Wandering Through Beacon

By JANELL MALDONADO

People in the community of Washingtonville can often be heard using the following phrase: “There is nothing to do.” Perhaps that is because not many of these people have traveled outside the town of Washingtonville. Beacon is a not so well known cute little town just 25 minutes away from Washingtonville and you would be surprised at all the fun things you can do.

It’s funny how you can live in a place for years and never fully appreciate the gems hidden just outside of it. That was the case for me when I decided to take a spontaneous trip and discover the town of Beacon for the very first time. A friend had introduced me to the small town for the first time and I fell in love with all of the things I discovered.

What made Beacon stand out to me was its small town charm. The locals were insanely nice and the scenery was clean and beautiful. There were record stores, bagel shops, flower shops, antique shops that sell little trinkets and jewelry, donut shops where you can customize your own donuts with toppings of your choice and crazy stores with the weirdest and randomest toys and gadgets. You can also meet people with the most interesting stories.

Beth George, the owner of a small business called “Bagel-ish” exclaimed, “My friend Frank Mauro, a bagel industry veteran, encouraged me to become a bagel business consultant. In 2013, Frank and I created BYOB BAGELS, a bagel business consulting company. Since that time, Frank and I have been helping individual entrepreneurs across the United States and around the world build independent bagel businesses. My love of all things bagels continues with the creation of Bagel-ish.”

Beth went on to mention that she started with helping her children address health issues with better nutrition, and that she focuses on producing delicious offerings made only with natural ingredients.

Tatianna Gomes, a fellow Beacon lover stated, “I really love the atmosphere of Beacon. The second you turn on to main street you see all the local small businesses that the town supports. The inclusive environment is what makes me excited to spend my day there. From the tasty donuts at glazed over to the amazing palestinian food at Ziatun, seeing all these small businesses flourish is what makes me love going to Beacon.”

By the end of the day, Beacon had shown me exactly what makes small towns like it so special—the blend of nature, art, and community that leaves you feeling recharged and inspired. Whether you’re wandering the streets, exploring the stores, or enjoying the sweets, Beacon has something for everyone. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best way to experience the world is to slow down and experience the simplicity of a small town. If you ever find yourself in the Hudson Valley, a day in Beacon might just be the perfect new adventure.