Updated October 2, 2026
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Since Jay taking Ashley on birthday trips became a tradition I'm always on the lookout for trip ideas for the two of them. While surfing the net I stumbled on the The Roxbury, 2258 Co. Road 41, Roxbury, NY - just the coolest hotel ever, where every room or cottage is a theme room that you can't believe until you see them.
I immediately got Jay on the phone. "I found the perfect place for you to take Ashley on her birthday trip! Go online and pull up Roxbury Hotel in New York!"
"Holy cow! This place is AMAZING! I'll book the four of us in and Ashley can bring a friend along."
"Wait...what? This is YOUR trip with Ashley! Why would you need me along?"
"Because you were once a giggly girl so will know what to do with two giggly girls, I don't! That's why!" he said as though the matter were settled.
[Let' see...the man is a pediatric cardiac surgeon who deals with child life and death situations every day on the job. But he doesn't know how to handle two preteen giggly girls?!! Hmmm]
The toughest situation in planning this trip was having to decide which of the fantasy rooms or cottages to book. They were all
magnificent! We finally narrowed the choices down to two - Cinderella's cottage or Faerie Forest Cottage.
"I think maybe the girls may have outgrown the Cinderella stage. You might be better off going with the Faerie Forest," I suggested.
I heard Jay breath an audible sigh of relief, knowing that if his buddies on the golf course and at the hospital ever found out he'd slept in a bed with 18 foot tall Cinderella ball gown as a canopy they'd never let him live it down.
Ashley had been begging to go on a trip and stay in Jay's new RV (the Beast). We decided we'd let the girls believe that's what they were going to do and spring the Faerie Forest Cottage on them as a surprise.
Greg Henderson, a designer, and Joe Massa, a former set designer, purchased the rundown 1960s roadside motel in rural Delaware County, New York, in 2003.They transformed it into a boutique, themed lodging experience that has been has been featured in media such as CBS News, in several other TV shows and in multiple travel magazines.
The original motel features 28 uniquely designed rooms and suites inspired by 1960s–80s TV shows, movies, and pop culture. Then they purchased the mansion next door and began creating rooms in it. As if Stratton Falls’ 8 tower cottages weren’t enough, the property is also inhabited by a mansion, featuring seven more themed mansion rooms, no two alike. The mansion rooms give more of a nod to the historic past of the property with themes like a blacksmith’s quarters, a revolutionary war room, a postmaster’s dream, and a Victorian inspired room where the owners say they have had a few supernatural experiences.
When you stay at the Roxbury at Stratton Falls, you can also enjoy the property’s top-notch amenities. They include a swimming pool with Crooked Cabana, a pond, gorgeous hiking trails, gardens, oh... and a private waterfall!
There's also an outdoor swimming pool, and two spas provide a hot tub, a dry sauna, a steam room and treatment rooms. Continental breakfast each morning is included in your stay. Parking is free.
The Roxbury is 350 ft from the center of Roxbury - population 2467.
Is it expensive to stay at the Roxbury Hotel? Yes and no. The Faerie Forest cottage rented for $629/night. However, at the time Greg and Joe were running a special - book 2 nights, get the 3rd night FREE.
If you factor in the 3 FREE nights ($3774 divided by 9 nights) the cost comes out to a reasonable $419 per night.
Sadly, Greg and Joe have now retired and the Roxbury is now owned and operated by Giri Hotel. According to the website, their June 2027 rates range between $149 and $269 per night for the Faerie Cottage, depending on your dates of stay.
Check out this Faerie Forest Cottage!
And here are the amenities that were included in the price of the cottage:
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Bedrooms: Two queen bedrooms, each with its own privately accessed bathroom
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One bathroom with a tub and shower
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One bathroom with a large walk-in shower
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Common living area with sleeper sofa
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Screened-in back porch with outdoor dining tables off the downstairs living area
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Front balcony accessed from the upstairs bedroom and an interior Juliet balcony
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Whimsical bespoke staircase made entirely of cedar trees from a local mountain grove
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Refreshment station with a full-size refrigerator, microwave, and wet bar sink
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Wi-Fi
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Free streaming Netflix
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Air conditioning for year-round comfort
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Luxury linens, plush towels, and premium bathroom amenities
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Daily continental breakfast included (served 8:00 -11:00 am)
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Free parking
If the Roxbury Hotel is out of your budget, not to worry. Camping is an inexpensive and fun option and you can create your own fairy tent! Best Campgrounds near Roxbury, NY
How to turn your tent into a fairy glamping tent:
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Use a large tent spacious enough for your fairies and some decor.
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Light it up: String up fairy lights or battery-operated lanterns to give the tent a magical glow.
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Pin some artificial/silk vines from the dollar store to the tent entrance.
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Keep it cool and yummy: Include a cooler for drinks and a picnic set-up for snacks and meals.
