ONE of America's most stunning and quaint small towns lies less than 50 miles north of its biggest and most bustling city. The idyllic village of Cold Spring , New York , nestled along the Hudson River, is just over an hour by train from Grand Central Station but feels a world away from Manhattan. As the train snakes along the east bank of the Hudson, the noise of the city disappears and the pace of life slows down.
Getting off the train you are deposited onto Cold Spring's beautiful Main Street, lined with cafes, antique stores, bookstores, and B&Bs. I stayed in the charming Cold Spring Hotel, run by local character Jimmy. When I arrived, and after learning I was from London, he asked which soccer team I supported, and although he hadn't heard of my team - Fulham - on learning they had won that day, he quickly gave me a free gin and tonic "to celebrate.
" READ MORE TRAVEL EXCLUSIVES It was that same mix of charm and friendliness that I experienced throughout my stay in Cold Spring. Split Rocks Bookstore is one of many wonderful and distinctive independent stores on Main Street. Doug's Pretty Good Pub is the only bar on the street and offers a welcome respite to weary hikers after a day up in the hills above Cold Spring.
I had the Nutty Hog burger with a patty, bacon, cheese , and peanut butter, which sounded like it shouldn't work but did. Most read in Travel A round-trip ticket on the Metro-North train from Grand Central will cost about $30. But depending on when you travel - and if it's during rush hour - that could increase to about $40.
The scenic train ride along the Hudson River will take just over an hour. Alternatively, the drive from New York City is just over an hour on average. Although Cold Spring's location has been inhabited for hundreds of years, its history really began in 1818 when industrialist Gouverneur Kemble created the West Point Foundry opposite what would go on to become the US Military Academy at West Point.
The location was key to its success - just up the river from New York City , the verdant forests provided sources of timber for fuel, while the surrounding mountains contained ore. And the foundry's growth was turbocharged by the outbreak of the US Civil War when it became one of the most important sites for the Union, producing some 2,000 cannons and 3 million munitions shells. It seems impossible to believe now, walking through the silent woods at West Point Foundry Preserve, but thousands of laborers toiled in dangerous conditions at one point.
In the 20th century, the foundry's fortunes faded and after being sold several times, the buildings were abandoned and crumbled. Later, a battery factory opened by the Hudson and pumped toxic waste into the river, rendering the area an environmental hazard. But from 1995, when a major environmental cleanup mission was launched, the site of the old foundry was gradually transformed into a natural idyll.
Today, wild rabbits leap between the ruins of the foundry, and wild marshes have sprung up where once the waters were uninhabitable. But walking among the remnants of this crucial site feels like stepping back in time into America's past. And hiking through the nearby Hudson Highlands State Park feels like a step even further back into prehistoric America, with more than 8,000 acres of woods and hills offering spectacular views of the Hudson Valley.
Read More on The US Sun Cold Spring is a true breath of fresh air and the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the big city. And with an off-peak round trip of just $30 from Grand Central, you can get out for less this fall..
