Cresent Dr, Holmes

Crescent Drive is a residential side road in Holmes, hamlet of Pawling. This road forms a half-loop around Route 292, but it reaches out to the shore of Whaley Lake, a partially-man made body of water that, if I'm not mistaken, is the largest lake in Dutchess County (and if not, it's close).

Not every home on this road has a clear view of the lake, but even in the ones that don't, you still get that same snug neighborhood feeling everywhere. Of course, this road is very narrow and looks more like someone's driveway, so keep an eye out for the sign, but at least it's not a dirt road, which does happen in eastern Dutchess County at times. This road takes a relatively steep drop as it heads towards the shore and because of how narrow it is, it can be difficult to navigate at times.

One might think that the houses, especially the ones right on the lake, would be expensive, but to my surprise and possibly yours, I've learned that they're really not too expensive. Property value estimates are mainly under $200,000, with a few crossing over that mark. Keep in mind the following: the houses are zoned very closely together and most of them are quite small, under 1,000 square feet. I wouldn't recommend this neighborhood for folks with growing families or those who need a lot of room, though there are a couple larger houses that might be worth your while.

It's a densely-packed neighborhood, and I'm sure that everyone knows everyone or close to it around here. It's obviously got the scenery angle going for it, as well as the outdoor recreation angle for those who live on the shore. As for everyone else, fear not, because there are other parks in this area. Depot Hill Multiple Use Area is only a short drive from here, and there are golf and game clubs in this town as well. It's a green and hilly area with a lot going for it as far as the outdoors goes.

Holmes is pretty isolated, though. From this side of Whaley Lake, you have to go either well north or well south of the lake to find a direct route to Pawling, the closest settlement. This means it'll take you a while from here to find places to shop, eat, work out, and all of the other things that the village of Pawling offers. You're not close to any major roads, either, so it'll take time to get to Poughkeepsie or Danbury and all of their conveniences, which are far more numerous than those of Pawling.

This isn't a bad place to live at all, though there's little to do that's not outdoors.