Things to Do in Rotterdam

Certified by the US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association and drawing upon more than three decades of in-sky experience, master pilot and instructor Dan Guido teaches the basics of foot-launch hang-gliding to a new generation of enthusiasts. He puts SSusquehanna Flight Park’s five training hills and one mountain launch to good use by introducing fundamentals during beginning practice runs or demonstrating how to stop at eagle crossings during advanced soaring sessions. Lessons schemes range from single introductory sessions to the six-session Hang One program, which helps new fliers earn their USHPA Novice rating.

A tow system pulls an inner tube and its passenger to the top of a slide, from which the inflated vessel speeds down the hillside, twists through trees, and plunges into adrenaline-pumping drops. These thrills and the occasional daredevil squirrel emerge from Tubby Tubes' four downhill tubing slides. To add more excitement, the company's crew revamped the colorful slides with snow-like surfaces that create increased speeds. This spirit for adventure echoes at nearby Lower Hudson Gorge, where Tubby Tubes' kayaks, rafts, and tubes explore the flat waters and tree-lined banks.

As the weather cools, the park shifts its focus to winter tubing. Attendants push tubers down powdery runs that double as express lanes for snowmen on their morning commutes.

Framed by the distant peaks of the Helderberg Mountains, Western Turnpike Golf Course’s 27-hole layout blankets 250 acres of scenic terrain stitched by pine trees. Though the three nines connect to form three distinct 18-hole courses, the presence of multiple ponds, streams, and small, well-fortified greens act as a unifying feature across the entire grassy labyrinth. The horticultural haven is also peppered by a relatively sparse population of 37 sand bunkers, their scarcity due to the abundance of water hazards and previous issues with disoriented sunbathers. With three courses offering various levels of difficulty and five tee options on each course, Western Turnpike presents a sound golf challenge for bona fide aces, mid-handicappers, and those trying to play with a croquet mallet.

The staff members at Rocksport Indoor Climbing & Outdoor Guiding Center regularly explore the Adirondacks and mountain ranges throughout the world, mentally cataloging the frost-kissed crags and adrenaline-soaked sheer expanses. When they are not leading adventurers on ice-climbing expeditions or scrambling through narrow caves, the climbers can be found on the 4,400 square feet of climbing space at their facility. There, they teach students to how to deal with complex stone surfaces in order to navigate actual cliffs or volunteer at the local gargoyle shelter. Rocksport owner Tom Rosecrans leads the crew, lending knowledge from three Himalayan expeditions and his self-published book Adirondack Rock and Ice Climbs.

On a given afternoon, Tiny Tots Tea Room buzzes with excitement while kids swoop down slides or tame a roller coaster designed for pint-sized thrills. Inside the playground and cafe, children ages nine months to six years old gleefully frolic amid one another while indulging in open play sessions held six days a week. The space features fun for both kids and adults, who unwind in Tiny Tots cafe while sipping signature drinks, such as espresso drinks or Tiny Tots tea, and noshing on snacks including wraps, housemade desserts, and plenty of gluten-, dairy-, and peanut-free dishes. In addition to promoting open play sessions, the space hosts birthday events with all-inclusive theme parties such as Princess, Rock-star Diva, Ohh La La Spa, and Playroom Parties on the weekends.