Page 37 - Westchester - 2017 Relocation Guide

Putnam County, just north of Westchester, offers country living relatively close (about an hour north) to New York City. It’s named for General Israel Putnam, who defended the Hudson Highlands during the Revolutionary War. His eponymous county has garnered attention in recent years for the signifi- cant upgrades that have been made to its roads, bridges, and dams. It is the proud home of some of the state’s highest-achieving public schools, with about 90 percent of its students going on to college.
In Kent, just south of Dutchess County, a rural feel pervades the many beautiful lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and rocky mountain ranges. Boasting charming lake views, Carmel feels like a postcard, with many neighbor- hoods surrounding lakes that are famous for boating and trout fishing.
In winter, skiers can stay local at Patterson’s Thunder Ridge Ski Resort. With a motto of “Heck no, we make it snow,” the resort is ready to welcome skiers as long as it is cold. For those more interested in ice skating, Southeast’s village of Brewster has a large ice arena and sports center.
In fact, Brewster is experiencing an exciting revital- ization, focused on upgrading its housing and infra- structure. The project is supported by its location with a Metro-North train stop in Southeast, the second-largest town in Putnam County. Southeast also benefits from its position at the crossroads of Routes 684 and 84. All these modern modes of transportation do not detract from the region’s historic roots. Visit the early-19th- century one-room Old Doansburg Schoolhouse and the circa-1850 Walter Brewster House for proof.
Outdoor adventures continue throughout the sea- sons, with Putnam being especially friendly for hikers. In Putnam Valley, there are numerous trails for hikers and riders throughout the 14,000 acres of Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park. Hike on the trails in Philipstown and stay overnight in the quaint town of
Cold Spring. There, you can enjoy a picturesque col- lection of shops and eateries along the waterfront. Historic sites on the National Registry, as well as art galleries, only add to the variety of options.
Cultural events fill the calendar year-round, such as the Northern Westchester and Putnam Counties St. Pat- rick’s Day Parade, the third-largest in New York State; the Shakespeare Festival in Garrison at Boscobel House; and maple-tree tapping at Neise’s Maple Farm in Put- nam Valley, the oldest family maple producer in south- ern New York.
Opposite: Beautiful Boscobel in Garrison is home to the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival; (upper left & right) offering lots to do, historic Cold Spring is bucolic America
at its best; (above) Thunder Ridge ski resort in Patterson has been providing winter fun since 1948.
LIVING IN WESTCHESTER AND THE HUDSON VALLEY | RELOCATION & MOVING GUIDE | 27