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Photo Cred: Mohonk Mountain House and Compass + Twine
In the heart of the Catskills and 2 hrs from NYC, the Mohonk Mountain House is one of the most unique and relaxing places for a weekend getaway. Founded in 1869 by Albert Smiley as a 10-room inn, the property has expanded to include 600 rooms on a sprawling estate. Despite its growth in both size and popularity, the mountain house maintains a timeless charm and continues to be owned and operated by the Smiley family. This year, Mohonk Mountain House was named one of the 100 best hotels in the world by Travel and Leisure.
The mile long one-lane entry road to Mohonk hugs the edge of the mountain, and you can just feel your stress slip away as you wind along. Suddenly, the trees clear and a huge Victorian-style castle-like estate emerges before you. Built on a lake looking out onto the Hudson Valley, it truly is a magnificent sight to see.
Disconnect from the buzz of reality and reconnect with nature here. Everything from the guest rooms to the activities offered reflect the raw beauty of the surrounding Hudson Valley. The rooms are modestly decorated and you won’t find a TV atop the dresser. With a location like this one, you’ll want to spend your outdoors. During the day, relax on the beach or go for a swim in Lake Mohonk. Activities about the mountain house; they offer rowboats, paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards. You can purchase fishing gear at the dock as well. Oversized trout are just waiting to be caught in the nearby streams.
The property includes a golf course, several tennis courts, and in the winter, an ice rink. If you’re traveling with kiddos, Mohonk has a long list of daily activities to keep them busy while you check out the spa. The spa is a destination of its own, having been named one of the best in the country on multiple occasions. The hiking trails surrounding Mohonk are reason alone to visit. They are challenging, fun and will reward you kindly with the most beautiful views of the Hudson Valley when you reach the top. We highly recommend the Lemon Squeeze trail, which is really more of an exhilarating rock scramble, and promises plenty of thrills and lookouts along the way.
Reservations include all your meals, meaning you don’t have to worry about a thing once you’ve arrived. They offer plenty of dining options, including a fun casual cookout. The best dinner we experienced was in the formal dining room. While they request you to dress up in this dining room, the meal was excellent and definitely worth the extra effort of tossing in a nice outfit. Finish your evening in the Carriage Lounge, where the bartenders know how to whip up a mean martini, served along with the best popcorn ever.
Featured Photo Cred: Booking.com/span>
