moodyxel

Northwest Yonkers is ideal for commuting in to New York City. There are two train stations in the area, Greystone and Glenwood, and are easily walkable. The views of the Hudson River are beautiful, particularly at sunset, and there are plenty of spots to take in the view. Unless of course you are lucky enough to live on the waterfront. Untermyer Park is right on the river and is not your typical park. It was formerly the gardens of a huge mansion that was replaced by the hospital. You can expect to find walls, statues, fountains, and a gazebo. It's fun to explore even though it may not sound like it.

Towards the border between Northwest and Northeast Yonkers is Sprain Ridge County Park. This park is massive and has lots of trails and a swimming pool. Many Yonkers residents flock here in the summer.

The houses in Northwest Yonkers vary greatly but the ones directly on the water are Victorian era and stunning.

There are lots of shopping and restaurant options in the north end. You'll have no problem finding what you're looking for especially with New York City so close.

Unfortunately the school system in Northwest Yonkers isn't very good. Typically Westchester County schools rank high but Yonkers falls short.

Shenorock started as summer community so the houses are a little close together and centered around the lake. Unfortunately, the homeowners association that runs the lake can't afford its upkeep and it has become unsuitable for swimming. There is talk of turning it into a park which would increase the property value and improve the community as a whole. Right now the lake is the only source of recreation but due to its current state is only used for fishing.

The homeowner association had always been something that united the neighborhood but now there are a lot of mixed feelings about the fate of the lake and it has caused some strain on the community.

It's a very quiet area with no commercialization. There is only one pizzeria within its borders and no shopping. On the weekends people usually find entertainment in bordering areas and there is a golf course at the southern tip of Shenorock though technically it's outside of the neighborhood.

Shenorock uses the Somer Central School district which ranks well and students seem to enjoy it there. The high school is close in the neighboring town of Lincolndale.

There isn't any childcare in Shenorock which is a little inconvenient.

Jefferson Valley is a blue collar neighborhood that is ideal for people looking for a good school system and a little space. It's part of the Yorktown school district which is ranked well. The music program is great especially in a time when many are being discontinued due to budget cuts. The sports teams are also top-notch. It's a little reminiscent of a college campus and and allows students to learn and grow. That's exactly what I want out of a high school even if it isn't necessarily the best in the state; test scores will only get you so far.

There's a 33 acre park in the northeast corner of Jefferson Valley called Sparkle Lake Park. In the winter when it freezes over there's ice skating and during the summer it's open for fishing and swimming. It's nice just to take a picnic up there once in a while. There's a little trail less than a mile long that goes around the lake.

On the other end of the spectrum is the mall located right in Jefferson Valley. It's really convenient to get shopping done and has a good variety of stores. There's also a movie theater which is the extent of nightlife in the immediate area but still makes for a great Friday night outing.

Yorktown Heights is beautiful and spread out with lots of woodland and farmland. The Teatown Lake Reservation is close and has 730 acres to hike and explore. There's another 300 acres between the Turkey Mountain Nature Preserve and the Kitchawan Preserve so you can imagine the kind of scenery resident's of Yorktown Heights wake up to every morning.

It's a great place to raise kids. The school system here is solid and the teachers do their best to modify their curriculum based on each child's needs.There's a little museum on the top floor of the Yorktown Community Cultural Center which recreates some of the history in the area. It's very small and just a curiosity for adults but kids seem to enjoy it. Adjacent to the Cultural Center is a gazebo where an annual summer concert series is performed.

I can't say that Yorktown Heights is the most exciting place in the world but it is full of some friendly and kind people. There's a mall in town which is a nice change of pace from the woods not to mention convenient. It's a little too far to commute to New York City every day, about 20 minutes to the nearest train station then a 45 minute ride, but it's still close enough for the weekends.

Valhalla is a very hilly village, like most of Westchester County, and affords views of the rest of the town as well as the surrounding nature.

The Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, and Westchester Community College are all located here so it's convenient for anyone attending those schools.

The Kensico Reservoir is also located here and is great for fishing; you can catch a few different kinds of trout and bass during certain times of the year. Even if your not into fishing it's worth taking a look at the dam. It's a public park, Kensico Dam Plaza, and sometimes the village shows movies here during the summer. This is also a favorite place to host events like Mamapalooza. It's a little cheesy but if you live right in town it's worth taking the trip to listen to the music and soak up some sun.

Mount Pleasant is also right next door to use their community services since Valhalla is technically a village within Mount Pleasant.

The people are friendly here and the homes are pretty and well maintained. The only gripe that some people have is that they can hear planes overhead from the nearby airport at times. Apparently it happens infrequently and many people aren't effected by it.

Tarrytown is a really cute town with pretty buildings and houses. There is some great food in town. Lefteris has some of the best gyros for miles around.

