New York's Charming Village Along The Hudson River Has Scenic Parks And A Historic Octagon House

New York City might be famous for its towering skyscrapers and busy streets, but just north of the city in the Hudson Valley are peaceful riverside villages full of astounding natural beauty and historic charm. If you're looking for a way to escape the bustle of New York for a day, the suburban village of Irvington is a quick train ride away. 

From Grand Central Terminal, one of the most beautiful train stations in the country, you'll be in Irvington in under an hour. Here in Westchester County, Irvington is home to kind and friendly people, green spaces along the Hudson River, and one of the Hudson Valley's most unusual homes.

Before Europeans settled in Irvington, the area was home to the Wecquaesgeek Indigenous people and later became farmland for Dutch and English colonists. Many wealthy and prominent figures built their country homes in Irvington during the Gilded Age, as the town was easily accessible from New York City. All over town, you can find historic homes and buildings, such as Odell's Tavern, which was built in 1690 and used for crucial meetings during the American Revolution. Yet among all its historic structures, one stands out for its unique design: the Armour-Stiner Octagon House is an eight-sided mansion that may be the only one of its kind in the United States.

The Hudson Valley is full of fascinating buildings, including the historic Bannerman Castle set against breathtaking scenery outside Cold Spring, New York. Irvington has its own marvel, the eclectic Armour-Stiner Octagon House built in 1858 by Paul J. Armour, a local financier. The house's two-story design was likely inspired by an 1848 book, "A Home for All," in which author Orson Squire Fowler argued that octagonal houses offered more space and more sunlight. 

The home was then bought by tea-importer Joseph Stiner, who added two more floors in the shape of a dome, as well as an iconic wraparound veranda. The structure went through several owners before being fully restored with a stabilized dome and Stiner's 1870s aesthetic.

The home is now privately owned but has been open to the public for tours since 2019. The tours last about 45 minutes and take visitors through three of its four floors. While tickets for a basic tour start at $38 per person (as of this writing), they also host seasonal events like Halloween-themed tours and interactive ghost stories, and a Victorian Christmas celebration. Inspired by the Stiner family's appreciation of the arts, the Armour-Stiner Octagon House welcomes a resident local artist to display their works among the house's original furnishings each year through its Visiting Artist Series.

Irvington is also home to public parks and picturesque river walks. Scenic Hudson Park was transformed from an industrial site into a riverside green space with views of the Manhattan Skyline and the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. In the park, visitors can meander along a mile-long pathway and picnic on the banks of the Hudson River. There are also two playgrounds and green space for children to play. 

Visitors can also head to the 251-acre Irvington Woods, which is home to local wildlife such as deer and several species of birds. Around the property, you can hike and bike a 3-mile perimeter trail, passing remnants of old estates, the O'Hara Nature Center, and the Irvington Reservoir.

All along the Hudson River, trails pass through towns like the charm-filled Harrison. The village of Irvington also happens to be part of several different regional trail networks, like the Old Croton Aqueduct Trailway. The trailway is 41 miles long, leading from Croton, New York, to New York City, along the site of an old aqueduct used to transport water. The car-free path passes by Irvington's famous sites, including the Armour-Stiner Octagon House and Mercy College. As a town along the Tiffany Trail, you can also find an assortment of Tiffany stained glass, mosaics, and tiles around Irvington, like in the Town Hall Reading Room and at the Irvington Presbyterian Church.