Warwick | Photo by Francesca Furey
Hugging the New Jersey border in pastoral Orange County is the peaceful, friendly town of Warwick. Home to hip boutiques, restaurants, breweries, cideries, and wineries—and only a ten-minute drive from the historic, artistic community of Sugar Loaf—it’s no wonder locals love it.
The village features a charming, easily walkable Main Street. Check out the shops and then tuck into one of the many eateries, from the vegan Conscious Fork to The Rusty Goat sandwich shop to Eddie’s Roadhouse—a popular spot for craft beer and an elevated American menu. For something sweet, get the made-to-order mini donuts at Dream Donuts or the famous “Will You Marry Me?” cherry pie from Noble Pies.
One of Warwick’s many treasures is Pine Island, the largest community in the state’s black dirt region (some of the richest farmland in the country) and home to Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery, plus many farms that sell products at the Sunday farmers market.
Locals describe Warwick as very family-friendly and appreciate the tight-knit community. Children attend schools in the Warwick Valley Central School District, ranked 98 out of 672 Best School Districts in New York by niche.com.
There’s no shortage of things to do on the weekends between Warwick County Park, the 730-acre Wickham Woodlands, and Mt. Peter ski center—the oldest operating ski area in the state, with 14 trails and a 600-foot tubing run (see page 26 for more info). When the weather warms up there’s hiking, biking, swimming, golf, and more. New Jersey Transit provides direct bus service to Manhattan—but with so many reasons to love Warwick, you may never want to leave.
WHAT THE LOCALS SAY
Michael Johndrow
Executive Director, Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce
The vibe: Warwick is a vibrant community with a quaint, historic, and lovely, walkable downtown. Our residents are very engaged and take advantage of all we have to offer, from apple picking and hayrides in autumn, skiing and horse-drawn carriage rides in winter, farmers markets and kayaking in the spring, and outdoor concerts and art exhibits during the summer.
Michael Sweeton
Town of Warwick Supervisor and long-time resident
Hidden gems: Our many parks—especially the spectacular Wickham Woodlands which is home to the sports complex Hudson Sports, Drowned Lands craft brewery and many other new corporate businesses. I would also say visiting the many beautiful farms that offer fresh food, family fun, and a taste of country life are certainly a special experience.
Cheryl Rogowski
Owner of Rogowski Farm; chairperson of the Warwick Valley Farmers Market
Why I love it: I’ve never left it! What makes Warwick so special is how much residents appreciate and treasure our farming community. Back in 2011 when Hurricane Irene pretty much obliterated us, this community came together, created our own mini Farm-Aid event and raised thousands of dollars to support local farmers. It was just amazing.
