Orange: Accommodation for Cross-Country Skiing, Nature and Culture

When searching for accommodation in Orange, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, along with nature and cultural experiences, are the main attractions. You can therefore choose your stay based on whether you want to combine snowy trails, museums, Hudson River landscapes or historic and culinary destinations.

Winter Trails and Viewpoints

The Heritage Trail is a 19.5-mile-long trail with access from Goshen to Harriman. It is suitable for hiking, cycling and rollerblading; when snow conditions are suitable, it can also be used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. This makes it a clearly identified alternative for travelers who do not want to focus exclusively on alpine skiing in winter. Actual use depends on snow conditions. Winding Hills Park also combines scenery with winter recreation. The park includes 40-acre Diamond Lake and a four-acre pond. The trails are open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Boating is possible on the 40-acre lake from May through October at designated times; this seasonal note is therefore more relevant to warmer-weather travel planning than to a winter stay. For shorter nature experiences, Cronomer Hill Park has a wooded hiking trail and a 30-foot-high observation tower. From there, views extend across the Hudson River Valley and the surrounding region to High Point in New Jersey. Kowawese Unique Area at Plum Point is a 102-acre park along the Hudson River. It offers a 2,000-foot-long sandy shoreline as well as opportunities for boating, fishing and hiking.

Museums for Different Interests

The West Point Museum displays weapons, uniforms and memorabilia of American soldiers from the 17th century to the present, as well as military artifacts from around the world. It also collects, preserves, displays and interprets historically significant objects relating to the United States Military Academy, the United States Army and the profession of soldiering. Storm King Art Center is a 500-acre open-air museum in New Windsor. Metro-North Railroad and NJ Transit are listed as transportation connections for reaching it. The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame preserves the history and traditions of Standardbred racing and has more than 40,000 artifacts related to harness racing. At Museum Village of Old Smith's Clove, the focus is on small-town life in late-19th-century America. The museum includes the Natural History Museum, home to the nearly complete skeleton of Harry the Mastodon. Visitors can make their own candles in the Candle Shop; students and families can take part in hands-on educational programs and learning experiences on site. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor uses interactive stations to trace the life stories of selected Purple Heart recipients. For groups with children, LEGOLAND New York Resort offers rides and attractions for children ages 2 to 12.

History, Nature and Regional Drinks

The Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge manages more than 6,000 acres of land in Orange County, New York, and Sussex County, New Jersey. The refuge offers nature-based recreation and protects habitats for woodland and grassland birds, migratory waterfowl, wintering raptors and endangered species. Historic destinations include Brick House, which was built in 1768 and served as the home of seven generations of the Hill family. Brotherhood Winery was founded in 1839 and is the oldest continuously operating winery in the United States. In addition, Orange County has a craft beverage scene with local breweries, wineries and cideries. As another destination for comparison, you can visit Greenwood Lake Greenwood Lake. Other destinations in the same broader area include Delaware County Delaware County, Franklin Franklin, Ulster Ulster, Oneida Oneida, Onondaga Onondaga, Rockland Rockland and Cattaraugus County Cattaraugus County.

For the broader travel overview: New York.