I Heart NY

Went to Rhinebeck, New York with my family this past weekend to see the fall foliage (though we went a bit early this year). It's become an annual October family tradition with my folks flying in from Miami...they long to see the seasons change!

This post isn't as much about this weekend spent, but more about recommendations compiled from the past few years relaxing upstate. Though we've been to the Adirondacks, we tend to stay in the Catskills or Hudson Valley regions which are closer to the city. It's a great & easy way to escape for the weekend and be around nature!

Places to stay:
If you're into renting houses or cabins from rich people with 2nd homes (I'm just jealous!), take a look at Home Away. It's a site where the owner's feature their homes, so you rent from them directly. This is one of my favorite resources with lots of pictures, details, and no agent fees. There's also A House Around the Bend, which we've also used before, but their listings are in more remote areas and you have to go through an agent. If you want to stay at a B&B or resort, Buttermilk Falls Inn, is lovely! Definitely on the romantic side, you can either stay in the main house, or rent larger suites on the property. Views of the Hudson River, a spa, small hiking trails on the premises, home cooking for breakfast, and great treats for afternoon tea are some of the wonderful perks. In the vicinity, there's also Mohonk Mountain House, which is a huge beautiful Victorian castle resort (however, not pet-friendly) with a brand new spa and a big lake to hike around. You really don't even need to leave the premises (ever) since there are so many activities to do, like ice skating in the winter. If you're into things "rustic" or that "old charm" feeling with newlyweds and family reunions....this is the place for you! Don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful time. Both Buttermilk Falls Inn & Mohonk are close to the town of New Paltz which has wineries, apple picking, and places to go antiquing, as well as, by Dia Beacon. The B&B I'm curious about is Beekman Arms, simply because I noticed it while we were in Rhinebeck. It's in the heart of town with cute restaurants, cafes, and antique shops nearby. If anyone beats me to it, please let me know what you think!

Hiking:
A nice park & nature preserve that is worth strolling through is Hyde Park, which consists of several historical sites and hiking trails. It's extremely well maintained with all kinds of historical info and things to see, such as the Vanderbilt Mansion & Gardens and the Roosevelt Home & Museum. Another trail worth walking is Poet's Walk Park, which has a serene combination of open fields and woodland (we saw deer!). You also get views of the Hudson River, the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge, the beautiful Catskill Mountains. The entire trail is only about 2.5 miles, so no excuses. Anyhow, there are too many trails & waterfalls to mention in these two regions, but the above are the ones we went to most recently. Also note, if you want to see some art while being out in nature, there's Storm King Art Center, a big sculpture park featuring work by famous artists. It was recommended by a friend, so we still have yet to go!

Other tips:
We typically cook when we go upstate (it's easier with the dogs), even though there's plenty of places to eat. If you prefer to cook, I would suggest either hitting a grocery store and stocking up on some things before you go (especially if you are in a more remote area), or locate a grocery store in the town you're going to in advance. We lucked out with a Super Stop 'n' Shop this past trip! If you have pets, I would go ahead a locate the nearest animal hospital and vet while your at it (learned this the hard way). With that said, do as much research as you can before you go since internet service (as well as phone) might be scarce or non-existent depending on where you are. Definitely locate the nearest town and make sure that it isn't too far if you decide to rent something deep in the woods....seriously.

For more info on all of the above and more, see the below links:

http://www.scenichudson.org/
http://www.travelhudsonvalley.org/
http://www.visitthecatskills.com/
http://www.hudsonriverheritage.org/

If anyone has other recommendations or suggestions (especially pet-friendly) please email me or leave a comment.