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2016 Favorites – Guides to Exploring Beyond the New York Metro Area

By Posted in - General News & Hiking & Uncategorized on February 3rd, 2016 home_winter_rental copy

In the year since we published our first list of favorite online resources for Exploring Beyond the New York Metro Area, we’ve discovered a couple of other sites which we’d be remiss not to share with our readers. Our 2016 list of favorites is sure to provide lots of ideas on how to escape–even if you don’t have a car.

MyHarriman.com – If you’re considering a trip to Harriman State Park or Bear Mountain, myharriman.com is the site you’ll want to visit. Covering the park’s highlights, as well as its little-known gems, Suzy Allman–the site’s administrator–delves deep. From trail highlights and overviews of Harriman’s lean-tos, the site also gets into the region’s storied past, unearthing little-known details about the folks who founded the area, the revolutionary war, and the park’s early history. The site also offers free downloadable maps and suggestions on where to climb, swim and walk your pup.

Sorta Outdoorsy – Enjoy email newsletters? If so, sortasutdoorsy.com will be your go-to for all things wild in the New York metro area. Their weekly blasts include reviews of local hiking destinations, product and gear suggestions, local events and a smattering of other fun and engaging stuff to make your life living in the city a bit more outdoorsy.

Backroads and Pine Trees – Interested in casting your net a bit wider? If so, backroadsandpinetrees.com is for you. This site offers a smattering of destination descriptions from around the greater metro area–all accessible by mass transit. Eschewing long trail descriptions and mile markers, each destination review is pithy and well-organized. And, the accompanying photos are, in our humble opinion, works of art.

Unboring Exploring – If you’re a visual person, you’ll want to visit unboringexploring.com. Rather than transcribing the experience, Krysti Sabins brings you along. In her short 2-4 minute videos, Krysti introduces you to the area’s highlights, narrating as she goes. With her lively style, each piece pops with enthusiasm. Using wit and whimsy the edited pieces are fun, engaging and just a bit campy. In a nutshell, if you’re looking for a good visual romp through the region’s backcountry, this is the place to start.

OutdoorFest – More than a once-yearly festival, outdoorfest.com has become the hub for all things adventurous in metro New York (plus: Washington DC and Calgary). In need of some suggestions for an afternoon away from city living? Check out their newly expanded Get Outside Guide. In it you’ll find digestible summaries of regional hiking destinations, adventurous bike routes, little-known surf spots and so much more. OutdoorFest also holds a monthly “Mappy Hour” and other events throughout the year–like the Core Conference.

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