Discover Goshen: Heritage Trail, architecture and harness racing

A stay in Goshen can be planned around a variety of interests: the Heritage Trail offers opportunities for exercise and nature observation, while architecture, harness racing and local crafts provide distinct focuses. If you’re looking for a hotel, it helps to decide in advance which of these themes you want your trip to revolve around.

Heritage Trail: Exercise and nature

The 19.5-mile Heritage Trail has an entrance on Hartley Road in Goshen. The trail, which runs through the Town of Goshen, is open to hiking, biking and inline skating; nature observation is another activity. This lets you choose how to think of the trail: as a place to exercise or to observe nature.

When snow conditions are suitable, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are also possible. If you’re planning one of these winter activities, take snow conditions into account before your trip. The distinction is clear: both winter activities explicitly depend on suitable snow conditions.

Victorian architecture in the Church Park Historic District

The Church Park Historic District in Goshen includes the village center as well as residential areas with large Victorian houses along South Church Street and South Street. This combination gives architecture enthusiasts two specific points of interest: the village center and the residential streets with their Victorian buildings. Unlike the Heritage Trail, the focus here is on historic architecture, rather than choosing between different outdoor activities.

Harness racing in Goshen

The Goshen Historic Track is the oldest harness racing track in the world and serves as a training facility for harness horses. It is also associated with special events and seasonal horse races. If a race or event will determine your stay, check the dates in advance.

The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame preserves the history and traditions of the Standardbred industry and harness racing. Its exhibits cover the breeding and training of harness horses and include a 3D simulation. This adds a cultural and historical perspective to the track’s role as a training facility: the museum focuses on history and exhibits, while the track focuses on training and its connection to special events and seasonal races.

The museum’s school programs are intended for students. They use the American Standardbred horse and harness racing to teach mathematics, history, science and language arts. This educational approach differs from the exhibits: the sport is connected to several school subjects.

Goshen Farmers Market and choosing a hotel

The Goshen Farmers Market provides local farmers, artists and craftspeople with a platform to showcase their products. Local vendors and their goods thus complement the themes of nature, architecture and harness racing. If the market is important to your plans, check its visiting hours in advance.

For cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, take suitable snow conditions into account; for an event, check the dates in advance. You can then compare hotel options to suit your plans.

Discover more destinations: West Point, Newburgh, Greenwood Lake, Slate Hill, Unionville, New Hampton, Florida, Orange Lake

For the overview of the wider region: Orange.