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For a look back in time, visit the Village of Cold Spring, New York and discover Main Street America. The village offers many attractions and activities.
Click
to enlarge photo of Cold Spring walk along Hudson River.
Go to Cold Spring year-round where you can enjoy the best activities along the Hudson River, attractions in the charming village, such as antique and specialty shops housed in historic storefronts, excellent restaurants, and many wonderful historic buildings from the 19th century. Be sure to visit Cold Spring for one of many things to do in Putnam County, New York.
Did you know?
On December 1, 2011, while being interviewed on Talk of The Nation, Don McLean talked about the song
American Pie
and where it was written. "It was written in Cold Spring, New York and in Philadelphia, and it was performed first at Temple University when I was just getting started with Laura Nyro." It is not surprising that the Village of Cold Spring inspired
American Pie
, another American classic.
Manhattan Weekend Getaway - Cold Spring, New York
An MTA train ride from Grand Central Station in NYC to Cold Spring Metro-North station, is only one hour. When you arrive at the train in Cold Spring, antique and craft shops, cafes and fine dining restaurants, places to stay, and best of all, a stroll along the Hudson River bank are all within easy walking distance of the train station. Take a break from the busy pace of New York City and plan a weekend in Cold Spring, New York.
Click
to enlarge photo of Cold Spring early evening walk along Hudson River.
Cold Spring, a charming and quaint village in the Hudson Valley, is situated on the eastern banks of the Hudson River in the Southwest corner of Putnam County, New York.
Find interesting and fun things to do in and near the Village of Cold Spring including one-of-a-kind craft, clothing, and antique shops and world-class dining. Beautiful buildings reflecting 19th century architecture line the streets of the village. Find fun things to do, including outdoor activities on land and water, at
Outdoor Activities in Putnam County.
Things to do in Cold Spring
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Upon arriving at the Cold Springs train station, a short walk toward the river will take you to West Street (opposite Hudson House Inn) where you can relax at the Cold Spring Gazebo, view the famed Parrott Gun, or gaze out at the beautiful Hudson Highlands over the Hudson River.
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Visit
Foundry Dock Park officially opened in June 2006. This riverfront park is enjoyed by many who come to relax, enjoy the spectacular views of the Hudson, launch a kayak, rowboat, or canoe.
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Visit
Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, a great park for outdoor enthusiasts. This 14,086-acre park, covering land in Putnam and Dutchess counties, boasts hiking trails, picnic areas, scenic campground, and abundant opportunities for boating, hunting, fishing, and birding. On the hot days of summer, go swimming at the park's beautiful beach.
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Visit
West Point Foundry Preserve. This peaceful 87-acre preserve is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The preparation of a Public Access and Interpretation Plan for the West Point Foundry Preserve is supported in part by a Preserve America grant administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Putnam County is the recipient of the grant. The study and stabilization of masonry ruins at the preserve is funded by the Environmental Protection Fund managed by NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
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The
Putnam County Historical Society & Foundry School Museum
is located at 63 Chestnut Street, Cold Spring, NY 10516 in Putnam County. "The Putnam County Historical Society was founded in 1906 by a group of prominent Philipstown residents and chartered the next year to be the first historical society in the county.
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Hudson Valley Outfitters
located at 63 Main Street, Cold Spring NY 10516, offers kayak rentals, kayak instruction, and kayak tours for Constitution Marsh and Foundry Cove.
No paddling experience necessary however, the Marsh is tidal. Because you have to paddle under the railroad trestle, the ideal time to enter the Marsh is two hours before high tide and leave two hours after high tide. There are shorter times to paddle part way into the Marsh. Please call the shop for more information.
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Go
Antique Shopping in Cold Spring where you can visit antique stores and shops located on the quaint and charming streets of Cold Spring. Visit
- Cold Spring Antiques Center
- Country Clocks offering a fine collection of antique clocks for sale.
- Bijou Galleries, an antique market that houses 30 dealers.
- Cold Spring Antiques and Crafts Show
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Visit
Fahnestock Winter Park
for outdoor activities and things to do in the winter. Fahnestock Winter Park is located at 75 Mountain Laurel Lane, Cold Spring NY 10516. Situated in the heart of the Hudson Valley, the park is nestled in the 16,000 acre Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park. Fahnestock Winter Park offers 15 km of machine groomed, tracked and mapped trails for beginning and experienced skiers and snowshoers. Families find the park particularly enjoyable because it offers easy terrain to ski on near a warming lodge. The sledding hill and hot chocolate to sip in front of the outdoor fireplace are nice compliments to day-long trips.
Things To Do near Cold Spring, NY
The Village of Cold Spring is situated near some of the most spectacular scenic views in New York, special places to see, great live theatre, and one of the most outstanding sculpture parks in the world.
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For a wonderful evening of 'Live Theatre' visit
Shakespeare in the Park
at
Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival in Garrison, just down the road (10 minutes) from Cold Spring. "Far more than the starry productions in Central Park, Mr. O'Brien's vivacious interpretations make Shakespeare breathe in the present tense, but without hyperventilating. Few stages have wings like those of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, where the theater is an open-sided tent perched on a riverside knoll."
