Tivoli

Tivoli is a small village in the northwestern corner of Dutchess County which borders the Hudson River. It may not look like very much is there on a map, but there are actually things to enjoy if you live here or visit.

First, Tivoli does not have one issue that most northern Dutchess County towns do: lack of public transportation access. The Dutchess County Loop Bus DOES run through town, and Tivoli is the last stop on the line; residents, if so inclined, could take the bus to Poughkeepsie. I can't imagine it's a short ride, but the option is open. Unfortunately, it does not have access to the Metro North train to New York City and the nearest station for both that and Amtrak is in Poughkeepsie. You'll still need a car to get around from place to place, since not everything you need is located right there in the village, but even with that said, traffic is hardly a major issue (at least it has never been in my experiences).

For full disclosure, there are no medical facilities in town, there is no significant shopping around aside from local businesses (you'll have to do some driving even to get to a supermarket), and good luck finding a gym. The good news is that unlike some of the other northern towns like Milan, there actually are places to go for a night out. Tivoli is home to a few local restaurants, some or most of which are quite respectable. There is also a bar in town, for those looking for that kind of nighttime experience.

There are a few other amenities available, such as a library, nicely-kept town parks, the Hudson River and its views of course, and an inn or two for visitors.

Tivoli is green and quiet while having some of the charms of a rural village. With an art gallery and dance studio also in town, that almost makes it feel a little bit on the trendy side.

Still, there is some level of isolation here, despite the nice setting and the few restaurants in town. The next closest town of consequence is Red Hook, and you'll be driving about 5-10 miles to get there -- and they don't even have medical facilities, major shopping, etc. That'll all be in the Poughkeepsie area. If you don't require those things, then there's no harm in giving Tivoli a look. In spite of that, it has always seemed like a nice place to stop by and enjoy the local charm.