White Plains, New York City Guide: Explore the Top Iconic Destinations
Discovering White Plains, New York
White Plains sits at the center of one of the most geographically and culturally varied regions in the Northeast. As the county seat of Westchester County, it connects residents and businesses to a remarkable collection of destinations spread across the Hudson Valley, Long Island Sound, and the Connecticut border. This guide covers ten standout landmarks in and around White Plains, New York, from the waterfront galleries of the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers to the open shoreline of Greenwich Point Park at the edge of Long Island Sound. Each reflects a different side of what makes this corner of New York State worth exploring again and again.
Table of Contents
1. Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, New York
The Hudson River Museum sits on the banks of the Hudson River in Yonkers, combining an art museum, a science center, a historic mansion, and a working planetarium under one rooftop. Founded in 1919, it is one of the largest multipurpose museums in the New York region, drawing visitors from across Westchester County and the greater metropolitan area. The setting alone makes the trip worthwhile, with sweeping views of the Palisades across the river and the museum's Glenview mansion anchoring the grounds as a well-preserved example of 19th-century Hudson Valley architecture. For those traveling from White Plains or anywhere across Westchester, the Hudson River Museum is a genuinely full-day destination.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and fall offer the most comfortable conditions for exploring the Hudson River Museum grounds, with the outdoor spaces and river views at their most scenic.
Summer brings extended hours and family programming that makes the Yonkers museum one of the most active cultural venues in the Westchester region.
Winter evenings at the planetarium are a highlight of the colder months, drawing visitors from White Plains and beyond for astronomy shows in a venue with genuine 1970s charm.
Weekday mornings are the quietest window at the Hudson River Museum, ideal for visitors who want to engage with the art and history collections at their own pace.
Highlights
Glenview Mansion: A beautifully preserved 19th-century Hudson Valley estate on the museum grounds that provides historical depth and architectural contrast to the modern galleries around it.
Andrus Planetarium: One of the few public planetariums remaining in the greater New York area, operated by the Hudson River Museum and offering regular astronomy programming for all ages.
River Views: The museum's position along the Hudson River in Yonkers provides views of the Palisades that make the outdoor spaces as compelling as the galleries inside.
2. Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut
The Bruce Museum is one of the premier art and natural history museums in the greater New York metropolitan area, located in Greenwich, Connecticut, just across the state line from Westchester County. Originally the home of benefactor Robert Moffat Bruce, the museum has grown from a small regional collection into a nationally recognized institution with holdings across Impressionist painting, marine ecology, mineralogy, and Native American art. A major expansion completed in recent years added significant gallery and programming space, cementing the Bruce Museum's position as a cultural anchor for both Greenwich and the broader Westchester area.
Best Time to Visit
Spring openings of new exhibitions at the Bruce Museum draw significant attendance from Greenwich and Westchester County communities, making it an active cultural season.
Fall is the most consistently attended season at the Greenwich museum, with school groups from across the region and a full schedule of public programming.
Summer weekday visits offer the most relaxed experience at the Bruce Museum, with lighter crowds and ample time to explore the expanded galleries at an unhurried pace.
Winter brings special exhibitions and evening events to the Greenwich museum that attract visitors from White Plains and across the Westchester and Fairfield County border region.
Highlights
Impressionist Collection: The Bruce Museum holds one of the strongest Impressionist painting collections in the region, with works that reflect Greenwich's long history as an artists' community.
Natural Science Galleries: Exhibits covering marine ecology, mineralogy, and earth sciences give the Greenwich Museum a depth that goes well beyond a standard art institution.
Expanded Campus: The recently completed building expansion added gallery space, a new entrance, and event facilities that have elevated the Bruce Museum's standing as a premier regional institution.
3. Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York
Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway is one of the largest gaming and entertainment destinations in the state of New York, drawing millions of visitors annually to its Yonkers facility just minutes from the White Plains and Westchester County business corridor. The complex combines a full casino floor with the historic Yonkers Raceway harness track, which has been running continuously since 1899 and remains one of the oldest active thoroughbred racing venues in the Northeast. For visitors from White Plains and across Westchester, Empire City offers a scale of entertainment rarely found this close to the New York City metro without traveling into Manhattan.
Best Time to Visit
Summer harness racing season at Yonkers Raceway brings the outdoor track to life and pairs the Westchester entertainment experience with live racing under the lights.
Fall and winter are peak seasons on the Empire City Casino floor, with higher attendance from the White Plains and Westchester business and residential communities.