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Visit
Storm King Art Center. Storm King Art Center is located at Old Pleasant Hill Road, Mountainville NY 10953, Orange County in the Hudson Valley. Storm King is widely recognized as one of the world’s greatest sculpture parks. "Storm King Art Center is a museum celebrates the relationship between sculpture and nature. Five hundred acres of landscaped lawns, fields and woodlands provide the site for postwar sculptures by internationally renowned artists.
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Visit
United States Military Academy at West Point. Visitors may take a nominally priced guided tour of the Academy grounds departing from the West Point Visitors Center. Entrance is allowed for business, for visiting staff, faculty and cadets who live on West Point, and for public events such as concerts, sporting events, cadet reviews, and graduation.
Kids Things to Do near the Village of Cold Spring
Cold Spring, New York is situated near many exciting places that you can visit with children of all ages. Adults will enjoy visiting these educational and exciting places to see near Cold Spring.
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Visit
Fort Montgomery State Historic Site. Fort Montgomery was the scene of a fierce battle for control of the Hudson River during the American Revolutionary War; the Hudson was considered strategic by both the Americans and the British during the American War for Independence. Walk the Historic 1777 & 1779 trails where "You are walking part of the 1777 historic trail that retraces as nearly as possible the routes taken by the British army during the Revolutionary War. Also visit the Fort Montgomery Museum situated on this historic site.
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Be sure to visit the
Trailside Museum and Wildlife Center at Bear Mountain Park (Take 9D South for 16 miles about 1/2 hour trip from Cold Spring). The Trailside Museums and Zoo occupy 40-acres on a bluff 250 feet over the Hudson River. The trails, including the first section of the Appalachian Trail, are among the oldest in the country; they link the various homes of Samantha, the eagle, and other birds of prey, the bear den, as well as habitats for beavers, a river otter, foxes, coyotes, and more.
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Visit nearby
Parks in Putnam County for activities, attractions, and things to do in the summer, winter, and all seasons of the year.
Find more attractions, activities, places to stay, including the best
Things to Do in Cold Spring, New York.
When its time to eat, find a casual café in Cold Spring, dine at a fine upscale restaurant, or pack a picnic lunch and eat on the waterfront of historic Cold Spring while looking out at scenic views of the Hudson Highlands. Find a selection of the best
Restaurants in Cold Spring, NY
A Bit of History about Cold Spring, New York
Residents and visitors alike can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the sidewalks and the waterfront of the historic Village of Cold Spring. Take in the beauty and peaceful scenery overlooking the Hudson Highlands and river and breath in the delicious sea air.
"As early as the 1600s, the Hudson River was used as a major watercourse by Native Americans and continued to be a main mode of travel and transport until the nineteenth century. In addition, Cold Spring’s proximity to what is now Fahnestock State Park provided a cheap source of lumber and iron ore. Margaret’s Brook, a small creek located to the west of Route 9D which runs into the Hudson River, supplied hydro-power to the West Point Foundry, which helped propel Cold Spring from a tiny hamlet into a bustling village. Even the name of Cold Spring is linked to a natural resource. Myth has it that George Washington drank from a local spring and declared it to be refreshingly cold. In 1973, the Village of Cold Spring was designated a Federal Historic District, and tourists have been visiting Cold Spring’s historic sites, shops, restaurants and nearby hiking trails ever since.
"Through the changing times since 1973, the Village of Cold Spring has been unique among the Hudson River communities in retaining its fundamental character. This is largely due to the steadfast loyalty of Cold Spring residents and their ingenuity in adapting to the needs of the present while carefully preserving their heritage and way of life."
Source
coldspringny.gov.
Click
to enlarge photo of the Parrott Gun, manufactured at the West Point Foundry.
Foundry Dock Park overlooking the Hudson River and Hudson Highlands, on West Street and Main in Cold Spring, proudly displays a replica of the Parrott Gun that was manufactured in the West Point Foundry and used during the Civil War.
"When the Civil War began, production at the West Point Foundry concentrated on making guns, projectiles, and gun-carriages. The foundry's best-known product is the Parrott gun, justly famous for its range and accuracy.
From 1978 to 1979, under the authority of the National Historical Preservation Act of 1966 research was constucted on the history and significance of this important early industrial complex."
Click
to enlarge photo of the Parrott Gun.
Source:
"The West Point Foundry & The Parrott Gun, A Short History", by Charles Isleib and Jack Chard.
Learn more about the
History of the Parrott Gun
Location: Cold Spring
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Go to Cold Spring year-round where you can enjoy the best activities along the Hudson River, attractions in the charming village, such as antique and specialty shops housed in historic storefronts, excellent restaurants, and many wonderful historic buildings from the 19th century. Be sure to visit Cold Spring for one of many things to do in Putnam County, New York.
Cold Spring, a charming and quaint village in the Hudson Valley, is situated on the eastern banks of the Hudson River in the Southwest corner of Putnam County, New York.
Source:
"The West Point Foundry & The Parrott Gun, A Short History", by Charles Isleib and Jack Chard.