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Create a cozy space: Arrange tree stumps, wooden crates, or plush floor cushions around a small table for a lounge area.
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Add fairy-themed decor: Incorporate fairy-sized marshmallows, chocolate, and s'mores for a magical touch.
This trip is to the region of the Catskills where most towns are small and spaced about 30 minutes apart minimum. So you'll want to drive your own vehicle or rent a car to get around if you take this trip. There is no public transportation.
We had to chuckle to ourselves when we pulled into the Roxbury parking lot and the girls were obviously confused, Ashley saying "This isn't an RV campground! Where are we?"
Jay: "Our cottage we'll be staying in."
Ashley: "Uncle Jaaaaaaay...you said we could stay in the Beast!"
Jay: "Quit your kvetching, take this key and go find our cottage. It's straight ahead."
Put it this way...we could hear their shrieks and eardrum piercing squeals all the way out in the parking lot. I'm surprised the entire state of New York didn't hear them.
Jay to the girls: "But if you're still rather stay in the RV..."
Girls: NO WAY!!!
Jay: "Then your bedroom and bathroom are at the top of the stairs. Go get your stuff out of the RV and take it up to your room, please."
For the next two hours we caught only glimpses of the girls as they explored every square inch of that cottage. Uncle Jay, the Fairy Godfather had hit the Fairy bullseye.
The girls bedroom and bath. Photos credit: The Roxbury
After we were unpacked we began to explore the resort grounds that are magnificently landscaped with gardens, outdoor firepit areas, and that beautiful waterfall.
The Roxbury Gardens
If you happen to stay at the Roxbury Hotel, merely walk 350 feet to get into the town of Roxbury itself. You won't need any guided tour. The town is so small you can easily walk and explore it yourself.
Roxbury is a small, rural community nestled in the Catskill Mountains, which was established in 1799. Roxbury's Main Street Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Despite this, the town is kind of an odd mix. Some of the buildings look typical historic, the rest of the town is decorated in what I'd call "Early Hippie".
Downtown Roxbury
We stopped at Good Grocery to pick up some snacks for the girls, some picnic fare and the fixings to make S'mores now that we knew there were firepits at the hotel. The little corner grocery store was built in 1840 and the exterior looks very much the same as it did in the 1800's.
Good Grocery store
The man tending the store was super nice. When we asked him for a recommendation on where to have dinner, he sent us to Shepherd Hills Golf Club, a short 3.3 mile drive from the Roxbury Hotel, From Main Street in Roxbury (turn left onto Main Street), Turn left onto Hardscrabble Rd. Turn left onto Burroughs Memorial Rd. then Turn left onto Fairway Dr. You'll see Shepherd Hills Golf Club Restaurant.
Always listen to the locals. WOW!
We ordered Chicken souvlaki with Greek fries, flat bread, and tzatziki. Out of this world delicious!
Service was a little slow due to the place being packed but we weren't in any rush to get anywhere so that didn't bother us in the least.
They have a really
extensive menu so everyone should be able to find something they like.
Jay got to talking with some of the local golfers and they invited him to play golf the next day with them. I knew he really wanted to go but was hesitant because he didn't want to abandon the girls and I. I told him "Go! The girls and I will do a girls day out while you're golfing with the guys!"
And I believe changing up your planned itinerary, even if it's last minute can lead to some of the best travel experiences.
When it got dark the girls wanted to make S'mores so we headed out to the fire pit.
It was the perfect night for stargazing. When the girls had had their fill of S'mores we headed back to the cottage.
I'd brought along a board game for the girls to play at night. They settled into their room to play Enchanted Forest while Jay and I enjoyed some adult time.
We had our complimentary breakfast, Jay headed to the golf course and we gals set off on our girls day out.
Windham
There was a spa at our hotel but you must be a guest of the resort to utilize it and slots are by prior appointment. Because this was last minute, I was unable to get an appointment at the hotel spa so I decided we'd go to the Windham Spa,
16 Mitchell Hollow Road, Windham.
I'd even brought fairy nails along for the girls and the spa was only too happy to apply them for us.
The girls had never been to a spa before but they decided a spa day was definitely a cool thing to do.
We had facials, maniictures, pedicures and a massage. It was heaven! (And I'm sure more fun than hitting a golf ball into 18 little holes - at least as far as we gals were concerned)
Afternoon: For lunch the girls and I decided to have lunch at Windham's Catskill Mountain
Country Store & Restaurant. 5510 NY-23, Windham, NY
What an adorable place! We hit the jackpot on this one!
We loved the authentic country store atmosphere and before lunch, did a bit of shopping in the store.
We had the Napoleon - a grilled chicken sandwich with tomato, fresh mozzarella and homemade pesto and the whole wheat bread was incredible. It came with warm tortilla chips, homemade salsa, a handful of mixed greens and a pickle. Delicious.
