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I'm looking for a town upstate, not too far from NYC, but not too close either. I need trees and fresh air but also a nice, liberal(ish) community and some interesting things to do. any thoughts?? i was wondering about New Paltz.
Not familiar with New Paltz-but it's up there-Ulster County. I'm in the southern part of Orange County bordering N.J. I wasn't going to respond once I saw where it was located, but I already started writing.
In any case, this is what I do if I'm interested/curious about a location: check out the town's chamber of commerce, the town's website, a calendar of events list, the town's local papers on the internet for info on what's happening politically, community-wise, fairs, parades, fund-raisers, crime, school sports..., the visitor's guide, the I Love NY guide.
And of course this site gives you lots of statistics: what do people do for work, how many graduate college, how many rent vs. own, nationalities, churches...this gives you a great idea as to the town's variety-the more varied the more liberal.
Also check out their real estate-how do they describe the neighborhood-because they can only lie but so much. Give them a call and pick their brains for info.
And go there for a visit. Hang out at a local bar or church or park-whatever you're into-and observe. Talk to people-business owners-they know what's going on.
Good luck.
New Paltz is very artsy! They are very liberal as well. They were the first (if my memory serves me correctly) and last NY town to allow gay people to marry. The only other artsy area is Woodstock/Saugerties area(s), but that's across the river and far more rural than New Paltz.
Check out New Paltz on a weekend trip, you won't be disappointed. You don't say how old you are, so I'm not sure what other ammenities you are looking for. Schooling isn't so hot there (primarty thru HS), but college wise you have many easily within your reach. Vassar College, Marist, Ulster and Dutchess Community Colleges, and the Culinary Institute of America.
Thanks guys!!!! Just to give you more info, I'm in my early 30s, in a relationship but no kids yet. so i'm looking for schools for the future maybe but for now, a great community with people around that i'd enjoy getting to know
Here's information on the schools in new Paltz, by the way: https://www.nystart.gov/publicweb/District.do?year=2008&county=ULSTER&district=62110 1060000 (broken link)
We visited New Paltz over the Labor Day weekend. Very liberal, almost has a hippie vibe. Not a lot of galleries, if that's the type of "artsy" you are looking for. The small adjacent towns such as High Falls and Rosendale are similar and Woodstock and Saugerties are nearby. With school back in session, there were a lot of college students out and about in New Paltz, since it is the site of a SUNY university.
New Paltz and the surrounding towns are also very old with many of the historic homes and structures preserved, so in an architectural sense they have a rustic rural New England feel to them.
If you are into outdoor recreation, there is mountain hiking/biking, lots of public wilderness park land, bike-friendly roads and a rail trail plus kayaking and canoeing on the Walkill River. And the Hudson River is a 20-minute drive down the road.
Distance-wise, you are about two hours from Manhattan, just outside of reasonable commuting range, so it fits your "not too close, not too far" requirement perfectly.
this is all really helpful.
does anyone know if there are a bunch of people in the age range of 30s,40s living there? single and/or married.
not just college kids, although there are obviously a ton of those.
i want to meet new, like minded people, but not all college kids!
this is all really helpful.
does anyone know if there are a bunch of people in the age range of 30s,40s living there? single and/or married.
not just college kids, although there are obviously a ton of those.
i want to meet new, like minded people, but not all college kids!
I would think that there would be quite a few staff and faculty that would be in that age range, that you might be able to bond with.
this is all really helpful.
does anyone know if there are a bunch of people in the age range of 30s,40s living there? single and/or married.
not just college kids, although there are obviously a ton of those.
i want to meet new, like minded people, but not all college kids!
Do you enjoy ice storms in Winter and high humidity in Summer? Do you enjoy paying high property and school taxes? Do you find drunk, drugged and out of work hippies to be charming? If you've answered yes to any of these questions you might consider living in the Village of New Paltz.
Do you enjoy ice storms in Winter and high humidity in Summer? Do you enjoy paying high property and school taxes? Do you find drunk, drugged and out of work hippies to be charming? If you've answered yes to any of these questions you might consider living in the Village of New Paltz.
Your point is.....?
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thanks
