2022 wintertime guide to Westchester County

 

A 2022 wintertime guide to Westchester County

Images (L to R): Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown, Westchester’s Winter Wonderland in Valhalla, and Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow

 

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Dec. 1, 2022 – Set between the enchanting Hudson River and the serene Long Island Sound, Westchester County is an ideal destination to revel in winter’s splendor. Only 30 miles north of Manhattan, and easily accessible by rail via Metro-North and Amtrak, visitors will find Westchester to be a truly magical winter wonderland with exciting indoor and outdoor activities, as well as festive events this holiday season. The following travel ideas are courtesy of Westchester County Tourism.

 

Holiday Events & Festivities

 

·Westchester’s Winter Wonderland at the Kensico Dam Plaza (Valhalla) is a 1.2-mile drive-thru experience filled with thousands of lights. Fan favorites include glittering angels of peace and a 50-foot dove, dancing trees, glowing snowballs, candy cane lane, a spectacular 100-foot light tunnel and Westchester’s impressive 40-foot Christmas tree. Open now until Jan. 1, 2023.

 

·       Celebrate the holiday season with a Victorian Christmas Historic House Tour at Armour-Stiner’s Octagon House (Irvington). The restored national landmark will be filled with elaborate holiday décor featuring wreaths, garlands, and the sparkle of ornaments on a grand Christmas tree inside the salon. With the help of original feather trees and antique ornaments, the one-hour tour will fill guests in on the history of Christmas and how it was celebrated in the 19th Century. Tours are available now through Dec. 30, 2022.

 

·       At Lyndhurst Mansion, Mr. Dickens Tells a Christmas Carol (Tarrytown) is a one-hour play that recreates the famous 1867 performance tour by Charles Dickens. Taken from the original script, actor Michael Muldoon plays Charles Dickens and tells the well-loved tale of the travails of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, and Tiny Tim in the parlor of the beautifully decorated historic mansion. The show runs Dec. 9 – 23, 2022. 

 

·       Hudson River Museum is featuring festive Victorian decorations in Glenview, the museum’s Gilded Age historic home as well as a series of fun, family-friendly events and programs throughout the season including a live opera performance and free planetarium shows.

 

·       Untermyer Gardens Conservancy’s Grand Holiday Illumination (Yonkers) is a holiday tradition with more than 100,000 lights on display. The free nighttime light show bathes the outdoor park in glittering lights and embraces many secular celebrations. Open Dec. 10, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023.

 

·       Check out the Holiday Classic Mansion Tour at Lyndhurst Mansion (Tarrytown) this holiday season. Designed in 1838, Lyndhurst is a romantic Gothic Revival-style mansion situated on the bank of the Hudson River and is transformed into an extravagant wonderland of holiday splendor each year. Described as one of the “Ten Best Historic Holiday Tours” by USA Today, Lyndhurst goes all-out during the holiday season, filling the mansion with elaborate tableaus of décor, which change every year. Dozens of Christmas trees are expertly decorated and designed to complement the elegant period furnishings within the rooms of the mansion. Tours available now through Dec. 30, 2022. 

 

·       Organized by The Sleepy Hollow Tarrytown Chamber, the Second Annual Winter Stroll (Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown) is an exciting route between the two neighboring towns filled with performances from local groups, schools and churches. Along the way, strollers can watch the tree lighting ceremonies for both Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown and enjoy holiday specials, drinks and treats from local community members. Kicks off Dec. 3, 2022 at 5 p.m.

 

·       Experience the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge like never before at Old Dutch Church as master storyteller Jonathan Kruk entertains attendees with his adaptation of Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol.” And don’t forget to warm up with a cup of hot tea or cocoa at the Philipsburg Manor Museum Shop before or after the performance—it’s included with the ticket! The show runs Dec. 4 – 18, 2022.

 

·       Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard’s LUMAGICA (North Salem) features endless light displays of whimsical animals and Christmas trees. After a fruitful harvest season, the orchard is transformed into an enchanted forest filled with over 750,000 lights. The half-mile trail will take guests on a journey through six decorated spaces: Sparkling Light, Into the Wonderland, Magical Trees, A Great Celebration, Treats and Sweets, and Beyond the Forest. Guests can expect a 20-foot-tall reindeer, a soaring parrot, lots of new photo opportunities, light tunnels and a dynamic light show set to music. Open now until Dec. 30, 2022.

 

·       The Great Holiday Train Show (Chappaqua) is held at the Horace Greeley House Museum and will display numerous vintage train sets, some over 100 years old, that travel through festively decorated rooms with backdrops such as the Bavarian countryside, the “Rip Roaring 20’s”, and more. This event is sure to wow adults and kids alike.Trains run through Jan. 8, 2023. 

 

·       White Plains’ 2022 Holiday Market is a wonderful outdoor experience featuring 50 local and regional vendors, including tasty food and drink options. Market is open Dec. 9 – 18, 2022.

 

·       Holidays on the Hill Annual Train Show (Katonah) features over 5,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space designed to bring holiday cheer for every age. Learn the origin of gingerbread men and why Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, then take a family photo around the Holidays on the Hill train engine, surrounded by decorated trees from local Girl Scouts troops. Show runs Nov. 26 – Dec. 31, 2022. 

 

·       New for this holiday season is Mount Vernon’sAmerican Christmas Experience, where guests can wander through Santa’s Village under 50,000 twinkling lights, interact with 50 animatronic displays, and take a photo in Santa’s chair. Visit the “real workshop” for a behind-the-scenes look at some of New York City’s most iconic Christmas displays being assembled. Open now until Dec. 23, 2022.

