Upstater

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We’ve had a lot of requests to profile places you can escape to without a car. So how’s this one? I’ve driven by it a zillion times since it’s two seconds from the Rhinecliff Amtrak station and perched right on the Hudson. This means great views, even if the house is a humble 60’s ranch with wall-to-wall carpeting and some dour olive paint. Decently-sized, though, with three beds and two-and-a-half baths, washer/dryer and a dishwasher (my idea of heaven). You can walk to the newly shmancy Rhinecliff Hotel (delicious) or the Chinese restaurant (never eaten there, but an amazing location along the railroad tracks) for dinner, or bike into Rhinebeck (aka the Hamptons of Dutchess County) for groceries. The big questions is: what will you do with that garage if this is your car-free getaway? (More local info on the jump)
If you’re looking for area activities, try this NY Mag roundup (mistakenly insinuating that you can get to Rhinebeck carless-ly, perhaps confusing Rhinecliff with Rhinebeck), or this listing on the Rhinecliff’s site. Here’s a great piece on buying a country house there in 1979, and the town’s slow evolution.