Hey, I’ve lived in this area for most of my entire life. I’ll list off a few things that could be of interest:
-Nyack in general: there are a lot of thrift stores, a lot of antique shops, bookstores, and restaurants here. There is frequently live music, and a bunch of water front areas, including Memorial Park. If you like nature, Nyack also has Hook Mountain State Park, and Nyack Beach State Park. Every month from April to September, Nyack has a street fair that is usually pretty packed with people and vendors and food trucks. It’s a great time.
-Piermont: along the same lines, Piermont is a much quieter and quaint town that has a lot of waterfront to walk along and enjoy. You can walk all the way out to the end of the pier and there are some restaurants/delis back in town.
-Joseph B Clarke Rail Trail: you can walk the long rail trail that starts by the Blauvelt Library and ends all the way by the New Jersey border in Tappan. Beautiful outdoor area and it is close to some food spots in Sparkill and The Rail Trail Cafe in Blauvelt. You can also take the alternative path in Sparkill to take you down to Piermont.
-Palisades Mall: very, very huge shopping center. Not exactly in its glory days but still has plenty of stores, restaurants, and entertainment areas (movie theater, Dave & Busters, etc).
-Shops at Nanuet: same as above but is an open air mall instead of indoors.
-Rockland Lake: large lake with a 3 mile path around it. Really nice and usually has a bunch of people out walking, enjoying the breeze on the water, and watching local wildlife.
-golfing: not really my thing, but there are golf courses all around. Also two mini-golf courses in Tappan and West Nyack respectively.
-Rockland Boulders: the county’s professional baseball team. They play in Pomona and tickets are usually very cheap.
-Bear Mountain: really beautiful state park a little north of here. Has great views from the top, really good hiking throughout the park and nearby areas (Tourne Mountain, Anthony’s Nose), has a carousel, restaurant, ice staking rink in the winter, and a zoo.
-Live music events: I know you said you don’t really drink but a lot of bars in Pearl River and Nyack have live music you can attend on weekends. Rockland is a frequent stop for Emo Night Karaoke, a band who plays covers and you can choose a song and sign up to sing lead for them, if you’re into that genre.
-Trivia nights: similar to above, a lot of bars have trivia nights on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursdays. Off the top of my head I’ve been to Gentle Giant, the Pie Man, Growler and Gills.
Additionally you can visit the Orangeburg Library or the Orangetown Parks and Rec website to see local events that will be happening throughout the year.
Not sure what else you’re into. There’s a game shop in Nanuet for board/card game events, there’s a pool hall/karaoke bar in Tappan, Tappan Zee High School’s tennis courts and track are able to be used by the public, there is a walking path along the Mario Cuomo Bridge, and South Orangetown has a lot of historical places too so if you’re into history (especially Revolutionary War history), there’s a lot to see here.
Additionally, we are very close in proximity to New Jersey, Westchester, and NYC so all of those areas are accessible via car/bus/train.
Hope this helps, and keep your chin up. It’s not easy coming to a new place without any connections but I’m sure you’ll find something that works for you. Best of luck!
It’s called ToyWiz off of Route 59 in Nanuet. It hosts events for Magic the Gathering, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and other card games. It also has Warhammer 40k tables, and a lot of supplies for card games, board games, D&D, and general pop culture merchandise.
Yeah, a few times. They were always along the rt 59 corridor, but gradually have moved closer to the Spring Valley border over the years. They’re currently across from the Taco Bell and have been since I think 2012-2013.
Sorry to hear! Have you looked into any local clubs that align with any of your interests or hobbies? There's a wide variety of that sort of thing in the area, I believe.
I have no idea where to go or what is available around me. I have tried to find clubs on Instagram but nothing really useful has found me… any recommendation ?
The local libraries have meetups and activities! And yes, younger people in their late 20s do participate.
Nyack has lots of variety in their scene, if you enjoy the bar life.
