Marjorie Turner Hollman helps authors self-publish their nonfiction books. She is also a disability advocate, sharing information about Easy Walks (not too many roots or rocks, relatively level with firm footing, and something of interest along the way) in open space. Learn more.
LISTEN:
When traveling, we often find lunch spots along the way by looking at the map for what might be nearby. If we see a river, we then search for open space to get a water view to take a break from driving. On our way south from New England to see grandboys in Tennessee, we must cross the Hudson river.
Twice now we have found ourselves at lunchtime near Long Dock Park in Beacon, New York. The park is located on the site of a former dock, used for various purposes over the years. At one time rail cars were ferried across the Hudson. Later an oil terminal, salt storage and junkyard replaced the ferry landing.
More recently, rehabilitation of the area created green space that now offers wide open vistas of the river and views of the opposite shoreline of the Hudson. Informational kiosks and informational plaques explaining the origin of the park are scattered throughout the nineteen acre open space (in English and Spanish). Views of the Hudson, looking both north and downstream, make this a delightful place to spend an hour or two watching boats travel by.
A canoe and kayak launch provides easy access to the river. Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available in warmer months. Picnic tables are set up with shelters. Among all our travel lunch stops, this is becoming one of our favorites.
We bring our camper along with us on these trips, so parking at this narrow, linear park jutting out into the river is challenging. On our second visit we were better prepared and managed to get in and back out with less effort than the first time!
We traveled on a weekday, and the park had few other visitors while we were there. Weekends are sure to draw crowds.
Stops like this are not destinations, (for us). Rather, they are simply places to rest along the way. If we were local we would find ourselves here regularly. While not a large area, being surrounded on three sides by water is a real plus. The noise from the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge over the Hudson detracts from the peace of the surroundings, but the spectacular water views more than compensate for the aural distractions.
So often on our travels we find a spot and say, “Let’s stop here again.” Less often is the timing workable to make that happen. Thus our enjoyment of visiting a (somewhat) familiar place. Discovering new places to explore has a real attraction. Returning to where we have been before offers the chance to get better acquainted and learn more about an area where we had only scratched the surface. Learning more of the history, the seasonal features, and wildlife opens our eyes to details we missed on previous visits.
When will we return? That’s hard to predict. It’s pretty far from home, (Massachusetts), at least four hours or so. Camping there is not an option, but it might be a meeting place for family or friends who live nearby. What we do know is it’s a place we found that worked for us when we needed it. Till next time, happy trails.
Marjorie
Marjorie Turner Hollman 