Town & County: All the Charm of Bedford, NY

Bedford is famous for its equestrian heritage, which makes it the perfect place for Courtney Caverzasi. The CEO of the equestrian lifestyle shop Ride (648 Old Post Rd., 914.234.7433) has been a lover of all things horse-related since her mother let her take her first classes at age 12. With a mix of horse farms, sprawling country estates, and small cottages, the affluent Westchester town just over 30 miles northwest of Manhattan offers residents an idyllic mix of town and country that Caverzasi describes as providing a “cosmopolitan country lifestyle” for residents. “It’s a beautiful little town with some celebrities, but you’d never know it. It’s not about flash,” she says. “You can miss it if you blink.” —by Katey Clifford Courtney Caverzasi BOUTIQUE FINDS Part of the town’s charm lies in its boutique shops. (You’ll find no big-box stores in Bedford.) A favorite of Caverzasi’s is Consider the Cook (26 Green Village, 914.234.8880), an accessory store for kitchen essentials that stocks fun accents and unique home goods. FARM-TO-TABLE Bedford Post Inn Fresh foods are plentiful, thanks to the area’s rich farmland. “You can go to award-winning restaurants all in a 15-minute drive,” Caverzasi says. Truck (391 Old Post Rd., 914.234.8900) serves New Mexican cuisine in a casual setting; she loves their menu of grass-fed and sustainably raised meals, and seafood with a fresh catch of the day. Bedford 234 (635 Old Post Rd., 914.234.565 6) has a “really cool vibe” with “amazing food” sourced from local farms, and the Bedford Post Inn (954 Old Post Rd., NORTHEAST 914.234.8808) has three different restaurant spaces on its grounds that serve southern French cuisine, patio-focused drinks, and upscale American. It’s a beautiful little town with some celebrities, but you’d never know it. It’s not about flash.—Courtney Caverzasi HIKER’S PARADISE A quick drive down Old Post Road will bring you to Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, popular for hikes and leisurely strolls. Other favorite hiking spots include the Guard Hill Preserve, with 76 acres of wetland, where you might hear black-and-white warblers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, and Baltimore orioles. Another scenic spot is the Mianus River Gorge, with three miles of hiking trails and 936 acres of preserved land. COUNTRY LIVING Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts No piece about Bedford Village would be complete without a mention of horseback riding. You can ride at Sunnyfield Farm (787 S. Bedford Rd., 914.234.781 4) and Coker Farm (69 Stone Hill Rd., 914.234.3954). Also well worth a visit is Muscoot Farm (51 NY-100, 914.864. 7282), a kid-friendly, early 20th-century farm museum that offers historical tours. For apple picking, try Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard (130 Hardscrabble Rd., 914.485.121 0 ), just outside Bedford. “They have food trucks and pizzas and a beer garden every Friday night,” says Caverzasi. Also on the Bedford border is the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., 914.232.1252), a live-music venue with exceptionally beautiful grounds that make an inviting backdrop for a walk. Find your next home in Westchester county today.