The suburban business and art hub of White Plains is conveniently located just a short train or car ride from New York City. It also happens to be the perfect place to do some big-city shopping without having to venture into the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple.
The Westchester Mall is a huge 890,000-sq-ft shopping center with 134 luxury retailers including Louis Vuitton, BOSS, Neiman Marcus, Tiffany & Co and Gucci.
The White Plains Performing Arts Center is a not-for-profit arts organization that hosts spectacular concerts, musicals, dance shows and other performing arts. Previous critically acclaimed productions include Les Miserables, The Bodyguard, Sweeney Todd, as well as Disney’s Tarzan and The Little Mermaid.
Continue your tour of the White Plains arts scene at the Donald M Kendall Sculpture Gardens, named after the former chief executive of PepsiCo. A former polo club, it is now full of sculptures of mermaids, grizzly bears and totems, filling the 168 green acres and making it feel like you stepped into a mystical world.
Many of the striking pieces are by notable artists including Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, Alexander Calder and Alberto Giacometti. To see even more contemporary art, visit the Neuberger Museum of Art. The permanent collection holds more than 6,000 pieces of modern, contemporary and African art; photographs; prints; and both indoor and outdoor sculptures. After a day of enjoying the arts, stretch your legs at the Game On Golf Center.
Where to sleep
Less than an hour by car from New York City, The Opus Westchester, Autograph Collection is a luxurious 146-room haven, tucked away from the noise and lights of the city. The best room in the house is the 1,100-sq-ft Presidential Suite with a sumptuous marble bathroom.
3 Renaissance Square; +1 914 946 5500; theopuswestchester.com
Where to Eat
If you manage to peel yourself away from the stunning Opus Suite, reserve a table for dinner at Kanopi restaurant, conveniently located in your hotel. It is worth checking out for the views alone (the enormous windows overlook the city). Chef Anthony Gonçalves will take you on a journey to the other side of the world with his Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
1 Renaissance Square; +1 914 761 4242; kanopievents.com
Where to Fly
Westchester County Airport, home to Million Air White Plains, is a leader in aircraft maintenance and customer service, with convenient amenities including a hospitality bar, on-site car rentals and a Mercedes-Benz crew car.
Westchester County Airport 136 Tower Road White Plains, NY 10604
info.hpn@millionair.com; +1 914 946 0100; millionair.com
