Nestled between the Hudson River and the Berkshires, two hours north of New York City and thirty minutes outside of Albany, Columbia County’s rural beauty is matched only by its historic sites and rich, cultural scene.
With rolling hills, river views, and charming villages featuring Dutch Colonial stone houses and renovated farmhouses, Columbia County is the perfect place for a 21st-century city dweller with 18th-century tastes to look for a second home or vacation property. Case in point: This 4-bedroom modernized farmhouse in Ghent, NY, set on 53 private acres with spectacular Catskill views.
Hudson: County Seat and Urban Gem
Named after the Hudson River and described as Upstate’s Downtown, Hudson, NY, is the county seat of Columbia County. It’s a lively and eclectic urban gem, a former industrial town refurbished as an arts and antiques center. Hudson features 300 historic buildings with architectural styles spanning the last three centuries. Warren Street, the city’s mile-long business district, boasts over 50 antique shops and is one of New York State’s premiere antiquing centers. In fact, the city has such an esteemed reputation for antiques, a “Hudson look” has developed over years. Galleries, unique retail shops, farm-to-table restaurants (fish and game is a standout), and a thriving arts and music scene make Hudson one of the most vibrant small towns in the country.
A County Steeped in History
Columbia County is well known for its idyllic beauty, but that doesn’t mean it’s all cow and barn country. The area has over 50 public heritage sites, including the Hudson Athens Lighthouse, Shaker Museum and Library, Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, Olana State Historic Site (the home and art studio of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church), and Edna St. Vincent Millay’s Steepletop house and garden.
Where Farm-to-Table Is a Way of Life
Farm-to-table isn’t a trendy slogan in Columbia County; it’s a way of life. Long before urban transplants discovered the area, local chefs, foodie artisans, and eatery enthusiasts embraced a rustic, everything-from-scratch ethos. Estimable restaurants, world-class farmer’s markets, bakeries, food trucks, and bistros with Michelin star-worthy tasting menus are found throughout Columbia County’s rural communities and main streets. One such farm-to-table standout is Grazin’ Hudson, a modern diner that sources most of its food and ingredients from Grazin‘ Angus Acres in Ghent, NY.
