Directions from Stepping Stones: Take a right onto Cherry Street. Pass the stop sign, bear right at the Mobil Station following signs to the Saw Mill Parkway South. Take exit 37 to Mount Kisco. Make a left off the exit. Follow signs to Holiday Inn. Airports: Westchester County Airport (25 minutes from Stepping Stones). Cab needed or use LaQuinta Inn's shuttle by staying at LaQuinta Inn. LaGuardia (1 hour from Stepping Stones). A rental car is best for direct transportation to Stepping Stones, or take the M-104 bus to 125th Street (15 minutes) and the Metro-North Railroad to Bedford Hills or Katonah. JFK (1.5 hours from Stepping Stones). Take public transportation to Manhattan and the Metro-North railroad, Hudson River line, to Bedford Hills or Katonah. Once in Bedford Hills or Katonah, take a 5 minute cab to Stepping Stones by calling (914) 232-5353 if there are non available upon arrival. Katonah is the best stop if you wish to window shop or have lunch. Bedford Hills is a 3/4 mile walk up Cherry Street to Stepping Stones for those who wish to follow the historic route that Bill Wilson himself would walk on his trips to and from NYC. Other Places to Visit Near Stepping Stones AA World Services Office 475 Riverside Drive New York, NY (212) 840-3400 www.aa.org Of course, a visit to AA World Services is a must if you have made it this far. A chance to see the offices, meet the staff and tour the exhibition space is a treat. For AA and Al-Anons alike; there is an open AA meeting every Friday morning at 11am. The AAWS office is located one hour south of Stepping Stones by car at the top of Manhattan (in other words, you do not have to maneuver through Manhattan to get there by car). The route from Stepping Stones to AAWS is direct: start by getting on the Saw Mill Parkway; end by taking an exit off that very road. Call in advance.
The Wilson House P.O. Box 46, East Dorset, VT 05253 802-362-5524 www.wilsonhouse.org The Wilson House is a 14-room hotel, where Bill Wilson was born. Wilson’s grandmother was an employee at the hotel in 1895, and Bill’s mother gave birth in the room behind the bar. The Hotel has been lovingly restored and is offered as a retreat center and B&B. Next door to the Wilson House is the home where young Bill Wilson lived with his grandparents after his mother and father divorced. Now called the Griffith Library, it is open to visitors. Finally, the graves of Bill and Lois Wilson are about 1 mile down the road on Route 7. Lois also spent half her year every year as a child in nearby Manchester, Vermont. Emerald Lake and Mount Equinox are right there. The rich history and beautiful New England surroundings makes a trip to the Wilson House worthwhile. The Wilson House is approximately 4 hours north of Stepping Stones in East Dorset, VT. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Route 35 & 121 South Cross River, NY (914) 864-7317 http://www.westchestergov.com/parks/parkslocations02/WardPoundRidge.htm The 4,700-acre park is Westchester County's largest. With varied terrain and landscapes, plus miles of wooded trails, the park provides activities for all seasons. There are areas for picnicking, lean-to camping, fishing and cross-country skiing. The park is home to the Trailside Nature Museum, which hosts weekend nature interpretive programs year-round.
Directions from Stepping Stones: Make a left onto Cherry Street. At the end, make a right onto Route 35. After approximately 5 miles, make a right onto Route 121, following the signs to the Reservation. Muscoot Farm Route 100 Somers, NY 10589 914-864-7282 http://www.westchestergov.com/parks/Muscoot/mainMF.htm Muscoot Farm is an early 1900s interpretive farm owned and operated by the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation. Muscoot Farm is open year-round and offers a full schedule of programs for families, as well as tours, farmyard visits and hayrides for groups by reservation. More than seven miles of hiking trails allow visitors to explore some of Muscoot's 777 acres through fields, woodlands and wetlands. Trail maps are available in the Reception Center. Programs are offered for families on weekends. Some, like Meet the Baby Animals, Tractor Day and Pumpkin Picking, are annual events. Others provide new experiences for visitors and may focus on many different themes. In addition, a variety of workshops are offered on Saturdays throughout the year. Call the farm for a calendar of events. Katonah Museum of Art Route 22 at Jay Street Katonah, NY 10536 (914) 232-9555 www.katonahmuseum.org Guided tours: Tuesday- Sunday at 2:30 pm. See the website for exhibitions and events. Directions from Stepping Stones: Make a left onto Cherry Street. At the end, make a right onto Route 35. Pass all of the highway connections and make a right onto Route 22. The museum is about ½ mile on the left. John Jay Homestead State Historic Site Route 22 Katonah, NY www.johnjayhomestead.org Phone: 914-232-8119 John Jay Homestead State Historic Site is the home and farm of John Jay (1745-1829), one of America’s principal Founding Fathers. Operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the property includes 62 acres of magnificent grounds and twelve historic buildings. Its centerpiece is the main house, built by Jay to be his home in retirement following a lifetime of public service. Visitors learn about Jay’s many roles in the formation of the United States, his family, and his years at Bedford as a gentleman farmer. The Village of Katonah Stop by the quaint and useful Village of Katonah for a bite to eat or some shopping on your way home. Restaurants include the Blue Dolphin, Tengda, The Katonah Restaurant, Peppinos and more, all reasonably priced.
Directions from Stepping Stones: Make a left onto Cherry Street. Make a quick right onto Harris Road. At the light make a left onto Bedford Road/Route 117. At the Mobil Gas station make a right onto Katonah Avenue. You are now in the Village of Katonah. |