Mohonk Mountain House
Resort hotel · Ulster County ·
Historic castle resort with spa, golf, tennis, and lake activities
Historic castle resort with spa, golf, tennis, and lake activities
"If you're looking to truly escape, this secluded sanctuary sits on a spectacular mountain preserve overlooking a lake and delivers the purest form of relaxation. Homey, classic rooms come with porches and rocking chairs, and a daily schedule means there's always something to do: yoga, golf, archery, horseback riding, even wine tasting. Food is included in the room rate, there's afternoon tea and cookies every day, and a library (complete with spare reading glasses) where you can read the paper by a warm fire." - Jessica Chapel, Jessica Sulima
"A family-friendly hill for skiing and tubing that keeps winter simple and fun." - Mark Ellwood
"A true escape on a spectacular mountain preserve overlooking a wide lake, this beloved retreat delivers homey, classic rooms with porch rocking chairs, a daily schedule that ranges from yoga and golf to archery, horseback riding, and wine tastings, and inclusive dining with afternoon tea and cookies—plus a fireside library (complimentary reading glasses at the ready). Fall deepens the coziness with pumpkin facials and apple cider massages at the spa, nightly bonfires with hot cider, blankets, and marshmallow roasting, and miles of on‑property trails culminating in Sky Top Tower’s sweeping foliage views." - Jessica Chapel
"Perched on a clifftop 90 miles north of New York City, this fifth-generation-owned lake retreat emphasizes gadget-free outdoor adventures for kids—frog hunting at the complimentary kids club, rock climbing, and illuminated nighttime disc golf—alongside mindfulness meditation programs and multigenerational lodging options like the six-bedroom Grove Lodge." - Nina Kokotas Hahn
"When I last stayed there with my kids, my father joined us last minute and Nina Smiley, director of mindfulness, found him a cot and personally toured him around the property, sharing stories—an intimate example of how the Smiley family, which has run Mohonk since 1869, blends family stewardship with hospitality. The resort is structured more like a trust than a typical business (no Smileys take dividends; only working family members are paid), they reinvest everything—including a multi-million-dollar overhaul of the kitchen and operations building that replaced an 1880s structure—and that long-view ethos showed during the pandemic when they cut capacity dramatically but kept most of the 800 employees on the payroll; the property remains almost completely television-free and family-friendly, summed up by the refrain “let nature be the entertainment.”" - Heidi Mitchell
