The great estates are also part of the fabric in the Upper Hudson Valley, the most pastoral segment of the region. The simple beauty of the landscape was a perfect complement to the Hudson River school of painters and the Shakers, who established one of their largest communities in the area east of the Hudson, near Chatham; today, there's an excellent museum and library dedicated to the Shaker legacy in this part of the valley. Revitalization of towns in this once-grand and later rundown region has been a struggle, but has now taken root in several villages along the Upper Hudson. Best known is the small city of Hudson, which has exploded as an art and antiques (and dining) destination, but tiny and unassuming Tivoli, tucked into the east bank of the river, has developed its own lively restaurant scene.
