Bedford

With historic homes, horse farms and country estates, Bedford is a quiet escape into the country. Three distinct hamlets—Bedford Village, Katonah and Bedford Hills—make up the Town of Bedford.

This village of about 2,000 has a small stretch of shops and restaurants and older homes on relatively small lots. As you venture out, you’ll see a lot more breathing room between residences plus an abundance of open fields, tree-lined roads, and stone walls.

Neighbors love to picnic together on the Village Green and meander down the Indian Hill walking trail. There’s also the impeccably maintained Bedford Village Memorial Park, complete with pool, and the stunning Bedford Golf and Tennis Club, which has roots back to 1891.

You’ll find 150 miles of riding trails crisscrossing the town. Hundreds of members of the Bedford Riding Lanes Association, a nonprofit that dates back to 1920, work with landowners to keep them in tip-top shape.

Though Bedford is famous for its multi-million-dollar manors and celebrity residents (who include Martha Stewart, Ralph Lauren, and Glenn Close), you can still find a few more affordable colonials and ranches suitable for first-time buyers.

The village hosts everything from family camp-outs in the park to town-wide clean-up days. One of the hamlet’s most beloved characters is a 500-year-old oak tree, which is fiercely protected by residents and lovingly maintained by the local historical society.