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You can find this 2-3 hours away if you look hard enough.
We stayed somewhere recently that wasn't even that far from Peekskill---maybe 20-25 minutes---and we had some crazy drive to get to this place---we had to drive a few miles in on a dirt road to get to this property which was completely secluded surrounded by acres of forest. I was surprised given how close it was.
Sounds nice. If you find something like that, keep it quiet!
What’s “country” to you? Or to the OP for that matter? For example what type of area is a place like Livingston Manor in the Catskills? You can still be within a few hours of nyc but in a small town, village, or hamlet that’s surrounded by nature with waking distance to hiking and fishing.. I was assuming this is what the OP was asking about.
If you’re thinking of the type of “rural” that’s on a farm or in a forest or the mountains with no one else for miles, that’s different. My mom grew up in a rural and remote area way in the Deep South. Literally only one store in the entire town (back then and still today). If that’s the only thing you consider “country” then yeah, you’ll have to go much further for that level of remoteness.
No, I would consider the Catskills "country", too, although I don't know what Livingston Manor is. But that's not an hour from NYC. Two hours from NYC you hit the exits on the Thruway that take you to the Catskills.
I wasn't trying to argue over how far you have to go to find the country, really, as much as I was pointing out to the OP that a cabin in the woods will be pretty hard to find in the 1 - 2 hour time frame he is looking for, and I was also considering the time it takes to get out of the NYC metro area. You don't leave the city on a weekday afternoon and find yourself whizzing along at 65 - 70 miles an hour in wide-open spaces. Unless one plans to always leave late at night, the extra time needed to get through densely populated and high-traffic places like New Jersey or Westchester and Rockland Counties have to be taken into consideration.
When I hear someone say, "one or two hours from NYC", I think commuting distance/suburbs, not a vacation spot.
As a sidebar, this thread made me think of something. There's an fairly affluent suburban town northwest of the city called Oakland. The Ramapo River runs through it, and occasionally the river floods. There are smallish houses in the flood zone, and they are the least expensive in town for obvious reasons.
Those houses were originally summer homes along the river for New York City residents. They are an hour's drive from the city, probably more since some of the highways weren't yet built. There was once a train that could be caught out of Hoboken, but passenger service on the line stopped in the 1960s.
It is just interesting to think that a place in Bergen County was 60 - 70+ years ago considered a summer destination for New Yorkers.
No, I would consider the Catskills "country", too, although I don't know what Livingston Manor is. But that's not an hour from NYC. Two hours from NYC you hit the exits on the Thruway that take you to the Catskills.
I wasn't trying to argue over how far you have to go to find the country, really, as much as I was pointing out to the OP that a cabin in the woods will be pretty hard to find in the 1 - 2 hour time frame he is looking for, and I was also considering the time it takes to get out of the NYC metro area. You don't leave the city on a weekday afternoon and find yourself whizzing along at 65 - 70 miles an hour in wide-open spaces. Unless one plans to always leave late at night, the extra time needed to get through densely populated and high-traffic places like New Jersey or Westchester and Rockland Counties have to be taken into consideration.
When I hear someone say, "one or two hours from NYC", I think commuting distance/suburbs, not a vacation spot.
As a sidebar, this thread made me think of something. There's an fairly affluent suburban town northwest of the city called Oakland. The Ramapo River runs through it, and occasionally the river floods. There are smallish houses in the flood zone, and they are the least expensive in town for obvious reasons.
Those houses were originally summer homes along the river for New York City residents. They are an hour's drive from the city, probably more since some of the highways weren't yet built. There was once a train that could be caught out of Hoboken, but passenger service on the line stopped in the 1960s.
It is just interesting to think that a place in Bergen County was 60 - 70+ years ago considered a summer destination for New Yorkers.
But you can find that within 2 hours (well let’s say within 2 1/2 hours) of nyc. I don’t know where the OP is leaving from within nyc but once you clear the congestion of the city boundaries it’s a quicker ride to points further north.
Livingston Manor is in Sullivan county in the Western Catskills. Current drive time (according to google maps from where I am in BK) is 2 hrs 15 mins.
We had the same idea and bought a little place in Sullivan County last year. If you want true rural, where you are surrounded by woods, lakes, some rolling farmland, and near a beautiful river (the Delaware), but still 2 hours or less from NYC, look no further. You can also find some great restaurants, nice farmer's markets, and a sprinkling of cultural events, but the real glory here is in nature. The area is increasing in popularity, but there are still plenty of super affordable little places around -- especially if you're willing to take a fixer-upper or an older/smaller property. We bought in the Eldred/Yulan area and couldn't be happier. Take a look. Other areas I would recommend in Sullivan County: Barryville, Narrowsburg, Callicoon, Jeffersonville, Bethel.
We did look at other areas around NYC, but everywhere else within 2 hours was either way more expensive or way too built-up, or both. Sullivan County and a few pockets of Orange County were the only places we found where we could actually buy some acreage/privacy without spending a fortune.
Good luck! I hope you find your cabin in the woods and love it as much as we love ours.
What’s “country” to you? Or to the OP for that matter? For example what type of area is a place like Livingston Manor in the Catskills? You can still be within a few hours of nyc but in a small town, village, or hamlet that’s surrounded by nature with waking distance to hiking and fishing.. I was assuming this is what the OP was asking about.
If you’re thinking of the type of “rural” that’s on a farm or in a forest or the mountains with no one else for miles, that’s different. My mom grew up in a rural and remote area way in the Deep South. Literally only one store in the entire town (back then and still today). If that’s the only thing you consider “country” then yeah, you’ll have to go much further for that level of remoteness.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Airborneguy
I got married in Livingston Manor.
Aw so much mention of Livingston Manor. My grandparents had a piece of property there many years ago.
At one time I would have loved to get a little house in the woods too, but I'm jaded now. I wouldn't want to spend the time and money on upkeep for a property that isn't my primary residence or a source of income. But I'd love to see some links if anyone's got some! I don't want a real cabin in the woods, but I'd take a vicarious one.
At one time I would have loved to get a little house in the woods too, but I'm jaded now. I wouldn't want to spend the time and money on upkeep for a property that isn't my primary residence or a source of income. But I'd love to see some links if anyone's got some! I don't want a real cabin in the woods, but I'd take a vicarious one.
Ooh...Thank you jad2k. I especially like the milkbarn and ice house. Those are beautiful. I'll droolingly look over that whole site later.
The ice house seems like a great price too. I like how they give those properties little names. I've got to think of a name for my house. Maybe the hole in the pocket house...
Aw so much mention of Livingston Manor. My grandparents had a piece of property there many years ago.
Same here, right by the covered bridge. That’s how we came to be connected to the area. My father and I are there frequently. The first time I showed it to my wife, she agreed that’s where we had to have our wedding. We did it at the foot of the bridge.
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