Ongoing Hudson Valley winter activities
Hang this list on your fridge for easy go-to ideas for family time or hosting visitors this winter!
1. Inner Wall offers indoor rock climbing for all abilities, including any of the ropes, belts and shoes that you need: 234 Main Street (behind Rite-Aid) in New Paltz; (845) 255-ROCK, https://theinnerwall.com.
2. Grand Prix New York is a super-fun place for go-karts, bowling and the arcade. Remember to wear closed-toe shoes for the go-karts, whether you drive on the adult track for ages 16 and up with a permit, the brownstone track for ages 11 and up or the kids’ track for ages 8 and up. 333 North Bedford Road in Mount Kisco; (914) 241-3131, www.gpny.com.
3. Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame: This is such a treasure for horse-lovers and those who love them, with its interactive exhibits, educational displays and a sweet gift shop. It’s open seven days a week except for major holidays, and admission is free. Harness Racing Museum, 240 Main Street, Goshen; (845) 294-6330, www.harnessmuseum.com.
4. HoeBowl’s locations in Catskill, Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Walden and Wappingers Falls mean that you’re never far from good bowling! The automated system makes it so easy to keep score and turn the bumpers on and off for each player, and they have lightweight balls for kids available at the desk. www.hoebowlfamilyfun.com.
5. Hudson Valley Raceway is all about zipping your scale slot car around the track, which you operate with a handheld controller. These things are fast! 629 Route 52, Beacon; (845) 838-5333, www.hvraceway.net.
6. Ice skating indoors means never worrying about ice conditions or the weather, and with rinks in Ulster, Dutchess and Orange Counties, families can try them all! Kiwanis Ice Arena, 6 Small World Avenue, Saugerties, (845) 247-2590, https://kiwanisicearena.com; Mohonk Mountain House, 1000 Mountain Rest Road, New Paltz, (845) 256-2775, www.mohonk.com; McCann Ice Arena at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center, 14 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, (845) 454-5800, www.midhudsonciviccenter.org; Ice Time Sports Complex, 21 Lakeside Road, Newburgh, (845) 567-0005, www.icetimesports.org; Bear Mountain Ice Rink (outdoors and uncovered), Appalachian Trail, Bear Mountain, (845) 786-2701, extension 266, www.bearmountainicerink.com.
7. Palisades Center is the eighth-largest mall in the US, and in addition to shopping, it offers activities like rock climbing, a ropes course, a carousel, a Ferris wheel, an ice rink and an IMAX theatre. 1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack; (845) 348-1010, www.palisadescenter.com.
8. Roller skating means not having to bundle up while doing laps around the rink, and extras like laser tag and arcades make for active fun, especially during the daytime New Year’s Eve parties taking place at both of our local rinks on December 31! Roller Magic, 4178 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, (845) 229-6666, www.hydeparkrollermagic.com; Wood ‘N Wheel, 365 Route 9W, Ulster Park, (845) 331-9680, www.woodnwheel.com.
9. Skiing is available in every direction for every age and ability, and many are within one hour of home! Here are just a few: Sawkill Family Ski Center (tubing, too!), 167 Hill Road, Kingston, (845) 336-6977, www.sawkillski.com; Belleayre Mountain, Highmount, (845) 254-5600, https://belleayre.com; Holiday Mountain, 99 Holiday Mountain Road, Monticello, (845) 796-3161, www.holidaymtn.com; Plattekill Mountain, 469 Plattekill Road, Roxbury, (607) 326-3500, https://plattekill.com; Catamount, State Highway 23, Hillsdale, (518) 325-3200, www.catamountski.com; Windham Mountain, 19 Resort Drive, Windham, (800) 754-9463, www.windhammountain.com; Hunter Mountain, 64 Klein Avenue, Hunter, (518) 263-4223, www.huntermtn.com; Thunder Ridge Ski Area, 50 Thunder Ridge Road, Patterson, (845) 878-4100, https://thunderridgeski.com.
Upcoming series: The Parenting Journey
“Are you carrying anything from your childhood into the lives of your children? Are you open to letting some of that go?” asks Rebecca Case, LMSW, in the description of her upcoming series “The Parenting Journey.” This biweekly 12-session series “uses guided discussion in a living-room-like setting to give parents an opportunity to connect their parenting styles to the way they were parented.” Each session works toward the Parenting Journey goals, which are: to help parents gain a sense of possibility and hope in their lives; to show parents how to make connections between their own and their children’s experience of childhood; to give parents the experience of being nurtured as they need to nurture their children; and to help parents develop a picture of a healthy, productive life and set personal goals that will enable them to live that life.
What makes this workshop different from the rest? First of all, the program includes snacks, refreshments and free on-site childcare! The philosophy is different as well: “Most parenting programs focus on child development and disciplinary techniques, whereas the Parenting Journey series focuses on the parent in relationship to their children and to others… The Parenting Journey focuses on adult development.”
The Parenting Journey takes place biweekly on Saturday mornings from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., beginning January 4. The fee is $20 per session, with a discount for prepayment of the series. It takes place at Boughton Place, located at 150 Kisor Road in Highland. For more information or to register, call (845) 419-1633 or visit www.boughtonplace.org.
Erica Chase-Salerno will ring in the New Year in New Paltz with her husband Mike and their two children: the inspirations behind www.hudsonvalleyparents.com. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
