A mere 40-minute commute from Grand Central on Metro North, this quaint town—named for Jeremiah Dobbs, a Swedish fisherman who started the Hudson’s first river ferry in 1698—makes for a sweet, low-key day trip from NYC. Once home to the seafood-faring Weckquaesgeek Indians, Dobbs Ferry’s more recent residents include Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Alvin Dark, former NY Giants shortstop and San Francisco Giants manager.
There’s plenty of room to stretch your legs in this Westchester village, plus delicious ways to fuel your exercise.
Here are five things to do in Dobbs Ferry.
1. Grab lunch at Dobbs Dawg House, a favorite local joint where Boar’s Head dogs get the royal—and unconventional—treatment. If you’ve ever dreamed of topping your dawg like an Everything Bagel, a S’more, an IHOP pancake (yes, there’s Nutella involved), or Miami Vice style (for the unacquainted, that means ketchup, mayo, mozzarella, bacon, pineapple, and crushed potato chips), make a beeline for the dog house. (25 Cedar Street, dobbsdawghouse.com, Closed Sunday)
2. Hike or bike along the Old Croton Aqueduct trail. Stretching from the Croton Dam in Croton-on-Hudson all the way to the Bronx, the trail follows the route of the Old Croton Aqueduct, which supplied New York City with water from 1842-1955. The trail passes through Dobbs Ferry, a stretch which features the house of the Aqueduct overseer. A 20-minute bike ride north will bring you to the beautiful Lyndhurst mansion. (http://nysparks.com/parks/96/; don’t forget your $5 Metro North bike permit)
3. Shop around the village. Check out the European flair at Fiaor and the homemade, vegan soap at Kalliste. (Fiamor: 25 Cedar Street and 50 Cedar Street, www.fiamor.us; Kalliste: 10 Cedar Street, kallisteshop.com)
4. Take in the sunset on the Waterfront Park. Live jazz concerts make this the perfect picnic spot on Wednesday evenings in the summer.
5. It’s hard to go wrong dining in town with so many great choices. For “neo-nostalgic Italian” pasta or an ambitious group Pig Dinner, pick The Cookery; Harper’s Bar and Restaurant for contemporary twists on classic farm-to-table fare; or Half Moon for seafood and sunset drinks on the waterfront. The Cookery: 39 Chestnut Street; Harper’s: 92 Main Street, hapersonmain.com; Half Moon: 1 High Street
Directions: Ride Metro North to Dobbs Ferry via the Hudson Line.
Photos: michael baumann, The Cookery, Half Moon, Dobb’s Dawg, *Bitch Cakes*, JMS2, fotostalker (MFer)
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram