New York's Hamlet With A Scenic Park, Lake, And Small-Town Charm Is A Serene Escape From The City

The Hudson Valley area, extending northward from New York City, is home to many of New York's most beautiful small towns, and some of them are in closer reach from the city than you might realize. Within an hour, you can find yourself in a village that feels more like small-town New England than a big-city suburb. There's Ossining, for example, a village known for its hillside views and quaint shops. If you were to look directly across to the west side of the Hudson River from Ossining, you'd see a state park that's part of another gem of the valley: the hamlet of Congers, and that park, Rockland Lake State Park, is one of its wonderful, scenic anchors.

Congers is modest in size, with a population that hovers close to 8,000, and you might characterize its landscape as "wet": the small hamlet has four lakes in its borders, flanked by DeForest Lake on one side and Rockland Lake on the other, plus the ever-rushing river forming its eastern limit. As such, it's been nicknamed "The Hamlet by the Lakes," and the lakes' surroundings also provide ample opportunity for hiking and water sports. The village center, meanwhile, supplies an array of bars, restaurants, and historic buildings to explore, some dating back to the early 19th century.

If you're driving from New York City to Congers, you're in for a treat: You can reach the hamlet in just under an hour by car from Midtown Manhattan by following the Palisades Scenic Byway, a Hudson Valley route boasting great skyline views. By public transit, you could also take a bus from the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal and arrive at Congers in about 1.5 hours.

Once, there was a train that stopped in town, but it discontinued service in the 1950s. The old station, built around 1880, has been restored, and its encompassing plot turned into a public park. The upper level of the former station doubles as the Congers History Museum — the museum has free admission but somewhat sporadic opening times, which it announces on its Facebook page. One of the museum's more interesting displays contains two ice-cutting saws, relics from the hamlet's once-flourishing ice industry that harvested ice from Rockland Lake.

On one side of Congers Station Park, stop by the Last Chance Saloon, an oddly Old Western-looking dive bar in a building from 1867. The building was originally the Globe Hotel, providing lodging for travelers passing through town — it now provides them with a drink. Several other options for food and drinks are clustered around the park, within walking distance of each other. Christy's Cafe is a classic American diner that's built its reputation over more than 25 years in business. The Station Kitchen and Bar is a relaxed dinner spot with a 4.7-star rating on Google reviews.

While you're in Congers, make sure to explore at least one of its lakefront parks. Rockland Lake State Park, on its eastern riverbank and containing Rockland Lake, is a beautiful spot to walk or bike with views across the Hudson, open to visitors with a vehicle fee. Among some of its amenities are tennis courts, picnic tables, two golf courses, a boat launch, and a swimming pool with water slides that's open during the summer, though the park can get notably crowded in the summer, particularly on weekends. Another option is Congers Lake Memorial Park — some parts of the park are restricted to town residents only, but the peaceful walkway around the lake is open to the public.

A unique place for Congers visitors to discover is the historic Dr. Davies Farm. The farmstead has been around since 1836 and has been run by the Davies family since 1891. The farm is particularly active in the fall season, when it hosts hayrides, a corn maze, and apple picking with 27 different types of apples. Apple picking is open daily for the season, and you just have to pay for an apple bag, which counts as your entry ticket. If you don't make it for the autumn activities, you can also stop by its farmstand, which sells farm-fresh products daily.