Family Fun, Historic Sites, Recreation, Winter Activities

Ten Winter Activities At State Parks and Historic Sites

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Centuries of holiday traditions to experience. A park that’s only open one season a year. Meteor showers overhead, tracks through the snow, and miles of trails to enjoy in a whole different way.

Winter fun is everywhere at state parks and historic sites! Below are ten activities we suggest you experience this season.

The heart of winter: the ski lodge at Fahnestock Winter Park in the Hudson Valley.

1. Visit Fahnestock Winter Park. Celebrate the spirit of winter at the only park in our system devoted exclusively to the season. At Fahnestock, you’ll discover 20 kilometers of machine-groomed cross-country ski trails, an extensive network of blazed snowshoeing trails, and sledding and tubing. Fuel up at the concession stand and unwind by the fire pit with your fellow winter lovers for the full seasonal experience! No gear? No problem! You can rent equipment for skate and classic skiing, as well as snowshoes, sledding tubes, and tow-behind baby pulks. Check conditions before you go.

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2024 Centennial Celebration

Drumroll, Please: Top Blog Posts of 2024

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The State Parks Centennial. The Great American Eclipse. The Summer of Swimming.

2024 was an incredible year at New York State Parks and Historic Sites! And it was an incredible year on our blog, too.

Here’s what you read the most in 2024:

  1. Swim Safely This Summer
  2. Happy Trails: Empire State Trail Itineraries for Spring / Summer
  3. By The Numbers: NY State Parks and Historic Sites 
  4. What To Expect With the April 8 Eclipse, According to NASA 
  5. A Look Back At The Total Solar Eclipse Of 1925

And some honorable mentions:

Thank you all for making us part of your year. We hope your time with the State Parks and Historic Sites Blog was interesting and informative.

We have a lot lined up for you in 2025, including a story about a brand-new challenge and an update on a snail found only at one of our parks. Stay tuned, enjoy the rest of 2024 and have a happy New Year! We’ll see you out there.

Flora & Fauna, Park Projects, Stewardship

With Reduced Mowing, State Parks Are Letting It Grow

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Close your eyes and picture this: You’re visiting your favorite New York state park, and as you drive along park roads or walk pathways near the visitor center, you notice tall grasses swaying in the breeze, bees and butterflies flitting between flowers, a chorus of young birds chirping in the distance, and a peaceful quiet without the hum of constant landscaping machinery.

Sound like a dream? Well, it’s become a reality! Through the ongoing implementation of the Reduced Mowing Policy—part of the New York State Pollinator Protection Plan—grow zones have become a staple at all state parks and historic sites. These zones, where native grasses and wildflowers are allowed to grow tall, continue to benefit the environment and local wildlife, proving to be more sustainable than traditional mowed areas and enhancing visitor experience in new ways. 

These signs greet visitors at many of the reduced mowing sites at our parks and historic sites in an effort to inform them of our work.
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2025 Ryder Cup, NYSParks in the News, Park Projects, Recreation

Countdown to the Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park

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Just over a year ago, at the conclusion of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club outside Rome, Italy, there was a Silver Putter Presentation to the host of the next Ryder Cup. That silver putter plaque now hangs inside the clubhouse at Bethpage State Park where the 45th Ryder Cup matches will be contested in late September 2025.

The Silver Putter hangs in the clubhouse at Bethpage State Park.

You have a few months left to view that silver putter up close before 24 of the world’s best players bring their own prized putters – and the rest of their golf bags – to Bethpage Black for the 2025 Ryder Cup. The countdown is officially on for a competition at what is considered one of the best, and hardest, courses in the world.

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Park Personnel, safety

A Day in the Life of a New York State Park Ranger

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When you think of park rangers, I bet you think of the classic green and tan uniform of a National Park Ranger, Stetson hat and all, or maybe the all-green uniform of a New York State Forest Ranger. But did you know there are also New York State Park Rangers? Here in New York State, there are over 200 state park and historic site facilities, and many of them have park rangers to help guests feel welcome.

When working as a park ranger, every day is different. Some days I might spend my whole shift patrolling my assigned park and answering questions. Other days, I may need to respond to multiple emergencies. I have also had days where I spend my entire shift managing traffic. We have a multi-faceted job, and I’m proud to be a New York State Park Ranger every day.

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The official blog for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation