Are you a high schooler or college student in the NY metro area looking for a great place to visit? Well, check out Putnam County! Whether you want to explore the outdoors, grab a bite to eat, or walk around and shop in our villages and towns we got you covered! Take advice from our college summer intern, who told us about his favorite activities in Putnam County when he's home from school.

On a nice summer day check out one of our parks such as Clarence Fahnestock State Park.  This beautiful park covers 15,000 acres throughout Dutchess and Putnam Counties, providing you with hiking trails, picnic areas, campgrounds, and opportunities for boating, hunting, fishing, birding, and even swimming. Fahnestock State Park is also home to Fahnestock Winter Park, which includes 20 kilometers of trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Another stunning park is the Veterans Memorial Park in Carmel NY, a scenic park that was created to “honor all men and women of Putnam County, NY who answered our nation’s call to duty.” This park features two areas the Large Pavillion and the Upper Park where many events throughout the year take place, and a beach for swimming and lounging during the summer months.

 If you are interested in hiking there are plenty trails in parks like the Michael Ciaiola Conversation Area in Patterson NY, Tilly Foster Farm in Brewster NY, Wonder Lake State Park in Patterson NY and the Hudson Highlands State Park in Cold Spring NY. [IMPORTANT: Please note, as construction continues on the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, the Breakneck Ridge trailhead remains closed until 2027.]

If you like biking or walking, the Putnam County Trailway is an excellent trail to take a morning stroll with friends, walk your dog, and take a bike ride.

If you are more of the shopping and dining type, we also have many amazing options. The Carmel Hamlet, Mahopac, the Village of Brewster, and Village of Cold Spring are wonderful downtown areas full of great restaurants and shopping. There are also many delicious ice cream and dessert places to visit in Putnam County. Check out places like Scoops N’ More and Normby Creamery in Carmel, Red Rooster Drive-In in Brewster, Bliss Dairy Bar and Grill and Kwality Ice Cream Shop in Mahopac and Moo Moo’s Creamery in Cold Spring.

 If you are a golfer, we also have great places to practice your swing. Some of the most popular courses include Centennial Golf Club in Carmel and Putnam County Golf Course in Mahopac.

Wanting some more entertainment? Go bowling at Spins Bowling in Carmel NY, catch a movie at the newly opened Box Office Cinema’s (recently known as Carmel Cinemas) in Carmel NY, play a few rounds of mini golf at Red Rooster Drive-In in Brewster, hold a paintball tourney at Liberty Paintball in Patterson, or in the colder months visit Thunder Ridge Ski Area in Patterson for skiing and snowboarding fun!

 Putnam County is filled with some amazing places to check out and makes for a great getaway!