Beat the winter blues with entertaining and educational indoors activities in the Hudson Valley
ORANGE COUNTY, N.Y. (February 27, 2020) – The Hudson Valley is known for its scenic landscapes, rich farmlands, and farm-to-table movement. But during the winter months, visitors can discover many hidden gems throughout Orange County, N.Y, offering indoor activities and fun for all ages. Test your history trivia at a local museum, or shop-’til-you drop at unique shopping destinations. The Hudson Valley is also the country’s oldest wine-making region, so don’t leave without visiting one of the county’s more than 20 wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries.
“Don’t let the cold winter weather keep you cooped up! Just a short drive from New York City, a visit to Orange County is the perfect remedy for your cabin fever,” said Orange County Tourism Director Amanda Dana. “From antiques to high-end shopping, museums to cideries, you’ll find activities that will keep you busy and happy all weekend long!”
From luxury goods to handmade items, unleash your inner shopaholic at these unique shopping destinations, right here, in Orange County, N.Y.:
• Sugar Loaf Arts & Craft Village, Sugar Loaf: A community of creative craftsmen and artists, Sugar Loaf is home to more than 60 artist studios, craft shops, galleries, and restaurants. Open year-round, visitors can escape the chilly winter weather by exploring the hand-made items and unique offerings at these shops, all located in the hamlet’s original buildings and barns dating back to the 1700s and 1800s. sugarloafnewyork.com
• Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, 498 Red Apple Court, Central Valley: This world-class shopping destination boasts more than 250 highly sought-after retailers with savings up to 65 percent. Find brands such as Tory Burch, Celine, Nike, Bottega Veneta, Michael Kors, Burberry, Coach, The North Face, and more, offering the latest trends in fashion, accessories, athleisure, and footwear. premiumoutlets.com/outlet/woodbury-common
Round up the kids and head to one of Orange County’s indoor playgrounds:
• The Castle Fun Center, 109 Brookside Avenue, Chester: Join the fun at The Castle, with laser maze, laser tag, swing rides, Ballocity, a rock-climbing wall, arcade, and the largest InflataPark in the region coming Spring 2020. Jesters Pub offers a quick service concession as well as an extensive menu and a full bar with craft beers on tap, sports on the TVs, and axe throwing. Fun for all ages! thecastlefuncenter.com
• Urban Air Adventure Park, 1 Galleria Drive, Middletown: The ultimate indoor playground, Urban Air offers go-karts, virtual reality gaming, coasters, rope courses, trampolines, rock-climbing walls, and more! And, for kids under the age of seven, The Bowl offers wall to wall trampolines without all the big kids in the way. Plus, it’s a great (and comfortable) place for the parents to watch! urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Explore interesting artifacts and collections at one of these special sites in Orange County, N.Y.:
• Motorcyclepedia, 250 Lake Street, Newburgh: Motorcylepedia is the largest educational motorcycle museum in the world. Founded by Ted Doering and his father, the family’s collection features more than 600 motorcycles, including the world’s most complete Indian Timeline. Spanning 85,000 square feet, the museum includes motorcycles from 1897 to the present, photographs, posters, memorabilia, machinery and more. https://motorcyclepediamuseum.org/
• West Point Museum, 2110 New South Post Road, West Point: See the collection of more than 60,000 Army historical artifacts that inspire and educate the U.S. Corps of Cadets on a daily basis. westpoint.army.mil/museum.html
Raise a glass to locally-sourced beer, wine, and spirits at one of Orange County, N.Y.’s many breweries, cideries, wineries, and distilleries:
• Brotherhood, America’s Oldest Winery, 100 Brotherhood Plaza Drive, Washingtonville: With a history dating back to 1810, Brotherhood offers an enigmatic atmosphere with wine tastings and tours of the historic property. Three unique tasting options feature the winery’s inimitable blends and a flight through the heart of New York’s wine country. brotherhood-winery.com
• Angry Orchard, 2241 Albany Post Road, Walden: Surrounded by 60 acres of apple trees, take a self-guided tour of Angry Orchard’s Innovation Cider House and sample exclusive ciders only available at the orchard. Visit the legendary treehouse tasting room or take a guided tour of the Barrel Room for a behind-the-scenes exploration. The outdoor Cider Garden offers a relaxing fireplace, lawn games, and a variety of ciders. Visit www.angryorchard.com for more information.
• Equilibrium Brewery, 2-8 South Street, Middletown: Share stories over great beers at Equilibrium Brewery, where scientific principles and a passion for craft brewing create a balance of drinkability and massive flavor. Choose from a selection of Next Day IPAs, IPAs, Farmhouse Ales, and Stouts and Porters. Visit eqbrew.com for more information.
Make your trip a weekend getaway with an overnight stay at one of the county’s cozy B&Bs or select hotels. Head to the Orange County Tourism website at www.orangetourism.org to discover more must-visit attractions, eateries, and lodging options. Additionally, a fun, free, totally revamped, 55-page travel guide is available for digital download or by request at www.orangetourism.org/travel-guide. The guide highlights Orange County’s tourism destinations, as well as suggested itineraries and lodging.
About Orange County Tourism
Orange County Tourism, based in Goshen, N.Y., is the county’s tourism headquarters and a participant in the I LOVE NY program. A comprehensive listing of area attractions, lodging, and events can be found at www.OrangeTourism.org. Like Orange County Tourism on Facebook for the latest news on local happenings. For a free copy of the Orange County Travel Guide, e-mail tourism@orangecountygov.com or call 845-615-3860.
