This fall, we are all about a good weekend getaway. Fall is my favorite season in New York, and I love the crisp air, great fashion and leaves changing color. It reminds me of hiking outdoors, apple picking and hayrides.
So, each weekend, we’ve been getting away to great spots three hours or less from Manhattan. (You can read our other posts here and here) On a recent weekend, we were lucky enough to stay at a place that’s been on my travel bucket list for quite some time: Mohonk Mountain Resort.
Located in New Paltz, New York, this upstate retreat is an oasis for busy Manhattanites looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city to relax and enjoy nature.
Mohonk is set on a 40,000-acre plot of land with beautiful mountains, lakes and gardens that make you forget you are even in New York, let alone just an hour and a half from Manhattan.
So, let’s start with the price tag. Yes, it’s steep. Rooms are around $800 per night, but, it includes all of your meals, which is substantial. The dining at Mohonk is great quality, so you should bake that into the equation. Also, the use of all of their amenities is also included, and there are tons of them. The whole point of going to Mohonk is not having to leave it at all because there is so much to do and see on the premises.
From the second you walk into the hotel, you feel welcomed. The entire outside of the hotel has an enormous wraparound porch overlooking the lake with dozens of rocking Adirondack chairs that look so inviting. We quickly picked up their daily calendar of events when we checked in and started plotting all of the activities we would set off to do.
First, we started with a hike. There are 85 miles of hiking at Mohonk with different levels of difficulty and just stunning views. Naturally, we opted for the hardest hike, hoping it would double as that day’s workout.
The hike we did was called the Labrynth, and it is definitely not for new hikers. Most of the trail is giant rock, which means you are scrambling and climbing for most of the hike, using both hands and feet. Parts of the hike were extremely steep and challenging, and it culminated with a ladder climb up a very narrow crevice that took you to the peak of the mountain. From there, the views were just incredible and there was a great payoff for your efforts.
After our hike, we went to the lake, where you can rent a variety of different boats. We opted for a canoe, but they also have pedal boats, kayaks and other types available to rent, all built into the room fee.
By the time we were done canoeing around the lake, which is beautiful, our room was ready so we checked in. The room was cozy with a balcony and a view. Some rooms have functioning fireplaces in them that are original to the main house, which is pretty cool.
Following settling our things in, we went to one of the lounges for their daily tea and cookie service, which was such a nice touch. We had tea and shortbread cookies while taking in the view of the lake.
Next, we set outside to take a walk around the lake and see the gardens. The walk around the lake is really peaceful and on the easy side. The gardens date back to the Smiley twins and no expense was spared on them. The flowers in the garden were so vibrant and beautiful, and just the perfect place to wander and get lost in.
By the time that we were done exploring, it was nearly time for dinner. There are two choices for dinner – fine dining or a more casual buffet experience. We opted for fine dining. There were four of us – my fiancé and his parents – and we tried a bunch of different options. For starters, I had the butternut squash soup and everyone else ordered mushrooms. The soup was so creamy and rich and perfect on the chilly day it was. I ordered the beef as my main, and my fiancé had the duck. Both were delicious, although mine was a little more rare than I would normally eat. Then, we were onto dessert. I had ice cream and my fiancé had a deconstructed cheesecake of sorts. All in, dinner would have been near $100 per head, but it was included in our room, so that’s something to keep in mind.
The next day, we woke up early and went to the gym to get a workout in. Unfortunately, it downpoured all day, so we didn’t get another hike in, although there were lots of hikes we would have loved to try. So, the gym it was. The gym is in the spa, which is ranked one of the best spas in the U.S.
Following a really good workout, we headed to breakfast which is held in the buffet room. The selection for breakfast was really vast. It ranged from yogurts, fruit and granola to omelets and quiche and sausage, bacon, etc. It was a mix of things you can grab yourself or have made, such as their crepes. We definitely overindulged a bit at breakfast and blamed our workout for it.
One of the activities we took part in that we highly recommend is the daily house tour, which we took following breakfast. The hotel dates back to 1869 and was run by the Smiley twins. Their family still runs it to this day. A group of us followed the house historian around different parts of the estate, learning the genesis of what is now Mohonk Mountain House, the history of the Smiley Family and its historic guests, which include the Rockefellers and Stephen King.
Because of the rain, we missed out on activities such as axe throwing and mountain biking, but it allowed us to be leisurely and explore the house. Around noon we had lunch in the same room breakfast is held, and it was also buffet style, which great options such as a build your own salad bar with ahi tuna, taco bar, fried chicken, ramen, fruits and cheeses, an entire dessert area, etc. By then we were really stuffed and it was just ahead of our train back into Manhattan, which, by the way, only takes an hour and 45 minutes.
We had one last view of the lake before heading out. Mohonk was everything I expected and more, and we are looking forward to visiting again!
Read Our Other Fall NYC Getaway Guides: