Nestled amongst the rolling hills next to Storm King Mountain in the Town of Cornwall, the Storm King Art Center is an outdoor museum and sculpture park, like nothing I have ever seen before. With massive sculptures and art installations spread throughout open fields and forested areas over several hundred acres, it showcases art on a scale that is hard to describe.
The first time we visited Storm King, was as a day-trip from NYC, when we still lived in the City (the Art Center is roughly 60 miles north of NYC). Since moving to the Hudson Valley, it has become one of my favorite places to take out of town guests.
Visiting the Park
One of the things that I love most about Storm King is how the art is integrated within the beauty of the landscape, as if both the sculpture and the land are Art. There are many permanent installations that have not changed over the years that I have visited, but still I find that every time there is something new, either that is part of a shorter term installation, or that I missed before, because of how so many pieces of art are tucked away in hidden fields or forests.
I like to explore the Art Center on foot, setting out across the expansive grassy areas on foot, or wandering on the meandering paths, but this is not the only way to explore. There is a motorized tram that runs on a route that circles the park with frequent “stops” to hop on and hop off, and there are also bicycle rentals onsite.
Visiting Tips
From visiting the Storm King over a number of years, here are some things that I wish I had known before my first visit:
- The Center is a popular destination for visitors from New York City as well as out of state, so best to arrive early in the morning or visit outside of the high summer season or fall leaf season.
- There are bike rentals onsite, but you are not permitting to ride personal bikes.
- Bring water: It can get quite hot during the summer, with many areas of limited shade with a long distance to the closest water fountain.
- There is a cafe that operates on a seasonal basis with limited food options.
- There are covered and uncovered picnic tables, and laying down a picnic blanket is also allowed (but dont bring a camp stove or plan to cook).
- The Center closes for the during the late fall and winter and reopens in the spring
- Storm King does not allow pets (other than service animals).
Follow our exploration of the area around our Home in the Hudson Valley including favorite day trips and excursions an easy drive from New York City with more posts from Hudson Valley Home
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