Scribner Hollow Lodge
www.scribnerhollow.com
To say that Scribner Hollow Lodge is unique would be an understatement. With themed rooms decked out in Southwest-adobe, hunting-lodge, classic ski-duplex, and penthouse-suite styles, the lodge seems almost kitschy, but upscale comfort might be more appropriate. What makes the lodge so loveable is the modesty that it maintains. The über-accomplished on-site restaurant—worth a trip in itself—has been made famous by food and wine magazines across the country. A bathing suit should be packed for the equally fascinating grotto, an indoor, cave-like heated swimming pool that spills over with waterfalls, Jacuzzis, and a sauna. (There’s also an outdoor swimming pool.) Wintertime is king here thanks to skiing in Hunter. The lodge has partnerships and ski packages for their guests. This would be the optimum time to book that classic ski duplex.
The Rhinecliff Hotel
www.therhinecliff.com
Just a quarter mile from the Rhinecliff Amtrak station lies some fascinating musical history. What began as a restaurant in the late 1800s evolved into a boxcar hub where musicians would come to jam. (Miles Davis is rumored to have been one of them.) The dusty dive sadly closed shop by 2003. Five years and $5 million later, James Chapman and his brother David (who often frequented the seedy joint to drink beers and ponder what it might be like to fix the place up) have restored the Rhinecliff Hotel to historic brilliance. They pay homage to the locals by hosting community events, many of which are in the bar. “The bar is the main hangout, but what’s surprising to people is that it’s a relaxed pub atmosphere, and then all of the sudden, some very serious food hits your table,” James Chapman says. The entire hotel maintains this effort. The rooms are fresh and airy with lovely views. There was a recent article about noise from the train. What did James have to say about the commotion? “The Rhinecliff was built because this town was once a transportation hub,” he says. “We embrace that.” They go as far to put earplugs with an endearing note in each room that states “We love trains.”
The Inn at Stone Ridge
www.innatstoneridge.com
There comes a time when you’re too old for your summer-share house. Or you simply can’t endure another family reunion at a cramped cabin in the Poconos. The Inn at Stone Ridge is the lodging aspirin to your group-getaway headache. “We’ve worked to convert from a traditional b&b to a large guesthouse and are designed for big groups,” says Dan Hausprug, the owner. “Weddings are big here, but anything from reunions to girls weekends is not uncommon. Whether it’s a wedding, family reunion, or group-getaway weekend, the inn can be rented nightly, weekly, or monthly.” Built in 1757 and expanded in the late 1800s, this beautiful Dutch stone mansion lies on 150 acres of grounds. Whomever or whatever brings your group here, know that it won’t be the average vacation. How refreshing to take a dip in the almost 100-year-old swimming pool, have a bonfire, or visit the fully operating orchard/farm to pick apples, strawberries, pears, and stone fruits. If that isn’t enough to entice you, there’s always the tavern.
Beekman Arms
www.beekmandelamaterinn.com
The Beekman Arms has been called America’s oldest operating inn. Built in 1766, the list of powdered-wig-era guests is highly impressive. George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Philip Schuyler, and Benedict Arnold all ate, drank, and slept at the Beekman Arms. From the looks of the common areas, like the Colonial Tap Room, you’d never know much had changed—and that’s a good thing. The open-hearth fireplace, overhead beams, and broad-plank floors look as if time has stood still for the last 250 years. Much of the hotel has been updated and renovated. Yet while the owners have modernized, they’ve maintained the historical colonial relevance, with fireplaces, four-poster beds, cozy quilts, and a decanter of sherry—revolutionary comforts to lull you to sleep.
Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa
www.buttermilkfallsinn.com
Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa has managed to ditch any real “concept” and focus instead on putting an obsessive amount of energy into providing guests with the best possible experience. In fact, when you have an inn with antique-filled rooms, a modern, solar-powered spa, and a small meangerie of animals running wild on the property—it’s hard not to question the idea behind the inn. Every detail is taken into account. The eggs and veggies for your omelet come from the chickens and organic garden on the property, and the honey in your tea is from the on-site bees. The owners also make their own wax for the spa treatments (that spa boasts a new, glass-enclosed mineral-salt pool). And the animals? Llamas, angora goats, and peacocks roam the 70 acres of lush land here, where you’ll most likely see more four-legged friends than your fellow guest (there are only 16 charming rooms at Buttermilk Falls, each with their own whirlpool tub). How’s that for a concept?
