The Mid-Hudson region of New York offers many delightful gems for those who are ready to look beyond the glitz and fast pace of New York City and want to learn more about what the Empire State has to offer.

This region is brimming with activities and attractions that give you a real sense of the state’s history and a taste of its culture. If you’re new to the region, Orange County in New York is a good place to start exploring – plus it’s only a little over an hour’s drive from Manhattan.

Here are just a few things that you can do in Orange County:

• Sample the wines of the region
  The Hudson Valley is the country’s first wine-producing region, and today produces 585 tons of grapes. Orange County is the home of Brotherhood Winery, which is known as the oldest operating winery in the US and located in Washingtonville. Microbreweries are also popping up in Orange County, along with cideries that make great use of apples, New York’s state fruit.
  
  
• Experience a drive-in theater
  At the peak of its popularity in the late 1950s, there were 4,000 drive-ins across America; today, the number is down to about 330. Orange County is home to two of them –Warwick Drive-In Theater in the town of Warwick and Fair Oaks Drive-In in Middletown. It’s a fun, old-fashioned experience that’s definitely worth the price of admission (around $9).
  
  
• Go on a hike
  Enjoy the outdoors with hikes through Orange County’s state parks and hiking trails. The Appalachian Trail cuts through Orange County and offers views of Greenwood Lake. Black Rock Forest, located northwest of West Point, offers trails for short and long hikes. Six miles of the Delaware River Heritage Trail pass through Port Jervis and allow hikers to take in the city sights. The Orange Heritage Trailway is a historic trail that follows the path of the main line of the Erie Railroad and spans 12 miles to cover the towns of Goshen, Chester, and Monroe. When completed, the trail will cover a total of 20 miles.
  
  
• Have a haunting experience
  Orange County is home to haunted sites, according to so-called paranormal investigators. If you’re looking to get creeped out or if you want to verify the ghostly claims yourself, you can visit locations such as Laurel Grove Cemetery in Port Jervis, where a woman dressed in a long gown is said to occasionally appear, and the Museum Village in Monroe, which offers regular ghost tours even the long-dead museum founder is said to pay the place a visit every now and then.
  
  
• Soak up a bit of art and culture
  Get to know Orange County’s art scene. Explore its galleries, art communities, and art schools. Sugar Loaf is an artisan village in the town of Chester, and it hosts independent artists who specialize in pottery, jewelry, fine art, and stained glass works, among other things. Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, another popular attraction, is a sprawling sculpture park, covering 500 acres and featuring a core collection of sculpture and recent additions by contemporary artists.

If you’re thinking of buying a home in New York’s Orange County, call 845-395-9755 or email info@hudsonvalleyrealtycenter.com. We’ll help you find a home in some of the area’s most desirable communities.