Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

The weeping cherry blossoms nestled in Boscobel's formal garden are stunning in the spring.

Spring is in the air, and that means it's cherry blossom time. These beautiful flowers typically bloom in late March through early May in the New York region. In addition to the opportunities to see cherry blossoms in New York City—including the famous blooms at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden—there are some great spots north of the city.

Read on for our favorite spots to see cherry blossoms in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, and find more fun springtime destinations and outings in our Spring Fun Guide.

16 Best Pizza Places in Westchester for Families

Westchester has lots of great family-friendly pizza joints. Image credit: Pixabay

Westchester pizza places will satisfy all pizza lovers, whether your family likes to kick it old-school or you prefer a gourmet take on the tried-and-true formula of crust, sauce, and cheese. Slices, pies, and more can be found at these pizzerias—there's even a mobile pizza truck on our list!

For more great ideas on places to dine out with the family, check out our Westchester Kid-Friendly Restaurant Guide.

Top Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Westchester

The Play Place in Elmsford is one of Westchester's top indoor play spaces.

Indoor playgrounds and play spaces have long been the stuff of winter fun for Westchester kids. These local play spaces are ready to meet the moment for the times when you need a change of scenery to beat the winter blues.

If you're looking for other ways to keep kids busy indoors this winter, check out our Westchester & Hudson Valley Winter Activities Guide, and bookmark our Family Activity calendar for more resources.

Heat Wave Hot List: 25 Cool Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids

Cool off at Splashdown Beach this summer. Photo courtesy of Spalshdown

When the temperature soars, Westchester and Hudson Valley families have to come up with strategies to beat the heat. We've got 25 ideas for how to keep cool—whether you love the outdoors or prefer to stay in the air conditioning.

Our list includes outdoor spots like parks with splash pads and awesome pools where you can take a dip, as well as indoor havens such as kid-friendly museums. We have even included exceptional frozen-treat spots so you can indulge in ice cream and other goodies.

For even more summer fun, be sure to bookmark our Event Calendar, and check out our Ultimate Westchester and Hudson Valley Kids Summer Vacation Guide

Best Outdoor Dining in Westchester at Family-Friendly Restaurants

Bartaco has a full kids menu and outdoor seating by the water in Port Chester.

Outdoor dining is an annual rite of passage in Westchester, marking the turning of the seasons—and the area's many great eateries mean that you can definitely find choices that work for kids and parents. 

Read on for our list of family-friendly outdoor restaurants in Westchester. These selections offer a mix of price points, atmospheres, and cuisines where families can get an al fresco fix.

Looking for more family-friendly dining options? Check out our Kid-Friendly Westchester Restaurant Guide. And for more family fun this season, bookmark our Event Calendar and Summer Activity Guide

See Baby Animals and More at Petting Zoos in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Hold the soft rabbits at the Greenburgh Nature Center's petting zoo.

Have an animal lover on your hands? Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley are filled with opportunities to see animals up close and personal—including petting zoos at local farms, nature centers, orchards, and animal sanctuaries. Many of these spots also offer kid-friendly activities and fun things to do in addition to the chance to see, touch, and feed horses, goats, cows, pigs, chickens, alpacas, and more.

Read on for our top picks for local petting zoos, and find more seasonal fun in our Guide to Spring Activities in Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

Free, Family-Friendly Halloween Parades and Events for Westchester Kids

The Cross County mall offers free Halloween fun with trick-or-treating, a dance party, stories, inflatables, and more.

If you think Halloween town and library programs are only about storytime and paper pumpkins, think again! Many towns in Westchester offer standout events that are frightfully fun—not to mention the parades, parties, and more free activities for families who love Halloween. 

Below we’ve listed two dozen places with fun Halloween programs. Best of all—they’re all FREE! (And, OK, there are storytimes and crafts, but we do like those, too.) 

Read on for our top picks, and then continue on to our Event Calendar for many more fun October happenings.

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