Non-USMA-related activities?

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Mom1655

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We'll be traveling (by car) to West Point in a few weeks so our son can do an overnight visit. Because it will be the kids' April vacation week, Hubby and I will also be bringing our 12-year-old daughter. She will be doing the 'parents tour' with us, and I'm sure that will hold her interest for a few hours...but visiting monuments and military museums is definitely not "her thing." We'd like to plan on spending some time doing activities that she'd enjoy as well.

Anyone have any suggestions for attractions/activities that might appeal to her? (Of course, we made a point of booking a hotel with an indoor pool, so there's always that to fall back on...)

Thanks!

PS: We'll be traveling to R Day without her, so we'll have a chance to see more then...and, of course, over the next 4 years!
 
There are the outlets and the mall. The Woodbury Commons outlets are right off the thruway and are really nice outlets. Down in Nyack is the Palisades Mall - which is the largest Mall in the Northeast.
If you like the outdoors go to Beat Mountain and go for a hike. Cross the bridge and drive up along the river. If she wants to "college shop" go to Marist and Vassar.
Take the train down to NYC if you have enough time.

Feel free to PM me.
 
JAM, how could you forget the guys at OCC?? If you've ever seen American Chopper on Discovery channel, you know I'm talking about America's most dysfunctional family business! Right in Newburgh (about 20 min from WP), near the airport, is the shop. There is a showroom where you can see some of the most famous bikes in the country. There are windows in the back so you can see the bikes being built. If you are lucky, you will see Paul Sr., Paulie, and Mikey! We were there on a film day, so we got to see all the guys!
 
DS was just at WP for an overnight visit last week. The weather was cold and rainy (stormy even), so after our WP tour we ditched our plans to hit NYC (we were wet enough at that point!). We also drove and were pretty tired, so we didn't do much, but we did go to OCC and it was pretty neat. The bikes are beautiful and the store has TONS of OCC merchandise, for the girls as well as the guys. The rest of the trip was spent sleeping in the hotel - we were away from home about 80 hours, and spent 40 of them in the car. Loooong drive!!!!
 
Thank you for all the suggestions...and keep 'em coming! If we don't use them on this trip, there's always the next one-

We're very fortunate to be in the Boston area--it means we'll only be driving about 4 hours to get to WP. (I feel so lucky when I read about parents from out west or down south trying to figure when to make a single trip...we're going this month to visit, for R day in June, and again for A day in August--and might even make it for the March Back! )
 
Mom1655 - you are going to love being "close".

Hopefully you can visit and go to a football game this fall!

*Very Important* - on A-Day weekend, take your cadet to the 5 Star Inn right next to the visitor center. It is Army Lodging and parents whose cadets names are on file may make reservations and stay there. It's fantastic for visiting for a weekend - and cheap! Every cadet should do this.

If you camp or would like to camp - there is a campground - Round Pond, out near Camp Buckner. They have RV sites, tent sites and Cabins. It is really lovely spending an evening with cadets roasting marshmallows around the camp fire.
I camped there for the March back and they march right through the camp ground and stop and rest - it was very cool.

Things to do on post:
Go down to South dock and have a picnic. After you go through Thayer gate take a hard right and head down to the dock. Go over the rr tracks and along the river and there is a lovely picnic area right on the water. If you get there early on A-day you can claim a site for a picnic after the parade!

Visit the Old Cadet Chapel and Cemetery. This is down Washington road and you can park at the Chapel or behind the cemetery. Check out the plaques for the Revolutionary war generals. go to the Choir loft and see the plaque for "Major General __________". (Benedict Arnold's name was removed but his plaque remains)

Go to the 6th floor of the library and take in the views. That mansion across the river was used in filming the Wizard of Oz (so I hear).
 
things to do

prior to R day we went up to Hyde Park and saw FDR home /library and the Vanderbilt manison. Also on R day I noticed a number of young ladies checking out the Army stuff,like helicopters, adjacent to The Plain. So you may want to bring her along. Once you get through the morning wait, things will seem to move pretty quickly right up to the parade. This is the first opportunity that you may be playing "where's Waldo" and trying to see your "New Cadet" and another set of eyes can't hurt.
 
As the Plebe Parent Mentor of our local parents club I share info about the local area! Here are the websites:

Orange County (where West Point is) _www.orangetourism.org_
(http://www.orangetourism.org/)
Rockland County (directly south) _www.rockland.org_
(http://www.rockland.org/)
Dutchess County (across the river) _www.dutchesstourism.com_
(http://www.dutchesstourism.com/)
Putnam County (across the river) _www.visitputnam.org_
(http://www.visitputnam.org/)
Westchester County (across the river) _www.tourism.westchestergov.com_
(http://www.tourism.westchestergov.com/)
Sullivan County (north of West Point) _www.catskills.com_
(http://www.catskills.com/)

Lots of really interesting things to do in the local area! I really enjoy Cold Spring across the river -- great shops and restaurants!
 
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