Orange County, New York Summer Bucket List
Summer is in full swing, which means it’s almost time for those “dog days” everyone seems to dread. Fight off boredom and fill your days with plenty of fun and sunshine with our Orange County Summer Bucket List. (How many have you done? See if you can check off the list before back to school!)
Catch some (hot) air
Get a bird’s eye view of the area with a hot air balloon ride. Ballooning is a great way to see the scenic Hudson Valley, and is offered by several companies FAA certified pilots. Visit https://orangetourism.org/explore/attractions/recreation/ballooning/ for more information.
LOOK UP
Speaking of birds, the Hudson Valley is home to some spectacular species of our winged friends. Take a trek through one of the area’s many sanctuaries, preserves, or parks to see eagles, woodpeckers, ducks, bluebirds and more.
RAISE YOUR SPIRITS
Whether you prefer beer, wine, cider or just history with a great view, Orange County has something to offer. Sample the region’s craft beer scene by visiting a local brewery’s tasting room, visit an apple orchard and sample exclusive hard ciders, or get a taste of local wine and history at America’s oldest winery, Brotherhood Winery, or one of the region’s other vineyards/wineries.
ENJOY OUTDOOR ART
Who says museums have to be inside? Storm King Art Center is an outdoor museum in the Hudson Valley. The museum has seasonal exhibits, showcasing large-scale sculptures and the beautiful landscape surrounding the 500-acre center.
GO CAMPING
Celebrate summer by getting outside and enjoying the natural beauty of New York. You can camp out at one of Orange County’s many available sites, like Winding Hills in Montgomery, that provides an array of fun for the whole family. Or visit one of the beautiful state parks in Orange County, where you can hike or ride horseback through Highland Lakes State Park, hunt in Schunnemunk Mountain State Park or fish in Sterling Forest State Park.
GO SWIMMING
Dig your toes into the sand at Port Jervis West End Park and Beach, or grill out and have a picnic at Lake Tiorati Beach. Thomas P. Morahan Beach has swimming, volleyball and more. Or, try an outdoor pool at Middletown, Hil-Mar Lodge, or Bear Mountain State Park Pool.
LEARN TO FLY
… on a trapeze, that is. Safe Harbors Green in Newburgh is hosting a flying trapeze academy from July 16-26. Visit https://www.safe-harbors.org/events/learntofly2019/ for more information. There is also a Circus on the Green workshop for students ages 12-16, where they can learn circus skills like acrobatics and the flying trapeze.
CATCH A CONCERT
Enjoy the fresh air and some good tunes at one of the county’s many outdoor concert series. On Wednesdays, New Windsor hosts the Nancy Pullar Summer Concert Series; Montgomery’s concert series is every Thursday from July 11 until Sept. 15; Christopher Jacobs Winery at Pennings Vineyard is hosting the Summer Sunsets live music series on Fridays through Aug. 30; on Saturdays, there is a concert series at the Village of Monroe through Aug. 17 (concerts are not every Saturday), and in Greenwood Lake until Aug. 31. For other summer concert information, visit orangetourism.org/events/.
WATCH A MOVIE
There’s not a better way to enjoy summertime than at a drive-in movie. Fair Oaks Drive-In has this summer’s biggest hits, from “Dark Phoenix” to “Toy Story 4.” Check their website, fairoaksdriveintheatre.com/, for updates on what’s showing and when. To watch a movie under the stars, check out the free summer movie series on Safe Harbors Green in Newburgh. The family friendly evening includes activities, free popcorn and a cookout. Check orangetourism.org/events/free-summer-movies-on-safe-harbors-green-2019-06-27/ for this summer’s schedule.
Summer is also a great time for home remodeling projects! Need inspiration? Take a look at some of our past projects and see how we can help you achieve similar results. You can reach us at 845-988-4644, info@kehoekustom.com or click here. We can’t wait to hear from you!