Hastings-On-Hudson, NY
Were it not for the spectacular view of the George Washington Bridge spanning the Hudson River with the Manhattan skyline backdrop, one would find it hard to believe that the charming village of Hastings-on-Hudson was a mere half hour train ride to Grand Central Station.
The Village has a fascinating history with many distinguished artists, performers, writers and scholars who contributed to its cultural past and present. Among its many resident artists was famed Hudson River School of Painting artist Jasper Cropsey. The Village is home to a museum dedicated to Cropsey located in his former residence and studio. Also on the Newington Cropsey Foundation grounds is the Cropsey Gallery of Art behind the James Harmon Community Center.
Main Street illustrates harmonious blending of old and new which may be one reason Westchester Magazine honored Hastings-on-Hudson with its 2008 Best Main Street award. Several circa 1900 structures coexist well there with the James Harmon Community Center, a beautifully reconstructed building that opened in 2007 and the 25-unit Riverton Lofts condominiums, a state-of-the-art “green” building that opened in 2008.
The Museum in the Streets is a self-guided walking tour created by the Hastings Historical Society. It contains 34 historic sites with attractive signs describing each of them, two centrally located maps, and brochures with the map available in many shops to lead visitors along the route.
The Old Croton Aqueduct Trailway that meanders through Hastings offers a serene place to hike and take in the scenery.
Picnic at MacEachron Waterfront Park or launch a kayak from adjacent Kinnally Cove and enjoy the magnificent views of the Palisades, the Hudson River, the George Washington Bridge and the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge and the Manhattan skyline. More information is at www.hastingsgov.org.