take a Hike

Over the weekend we drove over the river to Hudson to find Benson's Wild Animal Farm.  Or what is left of it anyway.  We'd heard it was a good place to take a Hike.

Benson's was a long running private zoo and amusement park.  The zoo/farm was founded in 1924 as an animal training center, and was opened to the public in 1926 with animal exhibits, a miniature train, games and exhibits.  It closed in 1987 and from what I've heard it sat empty for years.  In the last few years, work has been done to restore the park.

Today a few of the buildings remain, a playground has been added, there's a 9/11 memorial and some nice walking trails.  Not so nice when it's hot and humid, but it did make for a pretty walk.

We took the 2.5 mile outer loop from one end and the kids started from the other...We were supposed to meet them somewhere on the loop, but that never happened.  I was hoping we'd meet them soon after we started so I wouldn't have to walk the whole way.  :)  No such luck.  They took a wrong turn somewhere, so we missed them and had to walk all the way around.  It wouldn't have been so bad if it hadn't been a warm muggy day...and if someone (Maybe me.  I'll never tell.) didn't have to go to the bathroom for the last 1/3 of the walk!  Thank goodness for porta potties!

I can't believe we've lived here two years and have never made our way to the park before!

Linking up to
Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday.