Katherine Dhurandhar

Latest posts by Katherine

Best Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley November 2024 with Kids

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 10/27/2024 - 8:51am

Strike a pose with the stunning decorations in Santa's Village at American Christmas in Mount Vernon. Photo by Jody Mercier

November brings loads of things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley as the area gears up for holidays from Veterans Day to Thanksgiving—and then it's full steam ahead to the holiday season!

November kicks off the season of holiday celebrations with the opening of Christmas exhibitions and light shows, including Holiday Lane at American Christmas, the Westchester Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru, and the return of the Polar Express-themed train ride through the Catskills.

Other kid favorites this season include holiday train shows such as the Holidays on the Hill Train Show at Lasdon Park & Arboretum.

25 Things To Do in the Finger Lakes with Kids

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Thu, 10/24/2024 - 4:26pm

Letchworth State Park is known as the Grand Canyon of the East thanks to its impressive gorge.

If you are looking for your next family vacation destination, New York's Finger Lakes region is a great option. Mostly known for its namesake beautiful lakes, the Finger Lakes offer a variety of summer activities, including sailing, fishing, and swimming in the crystal clear waters. However, there are tons of family-friendly things to do and places to explore year-round in the Finger Lakes, from zip lining and leaf peeping in the fall to skiing and snow tubing in the winter.

The area around Ithaca is particularly famous for its many glacier-formed gorges that boast numerous waterfalls. Ithaca is also the home of Cornell University and Ithaca College, and offers many art and cultural attractions and museums, including the kid-friendly Sciencenter.

Read on for all our top picks for things to do in the Finger Lakes with kids and bookmark our Day Trips and Getaways Guide for more family-friendly vacation ideas.

Best Trunk or Treats in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for Kids

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 10/13/2024 - 6:48am

Trunk or treats are the newest Halloween craze for families, and Westchester and the Hudson Valley have plenty of opportunities for your family to check one out.

Trunk or treats provide a safer alternative to knocking on random doors, as kids can go around a specified area and collect treats from decorated car trunks. As a bonus, many trunk-or-treat events offer additional activities, like parades, bounce houses, and even movies.

We've rounded up the best trunk or treats in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, most of which are absolutely free.

You can find more festive happenings for all age groups in our Westchester Halloween Guide.

32 Not-So-Scary Halloween Events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for Toddlers

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Fri, 10/11/2024 - 10:53am

Score treats from participating stores at Ridge Hill Mall's trick-or-treating event. Photo courtesy of Ridge Hill

Looking for the best Halloween events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for toddlers and preschoolers? Read on for our top picks.

Halloween can be the most fun holiday of the year, but the costumes and effects that make it thrilling for teens and adults can sometimes be too scary for the little ones. Thankfully, Westchester and the Hudson Valley are full of toddler- and preschooler-friendly Halloween events that go easy on the scary while still managing to be full-on fun.

So get your little ones dressed up in their favorite costumes and get ready for some not-so-spooky fun. Standout toddler-friendly Halloween events include the Village of Mamaroneck's Spooktacular Sunday, Children's Day at Headless Horseman Hayrides, and A Very Fluffy Halloween at Lilymoore Farm.

You can find more festive happenings for all age groups in our Westchester Halloween Guide.

Columbus Day Weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Best Things To Do

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Fri, 10/11/2024 - 10:31am

The Pine Island Pumpkinfest, where you can decorate a pumpkin for Halloween, is a Columbus Day tradition. Photo courtesy of the Pine Island Chamber of Commerce

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley over the long Columbus Day weekend? We've got tons of family-friendly events to add to your list.

Whether you call the holiday Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day, we're celebrating the day off on Monday, October 14, 2024, with tons of fun things to do. Special events held only on Monday include Kids' Day at Kevin McCurdy's Haunted Mansion and Pine Island's Pumpkinfest.

Families can enjoy the festivities all weekend, including Monday, at Wappingers' Carni "Fall" and Legoland New York's Monster Party. In honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day, learn about some of the original inhabitants of the Westchester area at a Lenape Indigenous Peoples' Day presentation at the historic St. Paul's Church.

Scary Haunted Houses in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 10/06/2024 - 11:51am

Head to Ulster Park to catch the spooky Headless Horseman Haunted Houses. Photo courtesy of event

Westchester and the Hudson Valley are teeming with top-of-the-line haunted houses and scream parks, many boasting Hollywood-quality makeup and special effects. If you have teens keen on a thrilling screamfest this Halloween, look no further.

Read on for our list of the top haunted houses and scream parks in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. Some of these are returning favorites that have been recognized as the top haunted houses in the country, such as Pure Terror Scream Park. Others can even boast of being held in historic haunted locations, like the Dark Forest at Burn Brae Mansion.

Find more great Halloween activities in our Westchester and Hudson Valley Halloween Guide.

Best Family-Friendly Hikes to See Fall Leaves in the Adirondacks

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Fri, 10/04/2024 - 12:02pm

The view from the summit of Rooster Comb is magical when the leaves are changing colors. Photo by the author

One of my favorite places to see fall leaves on hikes with my family is in the Adirondacks region of New York. The Adirondacks region has one of the longest-lasting fall foliage seasons in the country, with peak foliage times from late September in the High Peaks region to mid-to-late October in the Lake George area.

I have been on numerous hikes with my family in the Adirondacks, and these are my favorite family-friendly hikes and viewing spots to appreciate this spectacular seasonal change. So, if you're planning a leaf-peeping trip this fall, add these hikes to your list.

Find more great things to do this autumn with your fam in our Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids Fall Guide.

27 Best Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley October 2024 with Kids

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 09/29/2024 - 12:52pm

Get your costume ready for Cross County Center’s Halloween Spooktacular. Photo courtesy of the shopping center

Halloween is the name of the game in October, which means Westchester and the Hudson Valley are alive with pumpkin patches, haunted houses, fall festivals, and of course trick-or-treating—there are so many opportunities to wear Halloween costumes!

From Oktoberfests to spooktacular celebrations, the region has standout events all month long, including the Sleepy Hollow Paddleboarding Witches Festival and the Tarrytown Halloween Parade. Families can enjoy spectacular pumpkin light shows throughout the month at the Westchester favorite Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze or at the site of the Woodstock Festival at Peace, Love & Pumpkins at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

Find more top October fun in our Westchester and Hudson Valley Fall Fun Guide.