Mohonk Mountain House
"What was your first impression?You have to drive for nearly ten minutes along a winding driveway until you reach this large, castle-like hotel—but it only reinforces the sense that you're about to enter a secluded sanctuary. The hotel itself resides on a spectacular mountain preserve and looks out onto a large lake. I arrived after dark, and though I couldn't see the mountains or the lake clearly, it was almost more magical in the dark: There were charming lights hung throughout the hotel and on the little towers in the surrounding mountain trails, and the lights twinkled off the lake's reflection. What kinds of guests does the hotel seem to attract?Lots of families and couples. These are people who want to escape city life for a while, and who are very excited just to be around nature. They're at their most content sitting in a rocking chair on the porch, drinking tea, and staring across the lake. How was check in? Check-in and check out were both easy, and it seemed that every staff member could juggle multiple roles: They seamlessly went from checking us in, to suggesting hikes, to booking us a picnic lunch. Tell us about your room.My room was a double on the fifth floor, with a balcony overlooking the lake. It was homey and classic, and made me feel like I was staying at someone's house in upstate New York. It had lots of dark woods, and was simple and cozy. But it was the ability to sit in a bathrobe on a rocking chair, out on my room's porch, that felt like the biggest luxury—I even dozed off out there. A word to the wise, though: There's very little in-room tech at Mohonk, which is absolutely on purpose. The hotel has so many activities that it seems they want to encourage people to get outside, at the very least. How about the little things, like the mini bar, or the bathroom amenities? Tell us what was noteworthy.While the rooms are lovely, they're not the star of the show here. The hotel really does revolve around nature and being active, and in that vein, Mohonk provides a daily schedule with something to do at any and every hour. Best of all, there's something for everyone, from yoga to golf, archery to horseback riding, and even wine tasting. The days are varied and you could spend your whole day going from activity to activity, or simply hiking the mountain preserve at your leisure. There's also afternoon tea and cookies that the guests diligently take part in, as well as a library where you can read the paper in front of a warm fire. Somehow, in this seemingly remote haven, there's almost too much to do. How's the food?Food is included in your daily room rate, and you'll want to take advantage of all your options. For dinner, make a reservation at the main dining room, where your three-course meal sings the praise of the local Hudson Valley. Lunch and dinner can also be enjoyed outside, barbecue picnic-style at the Granary. How about the staff?I was really impressed with the overall staff's knowledge of the 8,000-acre mountain preserve, and their ability to recommend hikes all throughout. I did the Lemon Squeeze hike (also known as the Labyrinth Rock Scramble), and it was great; but a fair warning that it's not for the faint of heart. Any services or features that especially stood out to you?There's a gorgeous indoor pool, as well as several tennis courts on the property, with rackets you can borrow. I'm also rarely one to be impressed by a gift shop, but Mohonk's is fanciful and should not be skipped. There are candles that smell like autumn upstate, and homemade lavender honey. They also have $2 ice cream, which for city-slickers like, feels like a steal. Bottom line: worth it, and why?If you're looking to escape (and you're someone who gets giddy about the wonders of nature), come here. It's the purest form of relaxation, and you can make as much of everything it offers as you like." - Sigrid Dilley