As we were leaving the store we found this adorable little guy waiting on the porch for us.
That's when we realized the Country Store had a little farm there, that even included a peacock!
All three of us being animal lovers, that got our attention!
I spotted an employee working in their garden center and asked if we could feed the animals. He told us the goats and Wilbur (the pig) loved
peaches so I dashed back into the store to get peaches.
The girls were thrilled they could feed Wilbur and the goats. We spent quite a bit of time at the Country Store. We weren't sure what time Jay would get back from golfing so eventually decided to head back to the hotel - but only after we ran out of peaches to feed Wilbur.
Feeding Wilbur peaches
Once back at the hotel, we took a dip in the pool and relaxed poolside with mocktails from the Crooked Cabana while we waited for Jay to return.
We had a spectacular Girls Day out and grew much closer because of it.
When Jay returned he was assaulted with "Uncle Jay! Guess what WE did today!" and a blow-by-blow description of the entire day's events delivered at machine gun pace while showing him their fairy nails.
He immensely enjoyed his golf game so reconfiguring that day's itinerary was a win-win for all four of us.
Evening: Have dinner at The Old Mill, 2318 County Route 41, Roxbury.
I loved that they kept the old mill atmosphere of the building.
The bar-restaurant offers good, wholesome, unpretentious foods to warm the soul; local beers, crafty cocktails and tasty wines. Try one of their skillet meals!
Mon - Weds closed
Thurs - Sat 5pm–11pm
Sun - 5pm–10pm
Windham & Maplecrest
Morning: We had our complimentary breakfast that came with our hotel reservations but if this isn't an option for you, then head into downtown Roxbury on Main Street to Cassie's Cafe, 53535 New York 30, Roxbury.
Fantastic breakfasts and kids will love the teddy bear pancakes.
You can get breakfast for four for around $20.
Over breakfast the girls
decided they wanted to go bicycling. We stopped at the grocery store to pick up some food for a picnic.
We travel with our bikes but if you need to rent an E-bike in Roxbury, contact RentaBikeNow at 847-441-4292.
You can also rent bikes from Windham Mountain Outfitters,
61 State Route 296, Windham, NY to rent mountain bikes.
Bike the Windham Path Trail.
We headed for the Windham Path. The Windham Path consists of a 1.5-mile loop accessed by a parking area on Route 23, (1/2 mile east of the Route 296 intersection) and a .5 mile loop that connects the business area of South Street and Route 296. The Windham Path provides the only public access to the Batavia Kill Stream in Windham and meanders through meadows and woodlands and across bridges providing fantastic views of the Great Northern Catskills. Make a point to take a break during your ride or walk to enjoy the gem of the Windham Path – the magnificent and picturesque covered bridge that spans the Batavia Kill Stream.
The Windham Path is a family-friendly public 1.5-mile looping trail located off Route 23 just outside the village of Windham. An additional parking lot is located on Route 296 near the intersection of South Street. A third of a mile trail connects the two pathways. The Windham Path provides access to the pristine Batavia Kill stream in Windham. The trail roams through peaceful fields along the woodlands and streams and provides picturesque views of the Great Northern Catskills.
Windham Path Trail / Photo credit: Town of Windham
CD Lane Park
Afternoon: We'd taken the short easy ride loop so when we finished that, we rode over to CD Lane Park, 5 miles away at 281 Cty Rt. 56, Maplecrest, NY. It's about a 30 minute bike ride.
Baseball, soccer field, regulation outdoor basketball court, children's playground, pavilion, kayaking, swimming, disc golf, beach volleyball, hiking, picnic tables & BBQ's, and restrooms. Kayak rental available.
We had our picnic lunch in the park and went for a swim before heading back to the cottage tp get cleaned up for dinner. We had special dinner plans for the girls.
Dinner: Drive to nearby Arkville to the Delaware & Ulster Railroad, 43510 State Highway 28, Arkville, NY. They offer a 2 hour dinner train excursion, serving a 3 course dinner as the train rolls through pristine forests and along the Delaware River. $89 per person + gratuity.
Photo credit: Delaware & Ulster Railroad
We had 3 choices for each of the 3 dinner courses. We chose the Onion “galette”, crisp greens, Dijon for our first course, Chicken Provencal, Lemon & Herbs, Ratatouille for our second course and Chocolate Mousse Cake, Salted Caramel for dessert.
Onion galette, Chicken Provencal, Chocolate Carment Mousse Cake
The food was top notch as was the train ride itself and the girls loved the whole experience.
The dinner train departs from the Arkville depot at 5 pm but you must be there 10 minutes before boarding to check in. You'll receive a QR code ticket in your confirmation email that you should save to your digital wallet to ensure speedy check in and boarding.
