Peekskill between the Hudson, culture, and nature

Peekskill combines riverside scenery with performing arts, local history, and outdoor experiences. At Riverfront Green Park, you can watch the Hudson River against the backdrop of the Hudson Highlands. Culture and activities on the water are also among the town’s special features—a varied mix to consider when planning your vacation rental in Peekskill.

Experience the Hudson and enjoy the outdoors

Riverfront Green Park offers an opportunity to watch the river. Boat trips can depart from the historic Fleischmann Pier in the park. If you’d like to get out on the water yourself, kayaking is available at China Pier near Charles Point. You can also kayak or go stand-up paddleboarding along the Peekskill waterfront. This lets you experience the Hudson from the shore or through a water activity, depending on your interests.

There are several places to start a walk: Depew Park has numerous wooded trails. The MacGregory Brook Trail is suitable for a walk with a dog. At Charles Point Park, visitors can watch birds, including eagles. Fort Hill Park offers a nature scavenger hunt for children. So if you’re planning outings with children, you’ll find an outdoor activity specifically designed for them, as well as time by the water.

An illuminated sculpture trail leads from the Peekskill Metro-North train station to downtown. It connects public art with a route between the station and downtown, offering another way to experience Peekskill through a combination of movement and art.

Theater, museums, and history

The Paramount Theater is a landmark venue in downtown Peekskill. The Paramount Hudson Valley Theater presents music, dance, theater, spoken word, film, and cultural programs. Its range of offerings makes it an appealing venue for visitors who want to include different kinds of performing arts and cultural events in their trip.

The Peekskill Museum began in 1946 with the acquisition of the former Herrick family home. Exhibitions, programs, and publications present the history of Peekskill and the surrounding area. The collection includes stoves, as well as artifacts and photographs from the foundries and their workers. These exhibits give local history a tangible focus, showing both objects from production and connections to the people who worked in the foundries.

The Lincoln Depot Museum is housed in a 3,000-square-foot freight and passenger rail depot on Peekskill Bay, on the east bank of the Hudson River. On February 19, 1861, President-elect Abraham Lincoln stopped there during his inaugural train journey from Springfield, Illinois, to Washington, D.C., to greet New Yorkers. The exhibition explores Lincoln’s ties to Peekskill and the Hudson Valley. It features more than 100 artifacts, including rare maps, photographs, memorabilia, and an order signed by Lincoln.

Hudson Valley MOCA is also part of Peekskill’s cultural history: it has shaped the city through more than 80 art exhibitions, six major art festivals, and educational programs. This gives you a clear way to plan your trip around your interests: focus on theater and exhibitions, local history, or trails and outdoor experiences.

Getting around during your stay

The Discover Peekskill Shuttle is a free weekend service that runs in summer and fall. It connects visitors to downtown, the train station, and the waterfront. When choosing your vacation rental, you can first consider which of Peekskill’s attractions matters most to your trip: cultural events, the river and water activities, nature trails, or a combination of these.

Other places to discover: Elmsford, Briarcliff Manor, White Plains, Ardsley, New Rochelle, Rye, Yorktown Heights and Tarrytown.

For the broader travel overview: Westchester.