The Most Charming River Towns In New York
Whether you are escaping the Big Apple or coming from out of state, visitors naturally migrate to river towns. The rivers are New York's veins, carrying the history of commerce, transportation, and culture. Once a lifeline for early European settlers through the fertile valley and crucial during the American Revolution, it is now a playground for whitewater rafting and pursuits through the lush river valley.
Aside from the historic connection to the settlement patterns, what is the charm about river towns? Each is like a tempting "tail" to catch and follow along the scenic river story. Check out the enchanting Washington Irving's Sunnyside, or walk over the Walkway over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie. The Hudson Valley is dotted with some of the most picturesque small towns.
Catskill
A beautiful, albeit sleepy, Catskill village carries the weighty name of the forested slopes and high peaks. Many believe that American art was born along these scenic shores of the mighty Hudson. Seeping with inspiration on the western banks, Catskill continues to draw artists, writers, and naturalists through its magical landscapes. Offering easy access to the tranquil forest paths teeming with wildlife, sparkling lakes, and fly-fishing creeks, tackle new heights through Kaaterskill Wild Forest with a sparkling two-tier 260-foot cascade.
Rams Horn-Livingston Sanctuary features the Hudson's largest forested tidal swamp for paddling or hiking right in town. Crossing Rip Van Winkle Bridge, aka the Hudson River Skywalk, is a profound experience in fall colors. Dutchman's Landing offers a ramp and scenic picnic spots where you can watch the boats cruise at sunset. Hudson-Athens Lighthouse is a quick drive north, while Old Kings Road winds south along dramatic vistas and quaint villages, like the state's first capital, where families enjoy the open air chugging along the Catskill Mountain Railroad.
Hastings-on-Hudson
This tiny village next to Yonkers is minutes from Manhattan. Browsing its eclectic collection of shops for records, books, and antiques, grab a snack for a stroll along the promenade lining the eastern bank of the Hudson. Antoinette's Patisserie is a European-inspired cafe with art, sandwiches, pastries, and artisanal espresso. The 40-acre Lenoir Preserve is adjacent to the Old Croton Aqueduct, but first, stick around for the Hudson River views, a stately mansion, a nature center, and a seasonal butterfly garden.
The Old Croton Aqueduct Trailway is a hike-and-bike-friendly 26-mile historic route following the path that brought water from the Croton River to NYC in the 18th and 19th centuries, with scenic Palisades views across the river. Treat your upscale palate at Harvest on Hudson. The riverfront Italian restaurant in a romantic farmhouse with gardens is next to Kinnally Cove with a kayak launch. Finally, find an intimate spot at sunset at MacEachron Waterfront Park, on a blanket. You don't want to miss the next town, just a bike ride north!
Irvington
This walkable village with striking Manhattan views is one of six villages in the riverside town of Greenburgh. Comprising just 2.8 square miles, Irvington's history and progressive attitude are a unique blend to discover along this eastern Hudson River shore, from 19th-century Victorian sites to the historic center defined by the bustling Main Street, the commercial village hub. Take the half-mile downhill from Broadway to the Hudson River, with narrow side streets and steps from the train station, library, and local shops and restaurants.
The most photogenic riverfront set, Washington Irving's Sunnyside, was home to a famed American author. Giving off storybook vibes, the charming house comes with costumed guides, gardens, and river views along the grounds to soak up the enchantment on a sunny day picnic. The town shares fame with Tarrytown's Lyndhurst Mansion, a 19th-century Gothic Revival mansion on a 67-acre estate with self-guided audio tours. Scenic Hudson Park is a peaceful, slightly elevated walk along the river, with benches and sunset views over the Hudson.
Lake Luzerne
After the Civil War, President Grant found Lake Luzerne to be the perfect place to finally relax and R&R at the crossroads of the Hudson and Sacandaga Rivers in upstate New York. Since then, the town has been a place for family vacations and couples getaways, with modern inns and restaurants at reasonable prices, including the top-rated Rockwell Falls Inn and Wine Bar. Surrounded by the beauty of the Adirondacks, the year-round outdoors range from camping and fall foliage hikes to 200 miles of groomed forest snowmobiling trails.
From rafting along this whitewater section of the Hudson to swimming and boating at the local four chain lakes, the eponymous lake features a waterfall at Mill Park and Wayside Beach. It is a wonderful start to the day on a stroll along the serene shore, with the sounds of loons in the mist rising off the lake. The scenic Rockwell Falls is a 10-foot chute cascade, best viewed from the bridge over the Hudson, charmingly known as the "Bridge of Hope." Adirondack Folk School also offers neat workshops, including blacksmithing and pottery.
