Discover New Rochelle
4 carefully curated photography spots with GPS coordinates, shooting tips, and local insights
Five Islands Park
Coastal park with small beach, wooded trails linking three islands and sweeping views of Long Island Sound—great for seascapes, shoreline foregrounds, fall color and birding. Best at golden hour (sunrise and sunset) for warm light and reflections; weekdays and early mornings avoid families and BBQ crowds. Small parking lot and picnic facilities; trails are easy but can be uneven—bring lens cleaning for spray. No entry fee.
Hudson Park & Beach
Small Hudson River waterfront park with a sandy beach, bandshell, playground, grassy lawns and a ruined stone mansion/greenhouse — offers river vistas, sunset reflections, event photography and intimate architectural details. Best light at sunrise and golden hour for warm water reflections; sunset silhouettes behind the Palisades. Weekday mornings are quiet; summer evenings host free concerts for live-music shots. Parking: paid lot plus street parking; restrooms can be limited seasonally. Site:
Thomas Paine Cottage Museum. Huguenot & New Rochelle Historical Assn. headquarters
Small 18th‑century cottage that was Thomas Paine’s last U.S. residence — compact period interiors, furnished rooms, cottage garden and adjacent stream. Photograph exterior details (weathered clapboard, shutters, hearth), interpretive exhibits and costumed reenactors during colonial fairs. Best light: golden hour for warm exterior textures; late morning for even interior window light. Site is compact and walkable; seasonal events add living-history subjects. Street parking on Sicard Ave; small or
Ward Acres Park
Ward Acres Park — a 62-acre former estate with a farmhouse, barn complex, open meadows and forested trails. Shoot contrasting textures: weathered wood, meadow grasses, tree-lined paths and action shots in the large dog run. Best at golden hour for warm light and long shadows; fall brings color, spring brings wildflowers. Trails are informal and sometimes muddy after rain; free parking on Broadfield Rd. No entry fee; trails uneven so bring boots. Expect locals with dogs on weekends.