To start your trip, some destinations closer to Manhattan include Sleepy Hollow (of Headless Horseman lore);
the Stone Barns Agricultural Center; Washington Irving’s home Sunnyside; MYO wine, Westchester’s wine school; Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate; and the
Castle on the Hudson. The hotel is pricey, but the tour is a nice excursion.
Tip 2: Don’t visit touristy places around lunch-time if you haven’t eaten. You will save money if you can resist visiting the carving station at the end of a tour. But be sure to offer her a drink at the bar—even if it’s in the morning. You’ll score big points for thoughtfulness.
Nature nuts should travel a half hour north from Tarrytown to Cortland Manor, near Peekskill for
Atlantic Kayak Tours. For $35 to $50, a canoe can be rented for a half-day or partake in the three hour Annsville Easy tour for $65.
Just an hour north from Peekskill is Hyde Park, known as the “Loire Valley” for all the stately mansions that were once summer homes to New York’s “royal families.” Most of these tours cost less than $10. One of the most unique is Olana for its Moorish architecture and views, and is also an ideal location for a meandering picnic. Before visiting Olana, drop into The Apple Pie Bakery Café at the famed Culinary Institute on 1946 Campus Drive.
Tip 3: Picnics are romantic and less expensive than a restaurant, but are not a reason to skimp on the quality of the food.Previous Page Next Page
