Once the traffic on the thruway starts to slow to a crawl on Sunday evenings, you know summer is in full swing. But why leave the county when these seasonal pleasures make living in Rockland so much fun?
You know it’s summer in Rockland when…
It’s time to dock and dine
There are only a handful of spots where you can dock your boat and enjoy an al fresco meal at a waterside table. Here are three to check out:
The Hudson Water Club in West Haverstraw offers an expansive outdoor deck and tiki bar, live music, and lots of fresh seafood — don’t miss the signature seafood tower piled with littleneck clams, jumbo shrimp, oysters, lobster, and mussels — as well as fresh salads and wood-fired pizzas. Indoor seating is also available. Boat slips are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
606 Beach Road, West Haverstraw
Cornetta’s in Piermont offers boat docking for customers enjoying lunch or dinner on its charming dining pavilion, open only during summer. Strung with twinkling lights and open to the stars, this is the perfect perch to end a day on the water. There’s also a patio and plenty of indoor seating for those less-than-stellar weather days. Generations of diners have been sailing in (pardon the pun) to this family-owned favorite for its fresh seafood, steak, chops, and pasta — not to mention the atmosphere.
641 Piermont Avenue, Piermont
>cornettas.com
Don Coqui hums with a Latin vibe, enhanced by its riverside location, swaying palm trees, and live music. Pull up your Boston Whaler or Jet Ski to the restaurant’s dock and enjoy dinner (or their celebrated Sunday Caribbean brunch) at a beachside table or on the expansive riverfront lawn. Indoor dining is also available.
16 Front Street, Haverstraw
>doncoqui.com
You have a soft spot for soft serve
Nothing says summer like a vanilla cone dripping in rainbow sprinkles enjoyed in the glow of neon lights! Get your fix at King Kone in Pearl River. Open seasonally, you can drive up, order at the window, and then slurp your sundae, shake, or Kwiver (a soft serve with candy mixed in at one of the picnic tables.
136 N Middletown Road, Pearl River
Or you could visit Conrad’s Confectionery in Westwood, which has been turning out homemade candy since 1928. An extra sweet treat for those hot summer nights? Homemade ice cream. All summer long, lines form at the walk-up window for cones, cups, sundaes, and frozen bananas. Popular flavors include Conrad’s signature Sea Turtle (salty caramel chip ice cream with Conrad’s Turtles), strawberry chocolate chip, and vegan vanilla. Follow Conrad’s on Facebook to find out what special flavors they’re scooping that day.
107 Westwood Avenue, Westwood
>conrads1928.com
You stop to smell the flowers
The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program allows the public to get a glimpse of some spectacular private gardens, most of which are open just one day each summer. The nonprofit organization offers all its tours by advanced reservation only, with each garden being $10-$12 to visit.
Close to home, Hawks Off the Palisades in Demarest will show off its splendid shade garden on August 12 — a mass of “Limelight” hydrangea trees, and pollinator gardens. Many of the property’s 100-plus-year-old trees are home to hawks and other raptors, and a special viewing section is available for guests to see them in flight.
>gardenconservancy.org/open-days
It’s camping season
Always wanted to try your hand at pitching a tent, but not quite ready to go into the wild? Book a cabin or platform site at the seasonally operated Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center in Harriman State Park. Open May through October, this close-to-home getaway provides easy access to the great outdoors — try a few miles on a hiking trail, including parts of the famed Appalachian Trail — and the 64-acre Breakneck Pond that offers boating and swimming. Group and family cabins are available, as are three-sided shelters. Campers can grill, bring their own cookstove, or order an a-la-carte dinner, breakfast, or to-go trail lunch from the onsite dining room.
200 Breakneck Road, Haverstraw.
>outdoors.org/destinations/book-now
You can root for the home team
Nothing says summer like a day at the ballpark, but no need to battle city traffic and crowds at those other New York stadiums. Head to Ramapo instead and catch a double-header at Clover Stadium, where the New York Boulders compete with other teams in the Frontier League. Along with games, a day at the park includes food (there’s Chick-fil-A, 16 Handles, pizza, and kosher options) special promotions, and fireworks after many home games. The season runs from May through October.
1 Phil Tisi Way, Pomona
nyboulders.com
By Karen Croke
Photos courtesy of Appalachian Mountain Club and King Cone
Karen Croke is a Hudson Valley-based freelance writer who is always looking for something new to do in the county.
