An easy train ride from New York City, Beacon is an up-and-coming artists’ community that has risen from the ruins of industrial decay, with Main Street at its heart. Near to the Hudson river and scenic Highlands, this is a great destination for arty and outdoorsy types.
On more than 30 acres (12ha) of land near the banks of the Hudson River, Dia: Beacon houses the Dia Art Foundation’s permanent collection from the 1960s to the present, and curates regular special exhibitions and new commissions. Housed in a former Nabisco box-printing factory, the industrial building features sprawling open spaces and abundant natural light, making the unique 300,000sqft (28,000sqm) brick, steel, concrete, and glass structure a perfect complement to the museum’s exhibitions.