The Warwick Valley is glamorous without a drop of diva, civil without a whiff of stuffiness. It’s an enchanted location, near enough to Manhattan to be a seasoned, beloved playground and commuter’s haven yet fated by topography to remain green and farmy. The rich black dirt once called the Drowned Lands was never destined for industrial quantities of blacktop.
There’s free live music at Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery, where you can pick your own apples and pears or taste them transformed into brandy. There’s an entire village, Sugar Loaf, whose raison d’etre is art and craft. There’s Pacem in Terris Sculpture Garden, a “transreligious oasis” where you can hear classical performances and pick up a pack of Buddha Dog postcards. There’s Shalimar Alpacas, where you can snuggle the gentle, lovely beasts and purchase the fine yarns and hand-knit goods spun from their soft, strong hair.
Warwick throws a kickin’ party. Their Apple Fest each year is a community block party that welcomes 30,000 special guests. Their hometown jazz festival went regional several years ago. The Taste of Warwick, the brewfests at Pennings Farm, and the Home for the Holidays celebrations in November and December are likewise epic.
Even when there’s nothing on the calendar, there’s always a bunch going on. In winter, the Mount Peter Ski Area hillside rings with the joyful yelps and laughter of skiers, snowboarders and tube riders. In summer, there’s Greenwood Lake with a swimming beach and several marinas. Fall, of course, is harvest time, and the u-picks, orchards, and farms celebrate with gusto. If you’re staying over, try the Caldwell House B&B, an historic country inn.
Year round, you’ll find top-notch shopping. There are 18th-century antiques and a Victorian-vibe bookshop, country notions, and creations at Frazzleberries, fine wearables of all sorts at Blue, Style Counsel, My Sister’s Closet, and the Hip and Chic Boutique. Whether you’re craving artisan jewelry, art glass, or an eye-popping tattoo and a game of billiards, you’ll find few better anywhere than right here in Warwick.
If you’ve guessed by now that Warwick offers top-notch local food prepared by award-winning chefs, you’d be right. An array of fine pubs (Yesterday’s English-style fare is recommended), sweets, and baked goods at the Candy Apple, Edible Arrangements, the Fizzy Lifting Soda Pop Candy Shop, and more, and cozy pub fare at the 239-year-old Landmark Inn.
Smart and prosperous, yet genuine as the black dirt beneath it, Warwick’s a great place to have a great time.