There's a strong sense of community here and everyone is very friendly. You feel welcome from day one. Every third friday of the month the town organizes a community event. The events range from scavenger hunts to face painting to music and markets. The goal of these events is to get people to interact with each other. I love that the town does this from a visitors standpoint but I can see that it benefits the residents even more. It's also great for local business because they often get to showcase their foods or services. Whoever thought this up was clearly a genius. It stimulates the local economy and the community's wellbeing.

There are so many historic sites in the area too. Sleepy Hollow, formerly North Tarrytown, is right next door and is home to Washington Irving's former residence and his gravesite.

It's really the kind of place that you have to see to believe. It doesn't have overly impressive houses but the feeling there is indescribable. The mixture of history, nature, community, and the smell of firewood make it almost magical.

Pelham has some beautiful houses and a neighborhood feel that make it a wonderful place to live. It has its own government but shares its high school and middle school with the slightly ritzier Pelham Manor. The schools are top notch and are easy to get to.

You really feel like you belong to a community here. It's very walkable which is important to me. Most working residents commute into New York City, it takes just under 30 minutes by train, and those that don't take full advantage of its close proximity on the weekends. The people who live here want to have the best of both worlds; the exciting life of New York City and the quiet small town home where everyone knows each other.

If you go on vacation it's common to let the police station know. They make sure to keep an eye on your house but there isn't much crime here anyways. You'll find that your neighbors are obliged to keep watch as well. There are block parties pretty frequently and it's very easy to meet people.

I can't think of too many people who wouldn't like Pelham. There are some great restaurants in town and the only thing that may be lacking is the nightlife. Even if there were more nightlife here I would still go in to New York City, there's more variety and no driving involved.

Hastings-on-Hudson, as you may have guessed, is located right on the Hudson River about 30 minutes away from New York City. It's a very nice town to walk around in and not as ritzy as some of the other towns in this area. People often will wave hello to you and it just adds to the quaintness of this little village.

The history of Hastings-on-Hudson enhances the community. There is a self-guided walking tour of the historic sites in town, a total of 34 stops, to get you well aquatinted with the village's background. There's also an art studio featuring works from the Hudson River School of Painting. It's really no surprise why artists flock to the villages along the Hudson when you see places like Hastings-on-the-Hudson. Take a look at MacEachron Waterfront Park and Kinnally Cove to see what I mean. There are also some nice trails if you follow the Old Croton Aqueduct Trailway.

There's some nice shopping in town, most of which are locally owned. The restaurants along the Hudson are really great and its nice not having to drive too far for a Friday night meal.

There isn't much crime in the area and the schools are well rated. There are lots of extra curricular activities for kids to get involved in and the teachers are very good.

Most people would agree that Dobbs Ferry is a pleasant and pretty village. The community is very warm and welcoming; I can't imagine newcomers having trouble meeting new people. There are several events organized by the recreation department that are great to attend when you're new to the area.

If you're into fitness you might want to look elsewhere. There aren't any gyms in the area so you have to either install one in your home or do your cardio the old fashioned way: outside.

The schools in Dobbs Ferry are good, on par with the surrounding area. I think some areas of Dobbs Ferry use the Ardsley school system which is known to be slightly better.

The Hudson River offers some really beautiful views from the shoreline that the village will be revitalizing over the next few years. I think aesthetically they're just planning on giving the walkways and benches a face lift but I know a portion of the money will go toward protecting the shoreline from erosion.

There are some great restaurants in town too with a decent variety. Half Moon on the Hudson is a local favorite. It has fresh menu options but the main appeal is it's located right on the Hudson River. Very tasty and romantic.

Ardsley has a great school system. The classes are kept small so every child gets the attention they need to really learn. The teachers are very intuitive and adapt their teaching style to the needs of their students. There's even a great after school program.

The biggest downside to Ardsley is it doesn't have a train station, you have to go to one of the surrounding towns. Unless you take the bus you have to drive to one of the other train stations and try to find parking. I say "try" because chances are you won't be able to. Driving to New York City is a better option for most people.

There's also not a community pool but if you live in Ardsley proper you can use the Greenburg pool which is very nice. To add to the growing list of things Ardsley does not have, there isn't a town center with shopping and restaurants. However, what it doesn't have can easily be found close-by so it really isn't as bad as it sounds.

The parks are nice but not overly impressive. There are quite a few small parks dotted around the village and Ashford Park has tennis and basketball courts.

Ardsley does enjoy one of the lowest crime rates in the area which is a big factor, for me at least, when deciding to move.

Tuckahoe is a refreshing change of pace from it's surrounding villages. Many towns in this area feel very uptight and unwelcoming but Tuckahoe has many of the same amenities without the attitude. Community is really important here and you can easily find ways to interact with new neighbors. If you go to the Tuckahoe website you can see the calendar for local events, there's a mother-child playgroup almost every day in addition to things like "weight watchers" meetings.

The school district is very good and students and parents alike seem to love it. It is very small but considering the standard of education most don't find this to be a problem.

One of the things that Tuckahoe shares with its more pretentious neighbors are the high taxes. This is only to be expected and is tolerable for the quality of life you get in return.