Weekend evenings attract the largest crowds to the Yonkers complex, while weekday afternoons offer a more open gaming floor for visitors who prefer a quieter pace.
Special events and concert programming at the Yonkers venue run throughout the year, with announcements typically made several weeks in advance on the casino's event calendar.
Highlights
Yonkers Raceway: One of the oldest harness racing tracks in the United States, operating continuously since 1899 and still drawing competitive race nights from the Westchester and greater metro audience.
Casino Floor: A full gaming floor with thousands of slots and electronic table games that make Empire City one of the most comprehensive casino destinations in New York state.
Proximity to White Plains: The Yonkers location puts this scale of entertainment within a short drive of the White Plains and Westchester County business corridor, with easy parking and access from major regional roads.
4. Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers, New York
Cross County Shopping Center holds the distinction of being the first outdoor shopping center in the state of New York, opened in 1954 and continuously operating in Yonkers as one of the most visited retail destinations in Westchester County. The open-air center anchors a major commercial corridor just off the Cross County Parkway, drawing shoppers from White Plains, the Bronx, and communities throughout the broader Westchester region. With anchor stores, national retailers, and a diverse mix of dining options, Cross County remains a practical and popular destination for the Westchester County shopping community more than seven decades after it first opened.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and early summer bring active outdoor shopping conditions to Cross County, with the open-air layout and comfortable Westchester weather making it one of the most pleasant retail experiences in the region.
The holiday season from late November through December transforms the Yonkers shopping center into the most active retail destination in Westchester County, with extended hours and significant foot traffic.
Weekday mornings offer the most relaxed experience at Cross County, with open parking and shorter queues at the dining and service locations around the Yonkers center.
Fall back-to-school and seasonal transitions draw strong attendance from the White Plains and broader Westchester shopper base, particularly at the anchor and apparel retailers.
Highlights
Historic First: Cross County Shopping Center's status as New York's first outdoor shopping center gives it a place in Westchester County retail history that no other mall in the region can claim.
Westchester Regional Draw: The center pulls shoppers from White Plains, the Bronx, and communities across Westchester and into the lower Hudson Valley, reflecting its continued regional relevance.
Dining and Services: A substantial mix of restaurant and service options alongside the retail anchors makes Cross County a full-stop destination for Westchester residents rather than a single-purpose shopping trip.
5. Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York
Hartsdale Pet Cemetery is the oldest pet cemetery in the United States, established in 1896 in Hartsdale, a hamlet within the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, just a few miles from White Plains. More than 80,000 animals are interred on the grounds, including pets belonging to notable figures from American history, entertainment, and public life. The cemetery was designated a historic site by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and it continues to operate as an active burial ground while drawing visitors from across Westchester and beyond who come to appreciate its unusual place in American cultural history.
Best Time to Visit
Spring visits to Hartsdale Pet Cemetery offer the most peaceful and visually appealing experience, with the grounds greening around the historic markers and the Westchester light at its most gentle.
Fall foliage creates a striking setting across the Hartsdale grounds, making it one of the more atmospheric places to spend a quiet afternoon in the White Plains and Westchester area.
The cemetery is a year-round destination that rewards slow, thoughtful visits, with the winter months offering a particular quiet that the more active seasons do not.
Weekday visits are recommended over weekends for those seeking solitude, since the Westchester and greater New York audience tends to visit in higher numbers on weekend afternoons.
Highlights
Oldest in the Nation: Founded in 1896, Hartsdale Pet Cemetery holds the distinction of being the oldest operating pet cemetery in the United States, a record recognized by the state of New York.
80,000-Plus Burials: The scale of the Hartsdale grounds, with more than 80,000 interments across more than a century of operation, gives visitors a sense of the depth of its place in Westchester history.
State Historic Designation: Recognition by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation confirms Hartsdale Pet Cemetery's status as a genuine historical and cultural landmark in the region.
6. Old Croton Aqueduct Trail (Dobbs Ferry Section) in Dobbs Ferry, New York
The Old Croton Aqueduct Trail is one of the most significant historic greenways in New York State, running 26 miles along the route of the 19th-century aqueduct that delivered fresh water from Croton Reservoir to New York City beginning in 1842. The Dobbs Ferry section of the trail passes through some of the most scenic and well-preserved stretches of the entire route, with tree-covered paths and Hudson River views that draw walkers, runners, and history enthusiasts from White Plains and across Westchester County. The trail surface runs atop the original brick aqueduct, giving the experience a physical connection to engineering history that few greenways anywhere can match.
