School’s out, and the old Beacon High School has found a rather more creative second life. KuBe (short for Kunsthalle Beacon) houses contemporary local art exhibitions, experimental project spaces, artist studios and performance venues across its sprawling former classrooms and corridors.  Check ahead for opening hours and current exhibitions.

Beacon’s biggest workout comes with a rather good reward: climb Mount Beacon for breathtaking views across the Hudson Highlands, towards the Catskills and, on a clear day, all the way to Manhattan. The steep trail follows the route of the old Beacon Incline Railway, once the world’s steepest funicular, passing remnants of the mountain’s former resort days before reaching the summit’s historic fire tower.

Known as Bannerman Island, this tiny Hudson River outcrop comes with a wonderfully curious past. In the early 1900s, arms dealer Francis Bannerman built a castle-like arsenal here to store his vast collection of military surplus, creating a Scottish-inspired folly against the rugged Hudson Highlands. Today, its weathered towers and crumbling walls rise above the water like the set of a gothic film. Boat tours from Beacon offer a closer look at the ruins and the island’s overgrown gardens.