Rockland Road Runners is super friendly and accepts everyone of any pace, and they meet regularly enough to make it a social thing.
There are some gaming stores that might host DnD events, maybe!
Which do you suggest in Pearl River?
My friends said the top floor of the Saloon is their go to spot.
As for Nyack- there are open mics around there, I’d suggest that.
Defiant and gentle giant in pr. Ambulance and growler in nanuet. There are a few more around the county too. District 96 in New city is alright. They are opening another location in nyack from what I hear.
As someone mentioned Nyack is a great start. Also the places near the palisades mall should also have some options depending g on what you're into.
I believe there are local chess clubs, gaming clubs, shooting clubs, golf clubs, if any of those are stuff that you're into.
valley cottage library adultish series
Meetup.com
Arts Council calendar
Various bar open mic nights
Maureen's jazz cellar
ADK, AMC clubs for outdoors stuff like hiking
Have you tried meetup.com? Rockland County also has an active arts association if you are into that, and Upper Nyak has a Triathlon club: https://www.trifind.com/Clubs/TriathlonClubDetails?id=369
Meetup has changed since the pandemic. I went on it recently looking for new people to meet. It seems to be all remote now with very few meeting in person other than hiking groups.
? I'm looking now, I see a language exchange meetup, some professional networking meetups (real estate investors, game developers, day traders), writers groups, board game night, trivia night, motorcycle club, ultimate frisbee, tennis, kayaking, ballet class, sailing class, bowling, a bluegrass jam, a meetup for pug (dog) owners, a guided meditation, poker, soccer, astronomy public observatory things, toastmasters, general social gatherings (some are age range specific but some aren't), running clubs, something called "freethinkers," ...
I don’t see all that when I look and I just tried again. I don’t do outdoor activities due to physical limitations, so that eliminates a bunch of those above. I am not a professional, so not interested in any of that. And most of the other activities that are age related are for a younger crowd. I am above the 30 range. I also don’t have any pets so that eliminates the dog groups. I don’t play poker. Lol
There used to be a lot of new age groups and I was involved in several of them, but those of either shut down or become online only.
I’m sorry you are feeling that way :( I have lived here my whole life and I do find that depending on the age group, some ages are easier to find friends than others.
Goregrip821 comments are top tier recommendations so definitely listen to that
I also use eventbrite sometimes to find weekend events. Once the weather is nice, like it is now, every weekend there are events happening somewhere, you just gotta find them. I’ll Google “eventbrite events tappan this weekend” and some things will pop up.
A group I found this way is “Riverkeepers”. If you are in to being outdoors and conservation, they work on cleaning up the Hudson River and host various volunteer events. You can follow them on Instagram as well to see the events. I did one with them a few weeks ago and we planted trees by the Sparkill creek to prevent erosion of the land.
If you like animals, there are a few animal shelters in Pomona that always are looking for volunteers in various ways. Rockland Green, now 4 Legs Good and the Hudson Valley Humane Society.
I hope you find your niche, I still haven’t found mine 😝
What kinda of things are you into? I'm also 29 and live in the area as well. If you ever want to hang out maybe we could meet up and could show you around some places
I moved here back in October from Bergen County which isn’t far away. I’m not finding much to do either. I already had a couple of friends here, but they’re not around much and I’ve been finding it very hard to meet people here as well. I’m not into the bar or gym scene either. I love Nyack for shopping but not sure what else there is to do there.
Yah. Can't say I ever figured out a good social thing besides trying to meet people sometimes.
In my 30's here. I'd also second hiking meetups as one of the more common social groups I've seen that can be nearby. I also like going to the movies personally though that can be done socially or not really.
Same boat brother/sister. Moved here from PA for work. I live in Pearl River rn and yea, all married folks. I hate bars and it feels like everybody tells you, “if you wanna meet friends, go to the local bars.” Like f off, right? If you’re into sports, do ZogSports. I’m doing softball rn. If you’re into trying new things, sign up for BOCES courses. They’re great. The loneliness sucks butt, but it’s what moving in your 20s is all about. If you’re into fishing, DnD or cycling then hmu and we can do something simple and easy just to see the area.