Best Time to Visit
Spring transforms the Dobbs Ferry section of the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail into one of the most beautiful walking corridors in Westchester County, with blooming trees and soft light through the canopy.
Fall foliage along the trail creates exceptional conditions for walking or running, and the views toward the Hudson River from the higher sections of the Dobbs Ferry route are at their most vivid.
Summer mornings before 9 AM offer the coolest conditions on the aqueduct trail, with shade from the mature tree canopy making the Westchester section comfortable even in warmer months.
Winter walks on the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail are quieter and more meditative, with the structural elements of the historic aqueduct more visible without full leaf coverage.
Highlights
1842 Engineering History: The trail runs directly atop the original Old Croton Aqueduct brick structure, making every step a direct physical encounter with one of the most significant infrastructure projects in 19th-century New York.
Hudson River Views: The Dobbs Ferry section of the trail includes vantage points with open views toward the Hudson River that reward the short drive from White Plains with scenery rarely found this accessible.
26-Mile Greenway: The full Old Croton Aqueduct Trail connects communities across Westchester County from Croton to Yonkers, making the Dobbs Ferry section a natural entry point into one of New York's most historically layered walking routes.
7. Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers, New York
Tibbetts Brook Park is a 161-acre Westchester County park in Yonkers, offering a swimming lake, athletic fields, a golf course, picnic areas, and miles of walking paths within easy reach of White Plains and the southern Westchester communities. Operated by Westchester County Parks, it is one of the busiest and most well-used parks in the county system, drawing families, athletes, and casual visitors from Yonkers, White Plains, and the surrounding area throughout the warmer months. The park's combination of lake swimming and recreational programming makes it a Westchester summer institution for communities that do not have direct access to ocean beaches.
Best Time to Visit
Summer is peak season at Tibbetts Brook Park, with the swimming lake open, the athletic fields active, and the Yonkers park at its most socially energetic from late June through Labor Day.
Spring brings the park grounds back to life before the summer crowds arrive, making it one of the better times for walking and casual recreation in the Westchester park system.
Fall evenings and weekends offer active use of the athletic fields and golf course in comfortable conditions, with lighter crowds than the summer months.
Winter use of Tibbetts Brook Park is limited but the trails and open grounds remain accessible for walking, providing a quiet Yonkers green space within easy reach of White Plains year-round.
Highlights
Swimming Lake: Tibbetts Brook Park's swimming lake is one of the few freshwater swim facilities in the Westchester County park system, making it a summer fixture for Yonkers and White Plains families.
Westchester County Park System: The park is managed by Westchester County Parks as part of a county-wide system, ensuring maintained facilities, programming, and seasonal services that smaller municipal parks cannot match.
Multi-Use Recreation: Athletic fields, a golf course, picnic pavilions, and walking paths make Tibbetts Brook one of the most versatile parks in the White Plains and Yonkers area for groups of any size and interest.
8. Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck, New York
Harbor Island Park is a 60-acre waterfront park in Mamaroneck, situated on a peninsula that extends into the Long Island Sound and offering one of the most scenic outdoor experiences available within Westchester County. The park features a public beach, boat launch, tennis courts, athletic fields, and a marina, all set against open water views that put it in a category apart from inland parks. For White Plains residents and visitors looking for saltwater access without a long drive, Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck delivers a genuine coastal experience within the Westchester County park system.
Best Time to Visit
Summer is the primary season at Harbor Island Park, with the Mamaroneck beach open, the marina active, and the Long Island Sound providing the backdrop for some of the most enjoyable outdoor afternoons in Westchester.
Late spring is an ideal time to visit before summer crowds arrive, with the park's grounds and facilities returning to full operation and the Long Island Sound views unobstructed.
Fall evenings at Harbor Island Park offer exceptional sunset conditions over the Sound, and the waterfront setting in Mamaroneck remains one of the most atmospheric spots in Westchester well into October.
Winter walks along the park's waterfront paths give visitors from White Plains a quiet Long Island Sound experience with open skies and very few other people on the grounds.
Highlights
Long Island Sound Frontage: Harbor Island Park's position on a Mamaroneck peninsula gives it direct access to the Long Island Sound that is uncommon in the inland Westchester County park system.
Public Beach and Marina: The combination of a public beach and working marina makes Harbor Island one of the most fully featured waterfront parks in the greater White Plains and Westchester area.
Panoramic Water Views: Open views of the Long Island Sound from multiple points within the Mamaroneck park reward a visit at any time of year with scenery that is impossible to find further inland in Westchester.
9. Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich Avenue is the primary commercial street of Greenwich, Connecticut, running through the heart of downtown Greenwich and functioning as one of the most distinctive and upscale retail and dining corridors in the greater New York metro area. Known locally simply as "the Avenue," it draws visitors from Westchester County, New York City, and the surrounding region who come for its mix of national luxury brands, independent boutiques, acclaimed restaurants, and the street-level energy of a genuinely prosperous New England commercial district. For visitors from White Plains and across Westchester, Greenwich Avenue offers a shopping and dining experience with a character and density that is difficult to find closer to home.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and early summer bring outdoor dining and peak foot traffic to Greenwich Avenue, with the Connecticut street at its most active and the surrounding Greenwich neighborhood in full seasonal swing.
The holiday season from November through December transforms the Avenue into the most-attended commercial corridor in the greater Westchester and Fairfield County region, with decorated storefronts and extended shopping hours.
Weekday mornings on Greenwich Avenue offer the most relaxed experience, with accessible parking and open tables at the restaurants that draw evening queues on weekends.
Fall is a consistently strong season on the Avenue, with the surrounding Greenwich streets and adjacent neighborhoods providing foliage that makes the walk between shops as pleasant as the destinations themselves.
Highlights
Regional Retail Destination: Greenwich Avenue draws shoppers from White Plains, Westchester County, and the New York City area, reflecting its status as one of the most consistent upscale retail streets in the Northeast.
Dining Depth: A concentration of well-regarded restaurants, cafes, and food destinations along the Avenue makes it a viable full-day itinerary from White Plains without leaving the Greenwich commercial corridor.
New England Street Character: The scale, architecture, and walkability of Greenwich Avenue give it a distinctive New England downtown feel that sets it apart from the suburban retail formats common across the Westchester area.
10. Greenwich Point Park (Tod's Point) in Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich Point Park, known locally as Tod's Point, is a 147-acre peninsula on Long Island Sound operated by the town of Greenwich, Connecticut. The park includes a public beach, walking trails, picnic areas, boat launches, and sweeping views of Long Island Sound and the New York Harbor skyline on clear days. Access during peak season is restricted to Greenwich residents and their guests, but the park opens more broadly during the off-season, making fall, winter, and early spring visits accessible to visitors from White Plains and Westchester County who make the short drive across the state line for one of the most beautiful natural spaces in the region.
Best Time to Visit
Fall is the best season for non-Greenwich visitors from White Plains and Westchester to experience Tod's Point, with residency restrictions relaxed and the Long Island Sound views at their most dramatic.
Spring offers early access before peak season restrictions take effect, with the Greenwich Point Park trails and shoreline in excellent condition from the quieter winter months.
Winter walks at Tod's Point deliver some of the most open and uncrowded Long Island Sound shoreline experiences available within an easy drive of White Plains, with cold but clear conditions and strong sea views.
Summer remains the most desirable season for those with Greenwich resident access, with the beach and water facilities at Tod's Point among the finest in the entire Westchester and Fairfield County coastal corridor.
Highlights
Long Island Sound Peninsula: Greenwich Point Park's position on a 147-acre peninsula gives it some of the most open water views available at any park within reach of White Plains and Westchester County.
New York Harbor Skyline Views: On clear days, the Manhattan skyline is visible from the Tod's Point shoreline, a perspective on the city that is rarely available at this distance from a natural park setting.
Off-Season Access: The relaxation of Greenwich residency requirements during the off-season makes Greenwich Point Park accessible to White Plains and Westchester visitors who plan their visit outside the summer months.
Why Westchester's Landmarks Stay With You
From the river galleries of the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers to the windswept shoreline of Greenwich Point Park at the edge of Long Island Sound, the landmarks surrounding White Plains reward the kind of exploration that most people only attempt on vacation. A walk along the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail in Dobbs Ferry feels longer than its mileage. An afternoon at Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck resets something that the workday takes away. The Bruce Museum in Greenwich surprises visitors who expect a local institution and find a collection of genuine national depth. These experiences accumulate into a picture of a region that most people who live here have never fully seen.
As a managed IT services provider serving businesses across White Plains and Westchester County since 1993, Cloud 9 Internet works alongside the organizations that keep this region moving. When your technology needs to perform as reliably as this county's best destinations deliver, Cloud 9 Internet is here to help.
Plan the drive. Take the trail. White Plains, New York, will show you something new, one landmark at a time.
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