Things to do / Travel Guide
If you thought luxury ended at the tip of Manhattan, think again. Betcha can't find any castles to stay at while in the City! Not to knock Manhattan, but when was the last time you saw extensive and manicured carriage trails leading up and down mountains overlooking the majestic Hudson while there? Or wine routes boasting fine wineries and even finer wines? Or fantastic French seafood restaurants in small country towns? You'll find all these luxury vacation ideas and more in the surprisingly compact region north of the Bronx - the Catskills and Hudson Valley. Let's tempt you, shall we?
Luxurious Accommodation in the Catskills and Hudson Valley
About that castle, it's like this: It's a draw of the region, spotting a castle here and there; some abandoned and burnt out (like Bannerman Castle), some converted into museums (like Olana), some still lived in (sorry, no admittance). One - Castle on the Hudson - converted into the most opulent and majestic hotel where you can have a luxurious stay. They'll treat you like a duke or a duchess at this Tarrytown fortress, built in the early years of the 20th century, and they'll serve you hand and foot; a quiet tower suite grants you the centerpiece of a glowing fire in a wood-burning fireplace. This is opulence at its most opulent.
More fireplaces await at Cornwell-on-Hudson's Cromwell Suites, officially a bed and breakfast, but really much more. Each suite is different than the next, all decorated in appropriate and fancy period styles. Stay at the manor house, built circa 1820, or the Chimneys Cottage, built circa 1765. Unique to this facility is the ability of getting an in-room massage. It's perfect for an escape from New York City, as a place to be pampered in the beautiful setting of the Hudson Highlands.
In the heart of the sheer Shawangunks, but still in sight of the sweeping Hudson, is the mythical and myth-making Mohonk Mountain House. This is the last of the great old mountain houses, built in 1879, for the purpose of reuniting work-weary New Yorkers with nature. This purpose is still in full force, though its clientele has grown with its reputation. Here's another castle-like structure, another place where the best and most exclusive rooms are located in the panoramic turrets. Mohonk's owners have created an Eden, with a multitude of trails to give you a fine sense of your surroundings. Hike them, or ride them in a canopied horse-drawn carriage. On grounds is also an award-winning spa set in nature, where you can choose between massages, yoga, the Pilates method, Qigong, aerobics, and water classes.
Last to show off for this region is Kutsher's Hotel and Country Resort, the last of the Borscht Belt resorts that still exists - nay, thrives! With an illustrious past, seeing the likes of everyone from Wilt Chamberlain to Muhammad Ali, today Kutsher's features pools, ball fields, basketball courts, ice skating, and golf.
Luxurious Dining in the Catskills and Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley and the Catskills is a famous luxury dining region as well, with an assortment of top Zagat-rated kitchens and chefs. Without question, the region's best is Equus, which overflows with select Hudson Valley produce, seafood, and meats. You'll find this restaurant in the Castle on the Hudson, and for this there are important implications: Would you like to eat where France's King Louis XIV ate, in the Oak Room, which was brought over intact from the “old country” when the edifice was built? The Sun King's royal luxury, of course, was legendary.
In the heart of the Catskills, in the rustic setting of the town of Shandaken, lies a string of some of the best French restaurants ever to be established in the New World. Consider La Duchesse Anne, which offers roast duck, rack of lamb, Cotriade Bretone - a fish soup, and more. The furniture and décor are Victorian, the 1920s bar was imported from Harlem - and the chefs and staff are pure French countryside.
Luxurious Activities in the Catskills and Hudson Valley
Luxurious daytime excursions in the Hudson Valley and the Catskills are plentiful. Clear highlights of the Hudson Valley are the two wine trails, on either side of the river. The more illustrious of the two is the Shawangunk Wine Trail, which includes Brotherhood Winery, the oldest winery in the U.S., and Adair Winery, a regional favorite. The wines from Adair Winery are top-quality and are a treat for your senses, but not necessarily your standard fare: white wines are from Seyval Blanc and Vignoles grapes, while the reds are of the Foch and Millot hybrid varieties.
A fabulous adventure awaits for those who take a flight in one of Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome's authentic bi-planes. With the wind in your face, these open-air planes will give you a whole new perspective on flying. Buzz over the beautiful countryside, over the Shawangunks, over the Hudson - Rhinebeck is one of the only locations in the world where you can fly one of these planes.
The Catskills offer the visitor more than just scenic sightseeing and tasty French food: There are numerous antique stores throughout, and you can find many a treasure in these roughs. At Rick's Barn Antiques in Roxbury you choose from a wide selection of outdoor iron works, while at Mystery Spot in Phoenicia you can find the most dizzying array of knickknacks as well as the very valuable.
The Hudson Valley and the Catskills is that perfect mix between affluence and the rustic. Where else can you find castle hotels, top French restaurants in the middle of the mountains, or 1920s planes flying free in the 21st century? So make the journey, just half-an-hour outside of Manhattan, for a scene that will spoil your senses and leave you waiting for your next trip outside the City.
Luxury Vacation Ideas in Woodstock, Cooperstown, New Paltz, Catskills and Hudson Valley
Luxury-Vacations
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