Chester combines a large, almost entirely wooded open space with local history, arts and crafts, and a local cream cheese tradition. There are also various opportunities for outdoor activities. You can tailor your stay to the themes that interest you most: nature, history, culture or food.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
Goosepond Mountain State Park is a 1,558-acre, almost entirely wooded open space. The park is open to hikers and horseback riders. At the same time, it is undeveloped and has only limited parking. If you plan to visit, check the parking situation beforehand; parking and site conditions can change.
The 9-mile Orange Heritage Trail has a different focus. The 2014 municipal recreation plan describes it as ideal for family bike rides. The plan also lists inline skating, roller skating, wheelchairs and walks with strollers as suitable uses. For choosing an activity, a direct comparison is helpful: hiking and horseback riding are the expressly listed activities at the state park, while the trail plan highlights cycling, wheeled activities and walks.
The Orange Heritage Trailway is accessible via the Chester Depot Museum on Winkler Place.
Local History and Historic Sites
The Chester Local History Museum is located in the 1915 Erie railroad station at 19 Winkler Place in downtown Chester. Its connection to the railroad station gives local history a tangible home. Goosepond State Park is also home to Greycourt Rock Shelter, which has been used for at least 5,000 years. According to tradition, it is considered one of Claudius Smith’s hiding places during the American Revolutionary War. The two historical reference points span a wide range of time: from the station building dating to 1915 to the rock shelter’s use over at least 5,000 years.
Arts and Crafts and Local Food Culture
Sugar Loaf Arts and Crafts Village is located in the Town of Chester and is a community of creative craftspeople and artists. The village includes restaurants, shops and galleries in original 16th- and 17th-century buildings. The Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center is also located there. Arts and crafts, galleries and performing arts are among the different cultural themes Chester has to offer.
The history of cream cheese is also part of the local identity. The Village of Chester claims to be the birthplace of Philadelphia Cream Cheese. A specific historical reference dates back to the 1870s, when C. H. Green and Wm. A. Lawrence made and sold cream cheese in Chester.
When searching for hotels in Chester, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay. That way, you can tailor your accommodation search to your own plans for nature and outdoor activities, local history, or arts and food.
Discover more destinations: Walden, Campbell Hall, Highland Falls, West Point, Orange Lake, Middletown, Montgomery, New Windsor
For the broader travel overview: Orange.
