Stephanie & Taylor
Things To Do
Bear Mountain State Park
About a 13-minute drive from the Abbey, Bear Mountain State Park offers hiking the Hudson Highlands, swimming, boating, and fishing on Hessian Lake, picnicking, and the Trailside Museum which includes a zoo featuring live animals common to the region. Additional exhibits are devoted to natural history, Native American heritage, and the region’s role in the Revolutionary War.
Breakneck Ridge Trail
Often called “the most popular day hike in America,” Breakneck Ridge is a challenging climb in Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve. The trails on Breakneck Ridge test hikers of all ages with steep rock ledges and then reward them with sweeping views of the Hudson River.
Walkway Over the Hudson
You can either drive or take a train to Poughkeepsie NY, to visit the Walkway, which features a stunning panorama view, of high above the Hudson River, at the center of the park. A vicinity map of the area points out nine Discovery Zones, along the Walkway experience. Each zone is a manageable size for a short visit and covers a variety of options: wild parks, waterfronts, historic urban districts, and a small hamlet.
United States Military Academy
Just shy of 20 minutes away, you can drive to West Point to check out the visitor center & museum. They also have the option of signing up for a guided bus tour of the entire campus or catch a football game at Michie Stadium. P.S- for a fun story, ask Steph about the time she was smuggled onto the military base!
Wolf Conservation Center
This site is recommended for all the animal lovers & families. Just shy of a 40-minute drive from the Abbey, the WCC teaches people about wolves, their relationship to the environment, and the human role in protecting their future. Visits must be scheduled in advance.
The Culinary Institute of America
If you plan to visit Poughkeepsie, we recommend making a short trip to Hyde Park to check out the Culinary Institute of America. All activities are recommended to be booked in advance, but they have the option to take a tour, sign up for a food & wine class, or make reservations to dine in one of the CIA’s student run restaurants. Steph HIGHLY recommends checking out the Apple Pie Bakery Cafe, it was one of her go-to spots at home!
Dia Beacon
Dia Art Foundation is committed to advancing, realizing, and preserving the vision of artists. Dia fulfills its mission by commissioning single artist projects, organizing exhibitions, realizing site-specific installations, and collecting in-depth the work of a focused group of artists of the 1960s and 1970s.