+Drive+and+Glenwood+Drive,+New+Rochelle,+NY+10804&output=classic&dg=brw

 

A drive to close by the lake at New Rochelle High School called Hugenot Park is sometimes in order. Here is a great place for birding and it’s a bit of a larger lake to walk around.

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If you have kids there is also a playground and children’s library. This is a populated area right off the main road, but it is sometimes nice to change up routine.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=North+Avenue+and+Eastchester+Road,+New+Rochelle,+NY+10804&output=classic&dg=brw

 

Glen Island (off season) is a pretty magical and eclectic place.

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There are castles to view reminiscent of the days when the area was an amusement park.

1001927_10201805713282508_1231169468_n 601449_10200720169304587_2076411398_n 601067_10200720168544568_1462647338_n There are trails to walk through trees and by water. The long island sound provides a great environment for birding.

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When the tide is out there is a large rock formation you can climb up and check out a cannon.

10387604_10204323624588717_5429660943523834162_n http://parks.westchestergov.com/glen-island-park

 

Larchmont Manor Park is small and quiet, but surely has some beautiful views of the sound.

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You can walk around taking in the sights stopping at a gazebo or sitting on a stone bench.

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http://www.larchmontmanorpark.org/

 

Other notables include: Five Islands Park (off season), Orchard Beach (off season), and Shore Park.

I know these places in Westchester from years of exploration in my youth when I wasn’t able of getting too far away from home. I wonder if anyone growing up in the city or suburbs of the Capital Region knows about similar local hidden gems or lesser-known parks. Please feel free to share any spots you enjoy taking a short walk in nature, relatively close to the city.

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