The Westchester Way

Sample Two-Day Movie Location Tour Itinerary

(Season - January through December)

Westchester County, New York’s Golden Apple

The Gateway to the Hudson River Valley

Explore Westchester County, the busiest movie production center outside of New York City. Here you can visit the locations of nearly 30 box office successes that were filmed in Westchester County over the past twenty years. Begin your tour of Westchester’s movie locations in the southern half of the county, visiting Rye, Yonkers, and Tarrytown. Day two brings you northward to locations in Somers, Cross River, and Croton-on-Hudson.

DAY ONE

10:00 AM

Enjoy a visit to Playland Amusement Park in Rye

Movies filmed here include: Big (1987), Working Girl (1987), Fatal Attraction (1986) and Radio Days (1986), Sweet and Lowdown and In God’s Hands.

You Are Here! -- Playland’s quarter mile boardwalk was where Josh finds the Zoltar machine that grants his wish to be “big” in 1988’s Big.

Playland, the first planned amusement park in America, is located on the shores of the Long Island Sound in Rye. During the summer season, there are 50 major and Kiddyland rides, miniature golf, midway amusements and live entertainment. The boardwalk is open every day, year-round. Playland Parkway, Rye. (914) 813-7000. www.ryeplayland.org

12:00 PM

Explore downtown Yonkers, filming location for over 30 movies, including The Manchurian Candidate (2004), Catch Me if You Can (2002), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Rear Window (1998), and The Preacher’s Wife (1995).

You Are Here! -- Running scenes from Catch Me If You Can with Leonardo DiCaprio were shot along Buena Vista Avenue in Yonkers, past the Trolley Barn and down to the Yonkers train station.

You Are Here! – Production of the 1998 version of Rear Window (starring the late Christopher Reeve, then a Westchester County resident) took place in the Industrial Park on the Yonkers Waterfront. All interior scenes were shot in the building that is currently being used by the Yonkers Library. At the time, the building was industrial/commercial and was used to facilitate Mr. Reeve's ambulette. The film’s driving scenes were shot on the picturesque Bronx River Parkway between the Westchester County Center in White Plains and Fisher Lane.

2:00 PM

After lunch along the Yonkers riverfront, visit nearby Alder Manor, location for A Beautiful Mind (2001) with Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly; Mona Lisa Smile (2003) with Julia Roberts; and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) which featured a star-studded cast including Gene Hackman, Anjelica Houston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, and others.

You Are Here! – In A Beautiful Mind, Russell Crowe's character, John Nash, drops mail off in front of Alder manor in Yonkers. The Renaissance Revival mansion was built in 1912 for millionaire William Boyce Thompson. It currently serves as headquarters of The Tara Circle, Inc., an Irish cultural organization. (914) 964-8272. www.aldermanor.com

4:00 PM

Spend an early evening strolling the charming village of Tarrytown (particularly Main Street and Broadway), filming location for several movies, including The Good Shepherd (2005), Lord of War (2004), Mona Lisa Smile (2003), and The Preacher’s Wife (1995).

You Are Here! -- The Tarrytown Music Hall on Main Street was used for scenes in The Good Shepherd (The 2005 film directed by Robert DeNiro, starring Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie), Mona Lisa Smile (The 2003 film starring Julia Roberts), and The Preacher’s Wife (The 1995 film directed by Penny Marshall, starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington), as well as The Impostors, The Secret Lives of Dentists, and Game 6.

Overnight at your choice of first class hotels in the Tarrytown area. For a complete list, visit www.westchestertourism.com.

DAY TWO

10:00 AM

Take a morning stroll through Rockefeller State Park Preserve in Pocantico Hills, location for the Thomas Crown Affair, the 1998 film starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo.

You Are Here! – Areas of the park along Route 9 were used to land the glider in the opening scene of the movie.

The Preserve is an idyllic spot for strolling, jogging, horseback riding, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. The most notable feature is the system of carriage roads built by John D. Rockefeller Sr. and John D. Rockefeller Jr. Designed to complement the landscape, the roads allow visitors to experience the natural wonders of the area. Route 117, Pocantico Hills. (914) 631-1470. www.nysparks.state.ny.us/parks

12:00 PM

More scenic outdoor beauty awaits you within the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River, location for Pollock, the acclaimed 2001 film with Ed Harris and Marcia Gay Harden.

You Are Here! -- The last eight minutes of Pollock were shot on the roads within the reservation. The administration building was dressed to be a doctor's office. The car crash took place at the end of Michigan Road.

Over 4,700-acres makes Ward Pound Ridge Reservation the county’s largest park. Its varied terrain and landscapes and miles of wooded trails provides a variety of activities in all seasons, including picnicking, lean-to camping, fishing and cross-country skiing. Route 35 & 121 South, Cross River. (914) 864-7317. http://www.westchestergov.com/parks

2:00 PM

Complete your tour at Lasdon Park, Arboretum & Veterans Memorial in Somers, used in 1987’s The Secret of My Success with Michael J. Fox.

You Are Here! – The exterior of the Lasdon estate home was used in the film. This three-story Colonial style mansion was built in 1933 and was modeled after George Washington’s Virginia home, Mount Vernon.

Lasdon Park is a magnificent 234 acre property consisting of woodlands, open grass meadow and formal gardens with flower and shrub specimens from all over the world. Route 35, Somers. (914) 864-7268. http://www.westchestergov.com/parks

Overnight packages can be created to include passes for the Westchester County Film Festival in White Plains (March) and the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville.