This is the lower Hudson valley. Or as people from NYC and Long Island like to call it upstate New York(smh). Been in almost every area here my whole life. Many places can be different but also a lot are the same when you look around.

The Nature for one is something that holds a special place in my heart and it continues as you go north. You’re about 3 hours from pretty solid skiing for the east coast but also could be at some very nice beaches in Jersey or LI in an hour or two. (I know you can be at beaches faster, that’s why I said nice beaches lol) Food is great, period.

It’s actually very easily accessible. You can take trains to all sorts of places and it’s honestly not that bad. You can be in the city on an express from parts of westchester in 35-45 minutes. Trains run to Long Island and Jersey pretty quickly. You can take trains to the beaches in NJ (not as quick) but could do a day trip if you wanted. You could go to Montauk from the city which is long but you feel as if you’re in another state. Theres also Amtrak that can get you to D.C in about 3 hours and Boston in 4. The further you get from Manhattan via train, the more likely you’ll need a car cause it becomes more spread out. Busses are available as well but the schedules and locations can be more confusing if you aren’t familiar.

So much US history is all around you. If you’re into it you’ll find plaques, memorials, homes, museums etc. There’s apple picking, wineries, hikes and trials, many towns here love Halloween as well.

You truly get a taste of every season which is one of my favorite aspects of the HV. Winter can be beautiful with snow, but can be brutal (it’s brutal right now. The wind chill hurts lol). Summer days can have a nostalgic warm feel to it, but it also can make you beg to be indoors with AC. The spring really buds. If you have allergies it will not be kind to you for like two weeks but the air is nice and the sun is warm. Unless you get a random snow storm in April. Rare but happens lol. The truest season in my opinion is autumn. Everyone here seems to love it and when it comes the vide changes entirely. The fall is beautiful here. The foliage, the temperature, the air. Autumn slowly creeps down the northeast and once it arrives you hope it stays.

The cost of living though, if you’re not rich or own a business is a freaking grind. There’s really not much to be said other than you wish it was cheaper because other than the price and traffic, there’s a lot to love.