Things to Do in Westchester County This Spring

Bordered by the Hudson River and Long Island Sound in the iconic Hudson Valley, Westchester County is an easy reprieve for those looking to go beyond the everyday. Springtime’s annual reawakening is in full view thanks to Westchester’s 24,000 acres of parkland, and longer, warmer days bring a season of unique experiences and fresh news to the County. The following travel ideas are courtesy of Westchester County Tourism & Film:

Springtime Festivities & Events:

The event invites visitors to celebrate Somers’ circus art heritage and revel in all the fun! Peekskill Brewery is collaborating with other riverfront business owners to bring the first-ever Historic Peekskill Waterfront Arts & Music Festival to the community on May 20. The event will be a celebration of live music, live artwork, entertainment, food, beer, and small businesses.
Sure to delight music lovers, programs during Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts spring season in Katonahinclude chamber music from the Takács Quartet; Baroque violinist Rachel Podger; guitarist Yasmin Williams; the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain; jazz from the Sean Mason Quintet; and performances by young artists from Caramoor’s Schwab Vocal Rising Stars programs, as well as the Ivalas Quartet, this season’s Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester in Yonkers is hosting LEGO City: City of Champions from March 17 through April 23. Complete with epic missions and limited-edition mission cards, participants can test their skills and builds with awesome games and challenges.
Green Ossining’s 13th Annual Earth Day Festival will be held on April 22. The event will take place on the beautiful banks of the Hudson River at Louis B. Engel Waterfront Park in Ossining to honor the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day.
PlantFest, the annual spring celebration at Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining returns Mother’s Day weekend (May 12-13) and invites visitors to shop for native wildflowers, annuals, perennials, herbs, and other flora to make their own spring gardens bloom with perfection.

Get Outdoors and Smell the Flowers:

The first-ever Adaptive Hike Program within Westchester County Parks launches this spring. This program allows individuals living with disabilities the opportunity to immerse themselves within Westchester County Parks—at no cost to the user—with All-Terrain Trackchairs. Individuals with their family, friends, or caregivers will experience an approximately one or two-mile guided hike.
Boundless Adventures in Purchase is adding a kid’s course for ages 4-7 years old. Bring little ones to check out the ultimate treetop adventure featuring eight ziplines and 30 other rope elements.
Bicycle Sundays are a beloved Westchester tradition starting mid-spring. Each year, more than 60,000 cyclists, joggers, and others come out to enjoy the curves and wooded scenery of the Bronx River Parkway as it’s closed to automobiles. Stay tuned for this year’s opening date.
Gotham Bicycle Tours offers tours along The Empire State Trail, a 750-mile traverse designed for bicyclists and hikers to explore New York State, starting in New York City and traveling north through Westchester. The trail was constructed along former railroad lines that once carried passengers and freight throughout the Hudson Valley. Not to miss the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, which proves to be relatively flat and takes riders past beautiful lakes and farms, over breathtaking bridges, and through quaint towns bursting with history.

Seasonal Dining News:

New restaurants are blooming, and spring is a great time to try them all. Located at The Opus, Westchester in White Plains, Red Horse by David Burke is a modern American steakhouse with Asian inspirations and is expected to open this spring. Other new spots opening this spring include two restaurants by Farmer and the Fish. The first is a fast-casual smokehouse in Bedford Hills that will include menu items such as brisket, ribs, and smoked pork shoulder. The second restaurant opening is Bistro de Ville, a Parisian-style bistro in Scarsdale that will feature classics like steak tartare, moules frites, and more.
Westchester’s newest speakeasy, Whistling Rail is a woman-owned business in Bronxville and is getting a lot of buzz. During the daytime, visitors can enjoy BXVL Coffeehouse before the space transforms into a craft cocktail speakeasy bar.
Westchester is the most culturally diverse county in New York State outside of New York City, and Michelin Guide’s list of elevated eateries also includes some of Westchester’s best international dining experiences. A few to explore include Badageoni Georgian Kitchen in Mount Kisco, Chutney Masala in Irvington, and RaaSa, with fine Indian cuisine in Elmsford.

