A few weeks back while downstate visiting my family I took a drive to Mt. Kisco, a town in northern Westchester that houses a fantastic preserve. The Arthur W. Butler Memorial Sanctuary [From I-684 to exit 4 (Route 172) west towards Mt. Kisco. After 0.3 miles, turn left onto Chestnut […]
bird watching
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If you are chasing waterfalls, Plotter Kill Preserve in Schenectady should be placed at the top of your list [Take 890 to Campbell Rd/2a. Turn right on Putnam Rd. Go 1.7 miles to State Route 159/Mariaville Rd. Turn right onto 159 and preserve parking lot will be on right.]! There […]
Winter snowmelt brings booming spring waterfalls! This is the season to get out there and experience a sensational sight at Hyuck Preserve in Rensselaerville. Years ago I visited this preserve and it was just another hike. That was over the summer, and we must have had a dry year. Just […]
I spend a lot of time in Washington Park, living in Albany, this green space is my backyard. Sometimes I’m lounging, walking, running, but at all these times I’m usually bird watching. The park has some usual suspects such as robin redbreasts, grackles, sparrows, red winged black birds, red tailed […]
I took a great hike at Hilltop Hanover with my Mom (1271 Hanover Street, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598) in Westchester. We took the 1.8 mile loop and there are additional paths in the center. There was a group of boys playing hockey on the frozen pond. As we walked past and […]
Driving and hiking through Tucson’s Saguaro National Park is an absolutely stunning scene, and the perfect introduction to the Sonoran Desert. Saguaro National Park is split into two parts about 45 minutes away from one another, the Rincon Mountain district of the East and the Tucson Mountain district of the […]
La Jolla (la hoy-ya) is indeed as they say the jewel of San Diego, nothing but wonderful things experienced here! Our first look into the neighborhood was through a free little park named Mt. Soledad [6905 La Jolla Scenic Dr S La Jolla], a national veterans memorial. There is a parking […]
The island of Coronado was the first San Diego neighborhood on the list to explore, and it made for a most lovely afternoon. Driving over the sky blue bridge that gradually rises over the sparking water of the San Diego bay was a glorious sight. After a long morning of […]
little I really enjoyed strolling these woods in Ballston Lake on a quiet afternoon (Between 38 – 40 Shadow Wood Way, Shadow Wood Way, Ballston Lake, NY 12019). We parked on the street in front of the trail head and set off. There was no trail map at the park, […]
I can’t stay out of the Catskills for too long, but half my team was sick and I need to invest in some hiking spikes for my boots before I tackle any more winter mountains and have a ridiculously icy experience like on Mount Equinox. Not all is lost, there are […]
Had a great time hiking around this gorgeous reservoir on a warm winter afternoon, in Larchmont (685 Weaver Street, Larchmont, NY 10538). There are lots of little trails to explore and if you combine them you can get just under 2.5 miles. We started off making our way around a […]
Most children growing up in Westchester go to the great little amusement park Playland in Rye (Playland Parkway, Rye, NY 10580). I know I went every summer as a kid, and actually spent my 21st birthday there having an apple pie time. I haven’t been back since until a few days ago, […]
I go to so many preserves to see what they have to offer, and this is one of the few that is a true winner warranting return. I went to the Marshlands Conservancy with my Mom over winter break and we had a really great hike. It is conveniently located […]
I spent Thanksgiving at home with my family in Westchester, and before we had our feast I got to take a beautiful snowy hike with my Mom. Rockefeller State Park in Pleasantville was the destination, and it was so beautiful and memorable. This is a very extensive park with a […]
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 […]