Bear Mountain State Park

Bear Mountain (Rockland County)

Why we love it

You’ll be sure of pleasing even the most finicky children at Bear Mountain — there’s so much to do. The “musts” include riding the merry-go-round, swimming in the pool, visiting the zoo (featuring Hudson Valley animals), paddleboating on Hessian Lake, climbing Perkins Memorial Tower to admire 360-degree views and taking a whirl around the seasonal ice rink. And of course, there are the great old standbys — hiking and fishing. The best part of spending a day here is that you’ll have as much fun as your kids.

More to explore

Plan a ride over the Bear Mountain Bridge. Hard to believe, but when it opened in 1924 it was the longest suspension bridge in the world.

Highlights

• Incredible variety of kid-friendly activities

Directions, hours, etc.: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/13/details.aspx