Being across the Hudson river from the Culinary Institute of America means that New Paltz has a wealth of unique restaurants from which to choose. The question is, how to work off all of those calories and build an appetite for the next restaurant! This is where Minnewaska State Park fits perfectly into the equation.

Built on the grounds of the old Minnewaska Mountain House and Wildmere hotels, (built by the twin brother who built Mohonk Mountain House), the area is now a refugre for people for miles around looking for a picnic spot, a place to go hiking, or a chance to bike over miles of carriage trails. Just be sure to be back at the cliffs to watch the sunset, then back to New Paltz to fuel up for the next visit.