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Outdoor
Recreation
Boating,
Birding, Biking, Camping, Canoeing, Hiking, & Kayaking
Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary,
a 270-acre tidal marsh, offers an interpretive canoe program of the
near-shore environments of the tidal Hudson River, particularly the natural
history of Constitution Marsh and the surrounding Hudson Highlands. An
expert Audubon naturalist leads participants through winding tide channels
lined with lush marsh plants. Canoeists can enjoy the physical activity and
scenic landscape while learning about this fascinating habitat just south of
the village. Parking and space are very limited, particularly on weekends,
so reservations must be made well in advance.
The
Center also provides refuge for breeding and migrant birds and offers
irreplaceable habitat for the plants, fish, and other wildlife of the Hudson
River estuary.
It has been designated an Important Bird Area by Audubon and a Bird
Conservation Area by New York State. A 700-foot boardwalk, built in memory
of the late manager and warden James P. Rod, allows access to families,
birders, artists, and other visitors who want to explore the natural side of
the Hudson River. Parking is very limited, so visitors should call in
advance for additional information.
The
centerpiece of Clarence Fahnestock State Park is Canopus Beach, a
multi-million-dollar facility with a large, sandy beach, a concession stand,
showers and toilets, and a picnic area. Located in the highlands just east
of Cold Spring, the park has campsites, and group wilderness camping
facilities as well. Fishing is excellent, with two lakes and four ponds for
anglers seeking bass, perch, pickerel or trout. Boating, miles of bridle
paths, hiking, biking and nature trails -- including a portion of the
Appalachian Trail -- are available to visitors. Winter Park at Clarence
Fahnestock State Park offers ice skating, ice fishing, snow shoeing and
sledding, with miles of trails for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
Hudson
Valley Outfitters
offers rental kayaks and guided kayak tours . A popular tour, great for
beginners, includes instruction, a leisurely paddle through the protected
marshland of Constitution Marsh and a stop for lunch at the Audubon Museum.
They also offer trail maps for hikers and, in winter, cross-country ski and
snowshoe packages to Fahnestock Park, which include round-trip shuttle and
trail pass.
Gardens
In
addition to the many private village gardens, which can be viewed during
meandering strolls, several grand-scale gardens in Cold Spring-on-Hudson are
spectacular spots to enjoy nature at its best.
Boscobel
Restoration,
just one mile south of Cold Spring, is a carefully restored Federal
home-turned-museum with stunning grounds. A brick walkway leads past apple
and quince trees, an extensive herb garden and perennial beds, to a formal
rose garden that opens onto a great lawn with sweeping views of the Hudson
River. The Woodland Trail offers a one-mile walk by a stream and waterfall,
with a picnic area overlooking Constitution Marsh.
Manitoga/the
Russel Wright Design Center
is a unique 80-acre property created by noted industrial designer and
environmentalist Russel Wright. Listed on the National Register of Historic
Places, it is a wonderful and very extensive example of the naturalistic
approach to landscaping design and embellishment. The woodland gardens,
which encompass more than four miles of trails, are open to the public
year-round.
Stonecrop
Gardens
consist
of 63 acres of gardens, fields and woodlands. Originally the private home of
Anne and Frank Cabot, Stonecrop became a public garden in 1992 under the
direction of Caroline Burgess. The display gardens cover an area of
approximately 12 acres and incorporate a diverse collection of gardens and
plants, including woodland and water gardens, a grass garden, raised alpine
stone beds, cliff rock gardens, and an enclosed English-style flower garden.
Additional features include a conservatory, display alpine house, small
tropical room, pit house with an extensive collection of choice dwarf bulbs,
two growing houses and six polytunnels. The gardens are open to the public
during Garden Conservancy Open Days, visit www.stonecrop.org
for information.
Golf &
Personal Fitness
Just five
minutes from Cold Spring-on-Hudson is the Garrison Golf Club. The
18-hole championship golf course was designed by Dick Wilson and offers
spectacular Hudson River views. The course is open to the public daily (in
season) and features a complete pro shop as well as lessons with club
professional Joe Spivak. The Garrison also features a holistic
day-spa and salon with a full menu of massages, facials, body treatments
and salon services; the Satsang Yoga Center, which offers workshops
and classes drawn from a variety of yoga disciplines, and personal
training and fitness. Indoor or outdoor workouts can include Cybex,
Pilates, free weights or a game on the historic handball court.
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