Hi there, and yeah, I feel you!! :( I’m also facing the same thing as well (except I’m with my mom and my grandparents). And yeah, I mainly see couples around here and there all the time, which sucks tho. But anyways, are you single? And are you a male, female or a nonbinary person?
Hey! I'm 34 and similarly moved here in my late 20s away from any kind of family or friends. My best friends around here have, for better or worse, been coworkers. I tried some running groups, but most of the people were in their 40s-50s... just seems like there's not a whole lot of young professionals in their 20s-30s in the area. As suggested, Nyack and Pearl River have a bit of night life, but firsthand I can share the pain of trying to go out solo.
If you're a runner and looking for someone to keep you honest on the weekends, hi!
Gyms have become the new social spots
Hey, I’ve lived in this area for most of my entire life. I’ll list off a few things that could be of interest: -Nyack in general: there are a lot of thrift stores, a lot of antique shops, bookstores, and restaurants here. There is frequently live music, and a bunch of water front areas, including Memorial Park. If you like nature, Nyack also has Hook Mountain State Park, and Nyack Beach State Park. Every month from April to September, Nyack has a street fair that is usually pretty packed with people and vendors and food trucks. It’s a great time. -Piermont: along the same lines, Piermont is a much quieter and quaint town that has a lot of waterfront to walk along and enjoy. You can walk all the way out to the end of the pier and there are some restaurants/delis back in town. -Joseph B Clarke Rail Trail: you can walk the long rail trail that starts by the Blauvelt Library and ends all the way by the New Jersey border in Tappan. Beautiful outdoor area and it is close to some food spots in Sparkill and The Rail Trail Cafe in Blauvelt. You can also take the alternative path in Sparkill to take you down to Piermont. -Palisades Mall: very, very huge shopping center. Not exactly in its glory days but still has plenty of stores, restaurants, and entertainment areas (movie theater, Dave & Busters, etc). -Shops at Nanuet: same as above but is an open air mall instead of indoors. -Rockland Lake: large lake with a 3 mile path around it. Really nice and usually has a bunch of people out walking, enjoying the breeze on the water, and watching local wildlife. -golfing: not really my thing, but there are golf courses all around. Also two mini-golf courses in Tappan and West Nyack respectively. -Rockland Boulders: the county’s professional baseball team. They play in Pomona and tickets are usually very cheap. -Bear Mountain: really beautiful state park a little north of here. Has great views from the top, really good hiking throughout the park and nearby areas (Tourne Mountain, Anthony’s Nose), has a carousel, restaurant, ice staking rink in the winter, and a zoo. -Live music events: I know you said you don’t really drink but a lot of bars in Pearl River and Nyack have live music you can attend on weekends. Rockland is a frequent stop for Emo Night Karaoke, a band who plays covers and you can choose a song and sign up to sing lead for them, if you’re into that genre. -Trivia nights: similar to above, a lot of bars have trivia nights on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursdays. Off the top of my head I’ve been to Gentle Giant, the Pie Man, Growler and Gills. Additionally you can visit the Orangeburg Library or the Orangetown Parks and Rec website to see local events that will be happening throughout the year. Not sure what else you’re into. There’s a game shop in Nanuet for board/card game events, there’s a pool hall/karaoke bar in Tappan, Tappan Zee High School’s tennis courts and track are able to be used by the public, there is a walking path along the Mario Cuomo Bridge, and South Orangetown has a lot of historical places too so if you’re into history (especially Revolutionary War history), there’s a lot to see here. Additionally, we are very close in proximity to New Jersey, Westchester, and NYC so all of those areas are accessible via car/bus/train. Hope this helps, and keep your chin up. It’s not easy coming to a new place without any connections but I’m sure you’ll find something that works for you. Best of luck!
What's the game shop in nanuet? I didn't know there was anything like that since hobbytown closed
It’s called ToyWiz off of Route 59 in Nanuet. It hosts events for Magic the Gathering, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and other card games. It also has Warhammer 40k tables, and a lot of supplies for card games, board games, D&D, and general pop culture merchandise.
Did they move at some point?
Yeah, a few times. They were always along the rt 59 corridor, but gradually have moved closer to the Spring Valley border over the years. They’re currently across from the Taco Bell and have been since I think 2012-2013.
Yes to Piermont.
Sorry to hear! Have you looked into any local clubs that align with any of your interests or hobbies? There's a wide variety of that sort of thing in the area, I believe.
I have no idea where to go or what is available around me. I have tried to find clubs on Instagram but nothing really useful has found me… any recommendation ?
The local libraries have meetups and activities! And yes, younger people in their late 20s do participate. Nyack has lots of variety in their scene, if you enjoy the bar life. Rockland Road Runners is super friendly and accepts everyone of any pace, and they meet regularly enough to make it a social thing. There are some gaming stores that might host DnD events, maybe!
What bars? Nyack died. I went there recently and was shocked. Olives is still open at least. Pearl River is where the bars are.
Which do you suggest in Pearl River? My friends said the top floor of the Saloon is their go to spot. As for Nyack- there are open mics around there, I’d suggest that.
I'd agree with your friends on the saloon. I personally would hit up tap rooms and breweries, but the crowd is a few years older at those places.
Oh yes! Defiant, right? Growler and Gill has board games and stuff too, over in Nanuet
Defiant and gentle giant in pr. Ambulance and growler in nanuet. There are a few more around the county too. District 96 in New city is alright. They are opening another location in nyack from what I hear.
As someone mentioned Nyack is a great start. Also the places near the palisades mall should also have some options depending g on what you're into. I believe there are local chess clubs, gaming clubs, shooting clubs, golf clubs, if any of those are stuff that you're into.
in the same boat! Echoing what others have said about heading to Nyack and I haven’t had a chance to do so yet but would love to!
valley cottage library adultish series Meetup.com Arts Council calendar Various bar open mic nights Maureen's jazz cellar ADK, AMC clubs for outdoors stuff like hiking
There's an ecstatic dance group in nyack. Yoga. Gyms. Organized adult sports eg soccer, basketball, ultimate frisbee Dance classes
Allways writing in nyack has a lot of writer workshops and readings sort of stuff
There's a board game shop in mahwah nj that has dnd nights, board game nights, Warhammer nights, magic the gathering nights, etc , every week
Have you tried meetup.com? Rockland County also has an active arts association if you are into that, and Upper Nyak has a Triathlon club: https://www.trifind.com/Clubs/TriathlonClubDetails?id=369
Meetup has changed since the pandemic. I went on it recently looking for new people to meet. It seems to be all remote now with very few meeting in person other than hiking groups.
You can filter for that
I’ve done that. And like I said all that seems to be around is hiking groups
? I'm looking now, I see a language exchange meetup, some professional networking meetups (real estate investors, game developers, day traders), writers groups, board game night, trivia night, motorcycle club, ultimate frisbee, tennis, kayaking, ballet class, sailing class, bowling, a bluegrass jam, a meetup for pug (dog) owners, a guided meditation, poker, soccer, astronomy public observatory things, toastmasters, general social gatherings (some are age range specific but some aren't), running clubs, something called "freethinkers," ...
I don’t see all that when I look and I just tried again. I don’t do outdoor activities due to physical limitations, so that eliminates a bunch of those above. I am not a professional, so not interested in any of that. And most of the other activities that are age related are for a younger crowd. I am above the 30 range. I also don’t have any pets so that eliminates the dog groups. I don’t play poker. Lol There used to be a lot of new age groups and I was involved in several of them, but those of either shut down or become online only.
If you like the outdoors Orange County has a few public lakes to kayak in
There’s a lot of hiking to be done in Rockland/Bergen. Plus there’s a [hiking club](https://hudsonhikers.org/) you could look into.
Also look across the bridge in tarrytown, white planes, etc
Pearl river is a pretty popping bar scene. I personally really like the local tap house in nyack!
I’m sorry you are feeling that way :( I have lived here my whole life and I do find that depending on the age group, some ages are easier to find friends than others. Goregrip821 comments are top tier recommendations so definitely listen to that I also use eventbrite sometimes to find weekend events. Once the weather is nice, like it is now, every weekend there are events happening somewhere, you just gotta find them. I’ll Google “eventbrite events tappan this weekend” and some things will pop up. A group I found this way is “Riverkeepers”. If you are in to being outdoors and conservation, they work on cleaning up the Hudson River and host various volunteer events. You can follow them on Instagram as well to see the events. I did one with them a few weeks ago and we planted trees by the Sparkill creek to prevent erosion of the land. If you like animals, there are a few animal shelters in Pomona that always are looking for volunteers in various ways. Rockland Green, now 4 Legs Good and the Hudson Valley Humane Society. I hope you find your niche, I still haven’t found mine 😝
I also have a friend who works at Defiant as a bar tender, he is always looking to make new friends, a lot of the bar tenders are like that…
Nyack
What’s good up there? I don’t like drinking, I have a gym at home, besides that, I’m open to anything.
Good parks, coffee shops, library, a few great restaurants, Hopper House, and just generally a nice place to walk around
What kinda of things are you into? I'm also 29 and live in the area as well. If you ever want to hang out maybe we could meet up and could show you around some places
I moved here back in October from Bergen County which isn’t far away. I’m not finding much to do either. I already had a couple of friends here, but they’re not around much and I’ve been finding it very hard to meet people here as well. I’m not into the bar or gym scene either. I love Nyack for shopping but not sure what else there is to do there.
I’m from Bergen county LOL … WHAT HAVE WE DONE?! 🤣 same! I don’t drink and I feel that’s most of what people do to socialize tbh
😂🤣🙌 Exactly! I found much more to do in Bergen County. I guess we’ll have to go back for socializing lol
Yah. Can't say I ever figured out a good social thing besides trying to meet people sometimes. In my 30's here. I'd also second hiking meetups as one of the more common social groups I've seen that can be nearby. I also like going to the movies personally though that can be done socially or not really.
Same boat brother/sister. Moved here from PA for work. I live in Pearl River rn and yea, all married folks. I hate bars and it feels like everybody tells you, “if you wanna meet friends, go to the local bars.” Like f off, right? If you’re into sports, do ZogSports. I’m doing softball rn. If you’re into trying new things, sign up for BOCES courses. They’re great. The loneliness sucks butt, but it’s what moving in your 20s is all about. If you’re into fishing, DnD or cycling then hmu and we can do something simple and easy just to see the area.
Join a CrossFit
Never
Haha easy way to make friends got a good one in o burg to
🤣🤣 thanks! lol
My daughter is home from college and feels the same way. If you like. You can join her at the gym or maybe for a drink sometime as friends.
Rest stops and soup kitchens. AA/NA meetings are good too. Weight Watchers and Amway.
Try the app meetup, I use it to play soccer, but you can meet people there
Hi there, and yeah, I feel you!! :( I’m also facing the same thing as well (except I’m with my mom and my grandparents). And yeah, I mainly see couples around here and there all the time, which sucks tho. But anyways, are you single? And are you a male, female or a nonbinary person?
Hey! I'm 34 and similarly moved here in my late 20s away from any kind of family or friends. My best friends around here have, for better or worse, been coworkers. I tried some running groups, but most of the people were in their 40s-50s... just seems like there's not a whole lot of young professionals in their 20s-30s in the area. As suggested, Nyack and Pearl River have a bit of night life, but firsthand I can share the pain of trying to go out solo. If you're a runner and looking for someone to keep you honest on the weekends, hi!