Living in the Hudson Valley

This cultured countryside needs little introduction. It’s been called New York’s Napa, the anti-Hamptons, or simply “upstate.” From rolling farm fields to mom-and-pop Main Streets, the region is blessed with easy highway access, train service via Metro-North and Amtrak, and even its own international airport, making it exceptionally attractive to New York City residents seeking a little more nature and a lot less bustle. Most of the area falls within a two-hour radius of Manhattan, making it practical for weekend or full-time residence. Straddling both sides of its namesake river (much is actually a tidal fjord), the Hudson Valley’s traditionally defined core consists of Putnam, Dutchess, and Columbia counties to its east and Ulster, Orange, and Greene to the west. Their mélange of art colonies, rustic-chic hamlets, and charming post-industrial cities — set to a landscape so breathtaking it inspired an eponymous 19th-century art movement — welcome infinite possibilities, from slow-paced small-town living to total off-the-grid seclusion. Bordering both the Berkshires and the Catskills, outdoor recreation runs aplenty, whether skiing in winter or climbing wilderness peaks in summer.

Aerial drone view of American suburban neighborhood. Establishing shot of America's  suburb. Residential single family houses pattern. Autumn Fall season

Beacon | History and Culture

Beacon was formed when two separate towns, Matteawan on Fishkill Creek and Fishkill Landing on the Hudson River, literally grew into each other, merging to form the mile-long main drag we know today. Named for the signal fires that blazed in its hills during the Revolution, the once-thriving factory town began a new chapter when Dia, the progressive contemporary art organization that rose to prominence in the age of Donald Judd and Andy Warhol, plinthed its collection in a crumbling Nabisco box plant — a singular event that catalyzed the complete revival of the city’s rambling red brick blocks. Chock full of post-industrial charm, Beacon appeals to everyone from bikers to upcyclers, with miles of mountain trails and a sizable downtown spilling over with craft beer bars, coffee roasters, and maker boutiques. A diverse stock of historic artist lofts, single-family homes, and new construction rentals offer flexible housing options, all just a 75-minute train ride to Grand Central Terminal.

73CEA3EC-09EF-4B2D-9537-50500DE7DC5D

Millbrook| History and Culture

Think of it as Bridgehampton’s rugged, low-key cousin, with a winery and horse population to match. Defined by a timeless, understated elegance that’s kept it fashionable throughout history, Millbrook might just be the Hudson Valley’s best-kept secret — a place that’s hardly of the moment yet always on trend. Socialites and privacy seekers alike are drawn to this bucolic corner of Dutchess County, known for its secluded large-acreage estates, vibrant village, and world-class equestrian scene. In town, you’ll find a quality stretch of design shops, clothiers, and farm-to-table eateries, tended by neighborly folks who know their regulars by name. Cruise the winding back roads past ancient barns and rolling meadows and you’ll stumble upon Innisfree Garden — called one of the country’s 10 best — and Orvis Sandanona, the nation’s preeminent sporting grounds. Situated just 86 miles from Midtown Manhattan, with Metro North nearby in Dover Plains, this secluded yet convenient hunt country is an idyllic escape.

IMG_2453

Rhinebeck | History and Culture

We don’t know where Bob Dylan was headed when he wrote the song “Girl from the North Country,” but we’ve got a hunch that north country fair he sang of traveling to was Rhinebeck’s — it’s the state’s second-largest. The quintessential artsy upstate town, this storied community has long carried cachet in city circles. You might hear the gentle strum of a street musician’s guitar as you stroll its single-intersection shopping district, jam-packed with innovative eateries, avant-garde galleries, an art-house cinema, and purveyors of just about everything else from kitchen gadgets to cheeky letterpress cards. There’s no time more magical than the holidays when the streets are closed to welcome Sinterklaas in the old Dutch tradition, a spectacle witnessed from windows and rooftops. Tight-knit neighborhoods of cozy farmhouses and mansard-roofed Second Empires skirt the village, fading to farmsteads and old-money estates further out. Rhinecliff, the riverfront hamlet, hosts high-bluff views, marina slips, and the town’s Amtrak station.