athens ny

This posted originally ran on July 25, 2014. It has been updated.

Today, we want to show you around the Hudson River village of Athens in Greene County (west of the Hudson, about 2.5 hours from Brooklyn). It’s a worthy destination for a serene Memorial Day weekend getaway or a visit any time.

We went there just to explore the waterfront park since its recent upgrade, and overall, we came away feeling quite charmed by it all, even if Athens seems to suffer from that same eerie weekday quietness that other places around here do, as if the whole town is waiting for something to happen.

There are lots of empty storefronts with “for rent” signs in the windows, almost no cars driving around, and we encountered only two other people out walking. There is, however, a brew pub that emits the most tantalizing malty fragrance for two blocks surrounding its location, not to mention the most charming outdoor dining area on the waterfront that is connected to the historic Stewart House boutique hotel.

Other stuff we discovered on our jaunt: Athens has a town pool, a huge cemetery, and tons of great houses. Take a visual tour of the town after the jump.

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Athens Waterfront Park on the Hudson River

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Stewart House Hotel, Athens

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Hudson River at Athens Waterfront Park

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Athens Waterfront Park Band Stage

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Stewart House Hotel outdoor bar

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Stewart House Hotel Bar before opening

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A view of the Stewart House Hotel from the bar

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Copper staircase in the Stewart House Hotel lobby

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2nd Street, Athens village

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One of many pretty houses in Athens

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Grape arbor, Athens

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A Contemporary home at 61 Pine Point Road is on the market for $599,900

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This Second Empire home at 1695 Route 385 has well preserved interiors and is asking $925,000

Interested in seeing more of the real estate market in Athens? Check out the Brownstoner Upstate listings.

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