 

·       Bringing holiday cheer to its visitors, Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts (Katonah) has an impressive lineup of performances through the month of December, including Calmus, a German a cappella ensemble performing holiday classics; Josh Ritter, American singer and song writer; Reggie Harris, American roots musician; and the annual Holiday Tea Musicale filled with festive décor, lively musicians and a tea service. Join the waitlist for tickets online.

 

Events & Attractions Beyond the Holiday Season

 

·       Walk into the depths of a dark forest and discover fantastic beasts and illuminated wizarding world moments at Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience(Yorktown Heights), taking place this winter in the awe-inspiring woods of Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown Heights. This nighttime trail experience is designed for the whole family and booking quickly.

 

·       Explore Westchester’s winter wonderland above ground with a Wings Air helicopter tour. Guests can soar above the Hudson Valley for a bird’s-eye view of Westchester County covered in a blanket of snow and spot landmarks included the Kensico Dam in Valhalla and Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate in Sleepy Hollow.

 

·       Check out the African American Heritage Trail and explore a collection of historic sites that preserve and interpret the contributions that people of African descent have made to the development of the Country's unique American identity. The Trail is an ongoing initiative to identify sites, buildings and locations that reflect both the actions and experiences of African Americans in the evolution of Westchester.

 

·       Throw on a pair of hiking boots and join fellow female hikers to cruise the trails at Teatown Lake Reservation(Ossining) while enjoying the brisk winter weather and unique wildlife. Women Take to the Trails hikes are ongoing through the winter months.

 

·       Take a tour through the Hudson River Museum(Yonkers) and check out Visit Matrix: Prints by Women Artists, 1960–1990, open through the winter months. The exhibit features works by several artists and explores a period of experimentation in printmaking among women creators, who used the art form as a means of creative expression and also a way to enter the male-dominated art market.

 

·       Teatown’s 19th Annual Hudson River EagleFest (Ossining) will take place in 2023, giving attendees the chance to watch the bald eagles as they descend upon Hudson River during their annual winter migration.Additional details and dates to come.

 

·       Stop by Muscoot Farm (Katonah) and learn all about the art of maple sugaring at one of their Backyard Sugaring workshops. Learn about the equipment needed, how to identify sugar maples in all seasons, the right way to tap trees and how to turn sap from maples into syrup for pancakes.

 

·       Visit the Wolf Conservation Center in North Salem and learn about the mythology, biology and ecology of wolves and their vital role in the environment.

 

Winter Dining & Drinks

·       Grab a bite to eat at Jewel of Himalaya in Scarsdale. As one of the region’s only Nepali and Tibetan restaurants, visitors will enjoy a variety of momo dumplings and other unique dishes.

 

·       Warm up with a cup of hot cocoa or coffee at a variety of coffee shops in Westchester. Stop by Peekskill Coffee for their delicious specialty drinks, crepes, waffles and more, or try Mimi’s Coffee House in Mount Kisco, serving up vegan options. Additionally, Hastings Tea & Coffee in White Plains serves locally roasted coffee, freshly brewed tea, wine and craft beer and Katonah Reading Room is a bookstore that also features a coffee shop with a gourmet take out menu, ice cream, candy, books, gifts and more.

 

·       Ramen season is back at Bread & Brine in Hastings-on-Hudson. Stop by any Tuesday through March and enjoy a delicious bowl of ramen.

 

·       Visitors should check out Westchester’s craft beverage scene as it continues to thrive with a variety of options from distilleries to craft breweries, a cidery and even a micro winery. A few to note include Peekskill Brewery, which boasts a Hudson Riverfront location, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company in Elmsford,Decadent Ales in Mamaroneck and Hardscrabble Ciderin North Salem.

 

Where to Stay

·       The Opus, Westchester is a contemporary lifestyle hotel in the heart of White Plains. This December, all 90-minute spa treatments at the newly unveiled The Opus Spa will include a complimentary warming peppermint hand and foot revival. Plus, the rooftop-located indoor heated swimming pool and lounge deck are a treat for friends and family during the colder months.

• Peekskill’s The Abbey Inn & Spa is offering a Winter Comfort Getaway package including a welcome wine and cheese plate, plus hot cocoa and cookies to enjoy by the fire pits.
• For close proximity to winter activities, stay atSpringHill Suites Tuckahoe, and see all that Westchester has to offer for winter. The Discover Westchester County package includes breakfast, a 20% coupon for The Market, late check-out and more.

·       For travelers planning to explore the historic villages of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow Hotel and Conference Center is an ideal location near the region’s best attractions and includes an onsite restaurant and café, Bistro Z, featuring dishes with locally sourced ingredients. 

 

About Westchester County Tourism & Film

Westchester County Tourism & Film is Westchester County’s official destination marketing organization. Its mission is to generate economic benefits by enhancing the image and promoting Westchester County as a premier business and leisure destination in the Hudson Valley region. Flanked by Long Island Sound and the Hudson River, Westchester is made up of big cities, small towns, villages, farms, and miles of natural beauty. The county is easily accessible by major interstate highways and parkways, its own regional airport, Amtrak and three commuter rail lines and is home to more than 40 hotels and conference centers. For information about visiting Westchester, visit www.visitwestchesterny.com, connect on Facebook (@westchestercountytourism), Instagram (@westchestercountytourismny) and Twitter (@westchestertour), or call 1-800-833-9282.