Tarrytown

On the east bank of the Hudson River, Tarrytown has a bustling downtown with a rich artistic history. In the mid-1600s this Westchester County village was settled by the Dutch, who called it Tarwe, which means "wheat." Filled with boutiques, antiques shops, art galleries, restaurants, bed-and-breakfasts, and beautiful parks, Tarrytown is a popular tourist destination whose most famous son was Washington Irving, considered the first American writer to make a living solely from his work. His classic works include Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. (Sleepy Hollow is the neighboring village to the north.) Irving's house, Sunnyside, is a popular attraction.