While there are limitless options for activities in New York City, nearby Westchester County has its own rich cultural heritage. Our Westchester workers’ compensation lawyers love taking time to relax in New York City’s closest suburbs when we have time off on the weekends. Here are some of our favorite destinations in the county:

Tibbetts Brook Park

Spanning 161 acres, Tibbetts Brook Park offers a variety of family-friendly activities throughout all four seasons of the year. During the summer, the park’s aquatic complex opens u, featuring a spray playground for the kids, in-pool basketball and volleyball, lap lanes, and a lazy river.

This park was one of the first developed by Westchester County and has a rich history stretching all the way back to colonial times. The park is named after George Tippet, a pioneer settler during that period. The state confiscated and sold the property because Tippet’s descendest were royalists during the American Revolution.

The park’s calendar is consistently filled with unique events, such as ethnic celebrations, fairs, and festivals. But even when there’s no event going on, Tibbetts Brook Park is a perfect gathering place for family and friends.

Philipsburg Manor

Philipsburg Manor is an English manor which dates back to the colonial period which was in operation from 1693 until 1779. Today, it’s a historic landmark which allows visitors to peek into what life was like for slaves in the northern colonies. The Philips family of Anglo-Dutch merchants owned the estate and rented land to tenant farmers from a variety of European backgrounds. The state also relied on the labor of a community of 23 African slaves.

Visitors to Philipsburg Manor can participate in the hands-on activities of 18th-century life and learn the story of slavery in the north. Features include a working gristmill, where visitors learn about the skills of an enslaved African miller, along with a 300-year-old house with a dairy, several kitchens, bedchambers, warehouse rooms, and a parlor. The home is also filled with authentic artifacts and touchable reproductions from the colonial period.

Finally, you can visit the activity center, which features exhibits on foodways, textile production techniques, and medicinal practices of the people living on the estate. You’ll have the opportunity to shell beans, work with linen, or produce biscuits. Outside you’ll find the slaves’ garden, which includes vegetables and herbs.

Philipsburg Manor is a must-visit for any history buff living in or visiting Westchester County.

Rye Town Park-Bathing Complex & Oakland Beach

Rye Town Park-Bathing Complex and Oakland beach is a historic park and public beach which was designed in 1909. For over a century, families have spent summer days relaxing and making new memories at the park and beach. This park was elected to the National Register of HistoricPlaces in 2003. The park is also public, so visitors from out of town can mingle with locals.

The park and beach span 62 acres, including 28 acres of lawns and paths with plants, hills, benches, a naturalized duck pond, and 34 acres of beachfront. The main building complex is rich with history and includes Spanish-style architecture, beautiful views of nature, and beach access to Long Island Sound.

Rye Town offers a unique combination of a relaxing beach environment and history. It’s always worth a trip up from the city to spend a summer day.

Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens

For art lovers, a visit to Donald M. Kendall Sculpture gardens is a must, whether you live in Westchester or not. Located in Purchase, NY, this diverse collection of 45 outdoor sculptures features pieces from artistic giants like Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, Alexander Calder, and Alberto Giacometti, among several others.

Kenisco Dam Plaza

Kenisco Dam has been in operation since 1917 and was built under the old dam which formed Lake Kenisco. The dam is 307 feet high and 1,843 feet long, forming the Kenisco reservoir. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection acquired the dam from the New York City Watershed Commission in 1963. It’s currently listed on The National Register of Historic Places.

The plaza features Westchester County’s September 11th Memorial, a piece called The Rising. The Rising is an open structure which can be viewed and approached from all directions. Visitors can enjoy several events here, including cultural heritage celebrations and concerts, fitness classes, picnicking areas, in-line skating, walking, and nature appreciation.