Art Omi, tucked away in the small town of Ghent, is the most wonderful and slightly spooky International Arts Center. You can wander the hiking paths for free, and it's a very family friendly place, perfect for any age or ability. October is one of the best times to visit because the foliage is spectacular and the temperatures are nice and cool; perfect for a hike!
As you enter Art Omi you will want to stop at the visitor's center first and get a map so that you can plan your day. The entire property takes about an hour and half to hike, but the map has a variety of trails, some as little as 30 minutes, if you don't want to go that far. Feel free to let your kids run and wander to discover all the hidden art, which is fun and just a little bit creepy.
What is most fun and unique about outdoor sculpture parks is the contrast of modern art mixed into beautiful and natural landscapes. Art Omi does a great job of placing funky sculptures in very unexpected settings.
Art Omi is the perfect place to spend the day and a very family friendly Hudson Valley haunt. A great way to celebrate Halloween or celebrate fall by getting outside and enjoying a romp in nature while discovering amazing art!
Tips for visiting:
- Visitors are allowed to bring in food and picnicking is allowed.
- The park is free to enter and hike.
- Parking is free.
- They have a small cafe on site where you can purchase lunch and beverages.
- I suggest wearing proper shoes for hiking.
- The trails are pretty stroller friendly, but I do recommend baby wearing if possible.
- The park is open 11am-5pm all year, you can even visit in the winter.
- The paths are all circular and all lead back to the visitor's center.
On the weekends, advanced registration is strongly recommended. If you arrive without pre-registering for the weekend, you will be turned away if the park has reached capacity. Registrations are accepted, but not required, on weekdays. Use the button at the top of the page to register! Guided tours must be arranged in advance.
For more information visit Art Omi online.
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