Cold Spring

The small village of Cold Spring, located in the town of Phillipstown, is one of the most pleasant and beautiful areas in Putnam County. The streets lined with colonial-style homes, combined with the mom-and-pop style shops and the natural beauty of the Hudson River Valley make Cold Spring an incredibly charming place. This charm, however, frequently attracts tourists from Dutchess and the rest of Putnam County which can be frustrating for residents. The fact that Cold Spring is far from any major interstates also means that all of these tourists and commuters are forced onto route 301 and 9D, which can make travel difficult. Especially if you need to travel away from Cold Spring for work or school, this could be a detriment. Conveniently, the local train station offers service to New York city. For art and nature lovers, though, there's seldom a reason to leave Cold Spring. The main street is full of art galleries, specialty shops and antique stores. The dining choices in Cold Spring are also excellent and varied, whether you want a casual cafe, ice cream or something more elegant. The best part is that all of this can be walked to. Unfortunately, though, parking can be a major problem in Cold Spring and can place you several blocks from where you actually want to be. When you do manage to find a spot, though, it's easy to forget the stress of it and become lost in the place even if you chose to just sit by the river. There are also frequent outdoor concerts and festivals on the weekends, especially during the summer. People who crave more modern distractions though, such as movie theaters or national chains will be forced to drive to Fishkill or another nearby city. Cold Spring is generally safe and is known for having a good school system but all of that convenience and charm comes at a much higher cost that other areas in Putnam.

With majestic views of the Hudson River and a vibrant main street that serves as the hub of the community, Cold Spring by far epitomizes the local spirit necessary to any municipality. Mom-and-pop shops, local food places and thrift stores compose most of the village's downtown area; however, one can easily access "commercial stores" like Wal-Mart, Shop Rite and Kohls in neighboring Dutchess County via Route 9. Once regarded as a place with empty storefronts and no way to sustain itself economically, a review in the Hartford Courant that went international turned this sleepy village into a bustling tourist destination for those living in New York City. Today, Cold Spring attributes most of its local economy to those traveling north, especially on the weekend during the warmer months. This is made possible by Metro-North's Hudson Line, which can also help you easily escape for a day trip down south. In fact, it's one of the largest producers of sales tax revenue in Putnam County, with many city residents spending their money in Cold Spring's stores and restaurants.

There's a specific beauty about Cold Spring unlike many of the other towns and villages in Putnam County. Scenic views of the Hudson River open up to rolling hills and miles and miles of state land, most of which resides in the Hudson Highlands, an extension of Clarence Fahnestock State Park. A beautiful waterfront gazebo set with benches and a marina make any day almost picturesque, rain or shine. I worked at Fahnestock for years, and I can say there's no better place to go hiking, biking and swimming in the region.

The one downside to living in a tourist destination are what one expects it to be: tourists. Main Street gets pretty busy on the weekends with a swath of New York City socialites looking to get a taste of "country life." This also makes shopping a bit expensive, and you'll need to travel into Dutchess County to get a little more variety. County services are located nearly 35 minutes away in Carmel, accessible by Route 301. The lack of commercial influence, however, makes the community more local-centric, so if you don't mind taking a 15 minute trip north for the necessities, Cold Spring is definitely the place to go.