Lewiston
Just 25 miles north of Buffalo, Lewiston leaves no visitor underimpressed on the banks of the beautiful Niagara River. Being only seven miles north of the Niagara Falls, it offers the quaintness of a village, overlooked for the famous neighbor, yet the charms of a city with some of the best restaurants in all of Western New York. From excellent fishing to historic sites, including the Underground Railroad trails, there is much to see and do in just one square mile, Center Street, and go-to shops like the Plant Shack.
Check out the riverfront Freedom Crossing Monument next to kayak and canoe rentals. Music concerts fill the warm summertime evenings at Artpark, a scenic venue for outdoor theater productions, concerts, and family activities. Our Lady of Fatima Shrine is a striking basilica framed in nature with a domed rotunda, gardens, and a fountain. Get ready for a wild ride, literally, with the popular Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours. You can even visit another country, with Canada minutes away across the bridge.
Medina
Minutes from Lake Ontario's southern shore, Medina is a Great Lakes Region town amidst the rolling hills of Orleans County in New York. Between its own scenic Glenwood Lake and the historic Downtown Medina on the wide bend of the Erie Canal, it brings out awe in history and nature fans alike. Medina preserves its past through restored 19th-century buildings housing long-beloved specialty shops, restaurants, and lodgings.
The Railroad Museum draws families and train enthusiasts with a vast model-train layout and vintage passenger car rides. Check out the nearby Culvert Rd Tunnel, commendable in size and construction, plus wild raspberries on the side of the road and a bike path atop a hill to ride along the canal. The creek feeds through an aqueduct under the Erie Canal before the water spills over the ledge in an impressive 40-foot cascade. Medina Falls is a beautiful cascade with free public access and scenic views along the canal towpath.
Peekskill
Peekskill is easily accessible via the Metro-North Hudson Line. The walkable town along the river bend does not disappoint with a cute button-faced downtown and waterfront parks with access to the river and trails. It is home to Hudson Valley MOCA and the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, a Westchester County historic landmark popular for live music and performing arts. The Peekskill Landing Park is a great place to set up a picnic or hop on a brunch cruise.
Blue Mountain Reservation has something for every level, like a leisurely nature walk at Depew Park, a summit hike, or the moderate climb along the Ned’s Left Lung mountain bike trail. The Riverfront Green Park features art sculptures and a two-mile trail south along the river to Charles Point Park with a scenic pier. Whether you spend the night and opt for New York Boat Company at sunset or head back, granted, this small and charming Hudson Valley city, 50 miles north of NYC, will quickly become your favorite escape.
Poughkeepsie
Having briefly served as New York's second capital post-American Revolution, Poughkeepsie's eye-catching cityscape makes it one of the state's most charming. Built in 1889, the iconic Walkway over the Hudson, once the world's longest pedestrian bridge, is a sight to behold from a riverfront park and then across. Popular among cyclists, walkers, and joggers, the bridge affords astonishing views over the Hudson River and the surrounding landscape. Many enjoy the view on a picnic at the Upper Landing Park, where there is an elevator.
The larger town rightfully earns itself the nickname of "The Queen City of the Hudson." From scenic chapels to the Quiet Cove Riverfront Park, locals enjoy boating from the marina and riverfront walks along Longview Park. The lively collegiate vibe extends to the vibrant foodie and art scene, plus public grounds with trails, architecture, and scenic spots to relax during the quieter summer months. The historic College Hill Park invites visitors for a stroll along the trails with a columned, Parthenon-like pavilion, a rock garden, and lake fishing.
Roscoe
Roscoe boasts ideal geography at the boundary within Catskill Park on the junction of the Beaverkill River and Willowemoc Creek. Named after former New York State Senator Roscoe Conkling, it commonly goes by “Trout Town USA,” proximate to five of America’s top trout streams, plus lakes and reservoirs. Drawing both new and returning visitors who have fallen for its stacking charms, Roscoe celebrates the season opening over "Two-Headed Trout Dinner."
Great writers like Theodore Gordon fished at the Junction Pool, where the trout still "can't" decide which creek to swim up, thus making for an easy beginner's catch. Whether you are reeling for the "grand slam," brook, brown, and rainbow trout, kayaking, or trying the “Catskill Style Dry Fly” technique, Roscoe Campsite Park is a family-friendly place with cool sleeper wagons and even alpacas on site. The surrounding state forest is filled with wildlife trails and scenic sites like Russell Brook Falls and Dundas Castle, minutes north by car.
Whether exploring the Big Apple or the Hudson Valley in New York, culture and nature historically intertwine along the state's winding rivers. The mighty Hudson starts in the Adirondack Mountains. Explore the Erie Canal in Medina, one of the 19th century's greatest engineering feats.
Pick a town to catch its tail meandering through, and along the way, you can meet it at Lake Luzerne, where President Grant liked to unwind riverside.