Colorful Historic Homes & Places:

Lyndhurst Mansion is set to reopen on March 31, with many guests recognizing the historic home from HBO’s The Gilded Age, which spent nearly five weeks filming onsite. Other impressive film locations for the show within Westchester included The Belvedere Estate in Tarrytown, Glenview Historic Home at Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, and Edith Macy Center in Briarcliff Manor.
Westchester has a long history as a home to African American culture. Learn about and explore historical sites, annual events, arts and culture, and more by following the African American Heritage Trail.
A National Historic Landmark, Armour-Stiner Octagon House is a lyrical, eight-sided home turned museum in Irvington-on-Hudson that is one of the most visually distinctive homes in the world, and also features the only remaining Egyptian Revival Room in America with its original decoration and furniture. Starting April 28, it will once again wow visitors by offering Historic Home and Landscape tours.
Other top historic attractions that are reopening this spring include Kykuit, The Rockefeller Estate and Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving’s Sunnyside in Tarrytown, Union Church of Pocantico Hills in Pocantico Hills and Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson.
Once home to the Rockefeller family, The Pocantico Center is located in the scenic hills of the Hudson Valley and has been home to some of the most influential leaders, thinkers, and creative minds of the last century. Today, visitors can immerse themselves in the estate’s historic architecture through seasonal tours and year-round events including performances, exhibitions, and educational activities.

Stay a While:

The Opus is Westchester’s newest contemporary lifestyle hotel in the heart of White Plains. It welcomes guests with a social nature and modern appeal, featuring eclectic art and décor, authentic experiences, and urban glamour. The indoor rooftop heated swimming pool and lounge deck is a treat for friends and family. Plus, the spa opened last summer and is the perfect place to rejuvenate.
Recently renovated, Courtyard by Marriott Rye offers guests comfort and convenience as the property is within close proximity to many local attractions such as the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester or Playland Amusement Park in Rye.
Holiday Inn Express – New Rochelle is slated to open this spring. Located near the Long Island Sound with easy access to the Metro North New Rochelle Station, Holiday Inn Express is a great choice as the brand new 80-room property features meeting rooms, complimentary breakfast, a fitness center, and a market.
Set on 26 acres of breathtaking property, Tarrytown House Estate offers luxurious lodging and amenities with extensive leisure and recreational facilities all throughout the spring season. The resort is home to Goosefeather, a restaurant offering seasonal, modern Cantonese cuisine by celebrated Chef Dale Talde.
Completely reimagined, Royal Regency Hotel in Yonkers is a gorgeous accommodation within close proximity to the scenic Hudson River, as well as local parks, restaurants, and the Empire City Casino. Hotel guests and locals can unwind at Venue, the hotel’s restaurant, and lounge, featuring delicious cuisine, cocktails, and lively entertainment.

Easy to Reach:

Metro-North Railroad, the commuter railroad, can whisk travelers from midtown to White Plains in just 35 minutes. The Hudson, the Harlem, and the New Haven are the three main lines that provide passenger service on the east side of the Hudson River in Westchester. Amtrak also serves Westchester with stops at Yonkers, New Rochelle, and Croton-on-Hudson.

Westchester County benefits from its perch just north of New York City, with the metropolitan area’s three major airports an easy option. In addition, Westchester County Airport in White Plains (HPN) benefits from direct service to key markets throughout the country. A newer route by Breeze Airways™ provides direct service to Los Angeles, Nashville, New Orleans, Charleston, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Sarasota Bradenton, Vero Beach, and Savannah.

Westchester County Airport’s new Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program supports passengers with hidden disabilities and accessibility needs to ensure a positive travel experience. Travelers can voluntarily choose to wear a sunflower lanyard as a way to discreetly inform the airport staff and others that they have a disability. The program is designed to support all passengers.

About Westchester County Tourism & Film

Westchester County Tourism & Film is Westchester County’s official destination marketing organization. Its mission is to generate economic benefits by enhancing the image and promoting Westchester County as a premier business and leisure destination in the Hudson Valley region. Flanked by Long Island Sound and the Hudson River, Westchester is made up of big cities, small towns, villages, farms, and miles of natural beauty. The county is easily accessible by major interstate highways and parkways, its own regional airport, Amtrak, and three commuter rail lines, and is home to more than 40 hotels and conference centers. For information about visiting Westchester, visit www.visitwestchesterny.com, connect on Facebook (@westchestercountytourism), Instagram (@westchestercountytourismny), and Twitter (@westchestertour), or call 1-800-833-9282.