Straight out of a Wes Anderson film, Germantown is a peaceful community so picture-perfect it almost seems art-directed. Largely undeveloped, the Columbia County town is situated just about 100 miles up the Hudson River from Manhattan and boasts an impressive amount of river frontage, affording its westernmost residents breathtaking water views with Catskills shadows in the distance. You’ll find gingerbread farmhouses, spacious estates, and a pint-sized village with but a single stop sign. There’s an eco-conscious laundry, a century-old market that serves as the go-to meeting place, and a farm-to-table tavern that draws many here for the first time. Outdoor activities run aplenty — there are miles of scenic roads to bike, and hiking the grounds of two nearby historic sites, Clermont or Olana, always hits the spot. Whether you’re looking to be a digitally detoxing weekender or full-time homesteader, one sunset might be all you need to decide and plant down roots.