Catskill punches above its weight for a village of its size. The main draw is the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, where the founder of the Hudson River School lived and painted — it is one of the most significant art-history sites in the country. Beyond Cole, the village has a compact main street with working galleries, antique shops, and a handful of good restaurants. The Catskill Creek runs through town and meets the Hudson at the southern edge of the village, offering easy waterside walks. The Rip Van Winkle Bridge carries Route 23 across the Hudson and gives excellent views up and down the river. For a full day excursion, Olana — the hilltop estate of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church — is just across the river in Hudson.