<p>Happydad will have a job interview in this part of NY in the next few weeks (date still being negotiated). Where to stay? What to see? Any real estate advice in case an offer comes through?</p>
<p>I’ve cleared space in my in-box for PMs.</p>
<p>Beacon is a neat place to explore - has a lot of interesting shops/food places along the town’s largest street. They also have a glass-blowing store/gallery where you can see demostrations and even do a one-hour or so class. That place is amazing!</p>
<p>Cold Spring is also a nice place to just walk around - antique stores, quirky local stores, etc. It has some good hiking trails nearby too!</p>
<p>My brother lived in beacon for about 20 years. His wife’s extended family and my precious nephew and his beautiful wife still live there. They have been very happy. Restaurants, things to do, easy trip to Manhattan. The real estate costs are not very high. Rhinebeck is pretty close. I think it is a wonderful area and wish you all good luck!</p>
<p>Tried to PM you but need at least 15 posts to send a private message. I think this is my 15th, so I’ll try again.</p>
<p>Ruthie58 - posts in the Parent Cafe do not count toward your post count.</p>
<p>Hmm, apparently posts in Parent Cafe don’t count towards the 15. I can’t fathom a reason for this policy but anyway…have lived in Cold Spring for many years. The Hudson Valley is very beautiful and livable, if you don’t mind snow. Lots of hiking and other outdoor activities - also cultural stuff in Cold Spring, Beacon, Peekskill. CS is a real village where people know each other. There’s a cluster of chain hotels in Fishkill. Beautiful not-cheap B&B in Cold Spring, the Pig Hill Inn. Check out DIA museum in Beacon if you like extremely contemporary art (it’s a beautiful building even if you don’t).</p>
<p>There is a lovely old hotel in the center of Rhinebeck – the Beekman Arms. I stayed there in 1971 overnight as a teenager traveling with a slightly older friend and her over-21 brother for a equestrian event. I so clearly remember the price of the room being $7 per person. It’s many moons later and while the place was lovely then, it’s spectacular now and priced accordingly. </p>
<p>That whole part of the world is nice – not too far from the big city, but out of the hustle and bustle. That said, Fishkill has a lot of big box shopping and many new housing developments.</p>
<p>Try to go to the 84 Diner…I think it’s in Fishkill. It is fabulous! There is a hotel right behind it, but I don’t remember the name. It is very near rt 84.</p>
<p>Thumper, when my grandfather died my family got together to celebrate his life at the 84 diner. Very cool place!</p>
<p>Ha… I went to hs in Poughkeepsie. The thread title brought back memories of the train conductors rattling off station names 
</p>
<p>A little bit north in Poughkeepsie is this fun attraction - a railroad bridge turned into a walkway (and state park too). Over the past few times my dad has walked it more than 200 times. He never tires of the view.
[Walkway</a> Over The Hudson](<a href=“http://www.walkway.org/]Walkway”>http://www.walkway.org/)</p>
<p>You could also reserve a meal at the CIA in Poughkeepsie. [The</a> Culinary Institute of America Restaurants](<a href=“CIA Restaurants - CIA Foodies”>http://www.ciarestaurants.com/)</p>
<p>Cold Spring is fun to visit and has some lovely old houses in neighborhoods with sidewalks, Garrison is very elegant in a rural, quietly privileged way, Peekskill has been a poor relation for decades but recently has seen some improvement in its very architecturally interesting downtown. There is at least hourly train service to Grand Central from towns as far up the river at least as Garrison and probably beyond and it is a beautiful ride on the MetroNorth Hudson division. Where you will decide to live will depend on your taste, and I would imagine there is a wide range of budget niches available. School districts will vary but you may not longer find that relevant since you are a CC-er.</p>
<p>I am not a fan of Pig Hill itself but grant that it is nice to be in downtown Cold Spring for a night. I would would recommend/prefer the Garrison for food and ambience. Rhinebeck is lovely and the Beekman Arms a classic but you are considerably farther upriver with more driving.</p>
<p>Did the walkway over the Hudson a few weekends ago. Want to go again when the leaves are in color. Another thumbs up for Rhinebeck. Lovely little village with some very nice shops and restaurants. Last time i ate lunch st the Beekman is was just so-so but I prefer cafe’s so YMMV.</p>