Venture out of New York City up the Hudson River to a peaceful spot where you can enjoy art, hiking and old-fashioned small-town charm.
Nestled in the southern Hudson Valley, Nyack is a charming town bordered on one side by the Hudson River and the other by hills and forests. Its bucolic setting has served as the inspiration for generations of artists.
Start your day in Nyack with a walk through the well-maintained Oak Hill Cemetery. Look for the final resting places of iconic writers and artists including Carson McCullers, Ben Hecht, Edward Hopper and Helen Hayes. Several groups sponsor walking tours of the town led by enthusiastic and devoted locals, who are sure to give the inside scoop. Explore Nyack’s Memorial Park, which hosts a music series in the summer, and peek inside the butterfly garden.
If you’re more independent, stop at the Edward Hopper House for a map with a self-guided tour of Edward Hopper’s Nyack. The house is the boyhood home of realist painter Edward Hopper, Nyack’s most famous son. He is best known for his painting Nighthawks. Learn more about his art and his childhood, as well as the history of the town, in a charming setting. The gardens are lovingly maintained by a local society. In the summer, enjoy the live jazz concerts that are an evening focal point of the local community.
Appreciate the beauty of nature in this lovely spot adjacent to the Hudson River. Head to Nyack Beach State Park to stroll or bike along the Hudson or launch a kayak or canoe. Bring food to use on the picnic tables to turn it into a marvellous day out. The adjacent Tallman Mountain State Park provides hiking adventure on the Palisades Interstate Park system. Travel down the Old Erie Path which runs about 3 miles (5 kilometres) to nearby Piermont.
Reach Nyack by car in 1 hour from Midtown Manhattan or take the train to nearby Tarrytown and then taxi across the river to Nyack. The community is an ideal daytrip out of New York City.
