A few years back, four very small rural Central New York villages joined forces to unite in an effort to bring success and fun to their area. The villages are Afton (Chenango County), Bainbridge (Chenango County), Sidney (Delaware County), and Unadilla (Otsego County). Each of these historic places, each just 5 miles from each other, sit along NYS Rt. 7. This highway brought much traffic through the area until the “big highway’, Interstate 88 was opened a half century ago. With that, and pass through traffic diverted, these villages Main Street’s began a long struggle.
With this unique collaboration called “4Towns Forward,” each village shares and supports the others in activities, goals, and ideas, while still retaining their own unique profile. When there is a large village wide garage sale, all are supportive of it. When it comes to scheduling Christmas parades, collaboration makes it so that none compete. When a large country music concert is scheduled with a top name act, all the towns are involved. New businesses are wooed to the whole four towns, not just one specific one. And believe it or not this works!
So now, looking at the 20 miles between the four towns, a clearer picture of the riches they all offer together comes to light. And we are talking places to eat and enjoy! There are more than two dozen great places to dine across “4Towns Forward” and this gallery shines the light on many of them. Starting our journey in Afton and ending up about 20 miles later in Unadilla, you will find on this list cute as a button coffee shops, award-winning pastry shops, classic 50, 60, and 70 year old diners, Asian restaurants, Italian pizzeria’s and restaurants, and even one of the best small authentic German/Bavarian restaurants in Upstate New York (wait until you see the photo of their Bavarian “Tree Cake.”)…