Tucked between the Taconic Parkway and interstate 84, south-central Dutchess County sits at a scenic and convenient crossroads of the Hudson Valley. Access to main arteries offer not only easy access to the commercial centers of White Plains, Poughkeepsie and the greater New York metropolitan area, but quick travel to the trails, art attractions and agri-ventures lately giving this little part of the world big attention.

The county's southern midsection is composed predominantly of two towns, Beekman and East Fishkill—the latter including the better-known hamlets of Hopewell Junction and Poughquag (pronounced "po-kwaygue"). Country roads of older farm estates weave through newer neighborhoods of modern, suburban homes with half-acre lots. The region's rolling hills look practically painted to autumn motorists, adding a layer of inspiring mysticism to life here.

   
Barton Orchards keeps the region's rural roots very much in its present. (Images: Barton Orchards/Facebook)

Volunteers operate the Hopewell Depot Museum, a highlight along the 13-mile Dutchess Rail Trail that, in addition to showcasing
local artifacts, hosts arts and crafts fairs and other events throughout the year. (Image: Hopewell Depot Museum/Facebook)

The area's vast amount of open space has enabled new developments to complement rather than compete with its surroundings, leaving its soul little changed. Beekman's Taconic Hills, an 18-home new construction enclave by Rieger Homes and O’Donnell & Sons, is the latest example of a neighborhood sprouting from the meadows to frame this bucolic landscape. Environmental considerations were top of mind throughout its construction; each residence is emphatic of high-efficiency Energy Star systems, top of the line insulation and Low-E windows to reduce their carbon footprints and bestow upon buyers drastically reduced operating costs.

Residents of the area have no shortage of perks. Apple orchards, long a staple of Central Dutchess, have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity with the area's influx of new residents heading north from Westchester or New York City for square footage value. Minutes from Taconic Hills and other newer communities is Barton Orchards, one of the Hudson Valley's largest, boasting a corn maze and year-round farmer's market baking fresh, divine doughnuts and piping hot pies. Fishkill Farms in Hopewell Junction is practically a name brand, drawing a frenzy of fall visitors from Beekman to Brooklyn. Then there's Sprout Creek Farm, a sustainable dairy spotlighting its award-winning cheeses along with milk, eggs, meats and produce straight from the source. You don't have to drive far to find a roadside farm stand, either, making the local bounty accessible for everyday home cooking. After all, even the local highway rest stop here is locavore-friendly.

Beekman's Taconic Hills, a new construction community tucked into the rolling Central Dutchess landscape,
frames its timeless and scenic surroundings with environmentally-conscious residences on generously-sized lots.

All that countryside also affords serious opportunities for outdoor recreation. Hopewell Junction sits at the head of the popular Dutchess Rail Trail, a paved 13-mile run connecting with Poughkeepsie's Walkway Over the Hudson. Both routes, once a historic railroad right-of-way between Danbury, CT and the Hudson's west shore abandoned in the 1970s, couples to create one of the most extensive bike trail networks in the Northeast. Local lakes and reservoirs provide opportunities for fishing and kayaking, with the Hudson River only minutes away. Best of all, the greatest city in the world is still well within reach.

Learn more about Dutchess County | Explore Taconic Hills at Beekman