Hidden Gems Along the Hudson River

Thirty miles north of New York City, Rockland County invites you to discover its top attractions

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Is This Itinerary Right For Your Group?

Ideal Demographic: Senior Travelers and Active Adult Travelers
Size Bottleneck: Small groups work best for many venues
Mobility: Mixed. Some venues have limited accessibility
Peak Window: Year-round, summer, fall foliage season
Booking Lead Time: Varies by venue

Rockland County invites you to experience its top attractions and its best kept secrets. Whether you’re enjoying serene waterfront views, hiking scenic trails, visiting unique art galleries or strolling through vibrant farmers’ markets, there’s something for everyone. Known for its historic landmarks, local cuisine with round-the-world influences and lively street fairs and festivals, adventure is always around the corner. No matter the season, embrace the charm, culture and unexpected moments that make Rockland unforgettable.

Planner's Hotline: Your Local Advocate

Jenna Nazario

Director of Economic Development & Tourism
Rockland County Tourism
(845) 364-2172
NazariJe@co.rockland.ny.us
explorerocklandny.com

Click Here to Connect with Rockland County Tourism

Day 1 Take a cooking class

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Evening:

Elmwood Playhouse offers groups an intimate live theater experience in the heart of Nyack. The 99-seat theater creates a close-up, engaging experience that allows audiences to feel truly connected to the performers. Its convenient downtown location also makes it easy to pair a performance with group dining, shopping, and other Nyack attractions.
For dinner, group lunch menus, free rear-lot parking, and a private side room make Burger Loft a convenient choice for groups visiting downtown Nyack. Located at Main Street and Broadway, the restaurant is within walking distance of the Hudson River waterfront, local shopping and the Edward Hopper House Museum, allowing operators to easily pair lunch with sightseeing and shopping.

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Day 1 Alternatives

Rockland hosts a variety of great seasonal events like the Nyack Jazz Festival and Bear Mountain Inn Family Fall Festival & Craft Brew Garden. So, whatever time of year you are visiting, there’s almost always a fantastic festival available.

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Midday:

To start your trip, visit Rockland Community College’s Hospitality & Culinary Arts Center, which offers cooking classes for small groups at the culinary center, up to 30 guests. The center is located downtown in the iconic river village of Nyack. Groups can enjoy custom cooking classes based on their interests and the college has a state-of-the-art teaching kitchen. The college is located only 20 miles north of the George Washington Bridge or 1 mile north of the Mario Cuomo Bridge.

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Afternoon:

The Edward Hopper Museum & Study Center is a unique cultural experience in the heart of historic Nyack. Groups can explore the birthplace and childhood home of renowned American artist Edward Hopper, with guided experiences that connect his life and work to the Hudson River community that inspired him. The museum offers multiple group tours, from ‘Hopper’s Nyack: Walking Tour + Museum Tour’, the ‘Director’s Special Tour’, a ‘Sketching Tour with an Instructor ’, and more. While the historic house can accommodate a maximum of 25 guests at one time, groups of up to 50 can alternate between the house and walking tours, or split their visit between the museum and nearby RCC Culinary Center. The museum also features an outdoor garden accommodating 125 standing or 75 seated, and hosts jazz concerts in July and August.
Check into your hotel. Rockland County offers a variety of convenient accommodations, with hotels near I-287 providing easy motorcoach access and a practical home base for exploring the destination’s charming downtowns, outdoor recreation, dining and cultural attractions.
For those looking to experience the great outdoors, accommodations near Bear Mountain put groups close to some of the region’s most scenic landscapes while still providing convenient access for group travel.
For a more immersive stay, Rockland County’s Hudson River villages offer walkable village centers, scenic river views, locally owned restaurants and shops, arts and culture, and historic attractions.

Day 2 Shop until you drop

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Evening:

The Old ’76 House is one of America’s oldest taverns, with roots dating to 1668, and is a National Historic Landmark steeped in Revolutionary War history. Today, The Old’76 House offers groups a chance to experience its remarkable history while enjoying a welcoming dining experience. With four historic dining rooms, ample seating, custom group menus, and private event options, the tavern is well suited for motorcoach groups, tours, celebrations, and special gatherings. Listed as a National Landmark, the establishment offers much more than historical significance—it’s a memorable stop where groups can dine, gather, and experience a genuine piece of American history.

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Morning:

Located just outside Nyack, Palisades Center offers 200+ retailers, 16 full-service restaurants, an international food court and 26 entertainment venues, giving groups plenty of options to shop, dine and play under one roof. Motorcoaches are welcomed with dedicated drop-off, check-in and parking, while tour operator and escort programs offer passenger incentives and added benefits that make it easy to build into a group itinerary.

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Afternoon:

Step into more than 120 years of sweet Haverstraw tradition at Lucas Candies, a family-owned chocolatier that has been crafting confections in the same location since 1896. Groups can go behind the counter for chocolate tastings and demonstrations. Experience the shop’s famous old-fashioned candy cane making and indulge in creative chocolate-and-craft-beverage pairings at The Tavern at Lucas Candies, introduced in 2024. Lucas Candies makes an ideal group stop where local history, craftsmanship and a little indulgence come together.

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Day 2 Alternative:

Take a tour of the African American Memorial Park in Haverstraw by The Haverstraw African American Connection. Explore Haverstraw’s African American history through engaging, locally led group walking tours. Tours examine the community’s history from the arrival of enslaved Africans in the 1600s and slavery in Haverstraw through the founding of Rockland County’s first Black house of worship in 1846 and the contributions of African American brickyard workers and families. HAAC customizes tours for different audiences, from school and student groups to senior travelers, with the African American Memorial Park providing a meaningful setting to connect the community’s past with its enduring cultural legacy.

Day 3 Charming downtown Nyack awaits you

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Morning/afternoon:

Stroll the charming, walkable streets of downtown Nyack, where independent boutiques, specialty shops, galleries and restaurants create a distinctly local shopping and dining experience. Browse handcrafted jewelry and fashion at Hope Wade Designs, discover artisan cheeses and charcuterie at Scott & Joe, explore the beloved Pickwick Bookshop, or stop at Boxer Donut & Espresso Bar for handcrafted donuts and specialty coffee. With Hudson River views, waterfront parks and a diverse restaurant scene all within walking distance, Nyack offers groups an easygoing taste of village life along the Hudson.

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Day 3 Alternatives

Rockland County boasts more than 42,000 acres of parks, from Harriman State Park to Bear Mountain State Park, Rockland Lake State Park, and more.

Planning your next group tour? Get fresh itinerary ideas and destination inspiration in InSite from Leisure Group Travel.

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Which attractions and experiences can accommodate larger groups, and where will groups need to be split into smaller groups or staggered?

The Rockland Community College Hospitality & Culinary Arts Center can accommodate up to 30 guests for cooking classes, so larger groups would need to be divided or schedule multiple sessions.

The Edward Hopper Museum & Study Center has a similar consideration. The historic house accommodates 25 guests at a time, but groups of up to 50 can be accommodated by alternating between the house and walking tours or splitting the visit between the museum and nearby RCC Culinary Center. The museum’s outdoor garden provides additional capacity, with room for up to 125 standing or 75 seated.

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Which experiences require advance reservations, and how far ahead should groups book?

Advance reservations are recommended for most of the itinerary’s structured group experiences, particularly the smaller venues.
Dining and entertainment should also be booked ahead, especially for Elmwood Playhouse, The Old ’76 House and other venues offering private or custom group arrangements. Seasonal events such as the Nyack Jazz Festival and Bear Mountain Inn Family Fall Festival & Craft Brew Garden should be planned around their specific event dates and availability.