It's rumored that some members of the police department are corrupt but I've never witnessed anything of the sort. Not to mention Tuckahoe probably has one of the lowest crime rates in the state; it's about one sixteenth the national average. I would consider that an indication that the police must be doing a pretty good job.

Of course the commute into New York City is very easy, about 30 minutes.

Mount Kisco is a great fit for anyone looking for a quiet town with a shopping district. The crime rate is very low and it's far removed from big cities. One of the drawbacks to the quiet life is that there aren't very many community activities. There are several clubs but most of them are small or organized by the library and school. It's a shame because the people are quite friendly; there just aren't many mediums to meet your neighbors.

The food options are pretty good. Of course there is the local pizzeria and the usual chain restaurants like Applebees and Friendly's. Then there are the gems like the Pour Cafe and Wine Bar, which offers some great tapas in a cozy setting, and Cafe of Love. Some of the restaurants in town are even Zagat rated.

The downtown area is probably Mount Kisco's best feature. It has a great mix of clothing stores, book stores, and restaurants. It's surprising to see well-known brand names next to locally owned stores but it's part of the appeal. The shopping area is very pleasant to walk around in but expect to drive almost everywhere else. The good part is although the downtown area is quite built up you'll find open green areas elsewhere.

Bedford is split into three areas: Bedford Village, Bedford Hills, and Katonah. There are three libraries, business areas, and two school districts in town but there is no separation in governing the areas. It can be a little confusing for a newcomer.

The layout isn't the only odd thing about Bedford. The prices of homes vary greatly depending on the location. Real estate ranges from affordable homes to multimillion dollar mansions. There are several celebrities that have bought or considered buying property in Bedford.

There's a dog park in town open to residents in addition to several other parks offering recreational activities like tennis, swimming, and ice skating. If you love nature or have a dog it's a great place to enjoy the open air. However, if you crave a social scene this may not be the place for you. There aren't many community activities, although the neighborhood is friendly, and if you're moving from a more built up area you may find Bedford a little dull. As with many towns in this area, a car is an absolute necessity. It's a five to ten minute drive just to get into town. If that doesn't bother you then you'll love the variety of housing available. Many of the houses are historic and have their own unique style.

I used to visit Sleepy Hollow at least once a year around Halloween. If the name reminds you of a certain book featuring a Headless Horseman then you'll love this village even more.

When I was a kid it was called North Tarrytown but about 15 years ago the village decided to change the name in honor of their most famous resident: Washington Irving. This is the perfect town for writers, historians, or those looking for a rustic home close to New York City. It's right on the Hudson River and retains its old town charm with an abundance of trees and historic houses.

Apparently there is a significant population of illegal immigrants here but most residents agree that they are a part of the community and do not take away from the village's appeal. It is also one of the safest places in the county with a very low crime rate.

If you're considering moving here I highly recommend visiting. There are plenty of historic sites to explore and trails to walk so your day will be well spent.

As you can imagine, Halloween is a big deal here and the village is very festive during October. It's just another contributing factor to why Sleepy Hollow feels so warm, friendly, and communal.

There are quite a few problems with Mount Vernon. First and foremost is the gang presence. There are four known gangs in the city which contribute to the high crime rate. Unemployment has been increasing over the last few years and is higher than most other cities in New York. Many residents are below the poverty line and there hasn't been much improvement. Because funding is tight and proposed budgets are usually denied the school system is struggling.

There is a silver lining to Mount Vernon although it may not seem like it when looking at the statistics. The northern end of the city, Fleetwood, is actually quite nice and enjoys a small town feel. The elementary school here is well liked and many say that it feels as though you're in a whole different city when compared to the southern end.

The city as a whole has many shopping and eating options but are catered to the needs of the residents, normally lower-end stores. You'd have to travel into one of the neighboring towns to do any serious shopping.

There are two very distinct sides to Mount Vernon and as long as you stay on the right side of the tracks you may find it a pleasant city.

First I have to say that New Rochelle is a fairly expensive place to live. There are lots of gated communities and multimillion dollar houses throughout the city and you would have to make upwards of a hundred thousand dollars a year to live comfortably in one of them.

However, if you're willing to give up the backyard and live in a condo then the prices are quite affordable, especially when you compare them to nearby Manhattan.

I often find that upper class communities are home to people cut from the same cloth but in New Rochelle it's different. It's a diverse city where everyone is accepted.

There's a great selection of restaurants in town with a good mix of chain restaurants and independent eateries specializing in all kinds of cuisines.

Another major plus for the city is its abundance of parks and green spaces to explore. The geography of New Rochelle is a little unusual but the city has certainly made the most of it. Many offshore islands were turned into parks like Glen Island and Five Islands Park. Hudson Park even has a sandy beach along the Long Island Sound.

The most incredible thing about it is you can have all of this beautiful open space, a waterfront property, and still be close to New York City. I guess there is a way to have it all.