Issue link: http://hvparent.uberflip.com/i/332450
hvparent.com ■ Hudson Valley Parent 35 few,) taking a ride is a treat and the scenic views of the Hudson rushing by are a bonus. Head to the nearest Hudson Line station during off-peak hours when the fare is cheaper and buy tickets from one of the ticket machines on the platform. Kids under 5 ride for free, while 5-11 year olds pay half price. The destination isn't the point but since you have to go somewhere: The Peekskill Station features a riverside playground with a rocky beach and stunning views of the bend in the Hudson River at Peekskill Bay. Shine a light There are seven lighthouses on the Hudson River: The Little Red Lighthouse in Upper Manhattan, the 1884 Lighthouse at Sleepy Hollow, the Stony Point Lighthouse, the wooden Esopus Meadows Light- house, the Rondout Lighthouse in Kingston, the Saugerties Lighthouse and the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse. All of them except the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse can be visited, and the Saugerties Lighthouse can even be booked for overnight stays. Visit hudsonlights.com for more information. Come on in, the water's ne Yes, it's safe to swim in the Hudson, although it's a good idea to check in with Riverkeeper before taking a dip. Go to riverkeeper.org/water-qual- ity/hudson-river and use the online interactive map to get the most recent data on the water quality in your area. All clear? Then head over to one of the Hudson River's four official swimming beaches: Croton Point Park in Croton-on-Hudson, Riv- er Pool in Beacon, Kingston Point Beach or the Sojourner Truth Ulster Landing Park in Saugerties. Brian PJ Cronin is a freelance writer who lives in Beacon with his wife and son. A young volunteer cleans up Waryas Park in Poughkeepsie as part of Riverkeeper's annual Riv- erkeeper Sweep. This past May, over 1,900 volunteers of all ages pitched in at 82 different sites, stretching from Manhattan to Albany. Together, they pulled more than 31 tons of trash from the river and its various tributaries and shorelines. The health of the Hudson River has improved dramatically over the past 20 years thanks in parts to the tireless efforts of groups like Scenic Hudson, Clearwater and Riverkeeper. Photo by Leah Rae/Riverkeeper