If the dinner excursion exceeds your
budget, then just book a regular ride,
There's also a gift shop at the depot so bring cash or plastic if you wish to purchase anything. We'd given each of the girls some spending cash and they purchased some items for their travel journals so they could work on them that evening.
Windham & Maplecrest
Drive 11.5 miles to explore nearby Margaretville, a booming village (population 600) bordering the Catskills.
Town of Margaretville
There's a really nice scenic drive you can take in Margaretville and it costs you nothing. Begin near the Old Stone School (built in 1820 and now a nationally registered historic place), drive two miles west of the town. Cross Route 28 to connect with Southside Road, turn right and proceed a few miles, then take a left on Mill Brook Road. A few miles up that lovely road will bring you to the Mill Brook Covered Bridge, an evocative relic of earlier days. It no longer carries traffic, but you can park and walk across. It makes for a great photo op.
If you're into secondhand and thrift shops, visit the Margaretville Auxiliary Hospital Thrift Store, 743 Main St, Margaretville.
The Thrift Store
All profits go to the Margaretville Hospital and Mountainside Residential Care Center.
Although we weren't shopping for anything specific, we just enjoyed browsing through the shop.
The shop sells a wide variety of gently used, unique and frequently changing, donated items: clothing, shoes, household items, textiles, games, CDs, DVDs, books, toys, bags, jewelry, small furniture, sporting equipment, and assorted
odds and ends so there was plenty to browse through.
If you're in Margaretville during July, attend their Fire Department Field Days - featuring a carnival, live entertainment, and an antique car show.
Here's a village map you can use in exploring the village.
Afternoon: While speaking with one of the locals I learned Margaretville was the hometown of Dr. Orvan Hess, inventor of the fetal heart monitor! He began working on the device in the 1930's and its first successful clinical use took place in the 1940's. Dr. Hess was also known for his contributions to obstetrics and helping to develop penicillin. Jay was aware he'd invented the first fetal heart monitor but not that Dr. Hess' hometown was Margaretville - or that only a short 50 minute drive away in Middleburgh there was a Dr. Hess medical museum.
The museum is located at 1568 Clauverwie, Middleburgh, NY. Tours are held Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4 pm.
Photos credit: Dr. Hess Medical Museum
You don't have to be a cardiac surgeon to enjoy touring this museum. It's pretty interesting looking back and seeing how far medical technology has come since Dr. Hess' lifetime.
You really feel like you've stepped back in time, as if awaiting the return of Dr. Best from a house call on his horse-drawn carriage. This Victorian home and medical office captures the elegance of the turn of the century. Serving a small-town American community from 1884 to 1991, the Dr. Best collection echoes reminders of a quickly changing era. Civil War, railroad and telephone artifacts all reflect the character of this family of pioneers and visionaries. The expansive and unique collection includes thousands of bottles, automotive memorabilia, clothing and quilts, to name a few as well as the fully stocked period kitchen and state-of-the-art medical equipment.
To tour the museum is FREE but they ask you to consider giving the museum a $10 per person donation, which we gladly did.
Evening: Return to Margaretville and have dinner at Trattoria Locale, 42287 NY-28, Margaretville.
Trattoria Locale is a quaint Italian restaurant with a beautiful view of the Catskills from its back deck.
Their food is amazing and service is great. I had the homemade Fettucine, Jay had Fettucine with rabbit meat (amazing as well) and the girls ordered spaghetti and meatballs.
During the summer Trattoria Locale is open every day:
Breakfast-Lunch / 9 am - 2 pm
Dinner/ 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
After dinner return to your accommodations and relax.
Roscoe
Inevitably when you travel with pre-teens or teens you're going to get some grumbling about something at some point during the trip.
On this particular morning when the girls asked "What are we doing today?" and we told them "Going for a walk" their response was "EWWWW! DO WE HAVE TO?!! GOING FOR A WALK IS BORING!"
Little did they know Uncle Jay was going to have a senior moment and was about to fix their "Going for a walk is BORING! wagons.
After breakfast drive to Roscoe, about 53 minutes/45 miles from Roxbury. Directions
You're looking for 12 Bestenheimer Road - Buck Brook Alpacas.
Boy, did "Uncle Jay" have those two little princesses going!
Ashley: "DOPE! ALPACAS! What are we doing?"
Jay: "You're not doing anything. You don't like going for a walk so you'll have to wait by the car until Pat and I get back from walking our alpacas."
"NOOOO! UNCLE JAY, PLEEEEAAAAAASE! WE WANT TO WALK AN ALPACA!"
"Just an hour ago you told us walking was BORING! The last thing Pat and I want is to BORE you! So you just wait here by the car while we walk your BORING alpacas for you!"
He nearly had those two girls in tears on their knees begging before he let them off the hook, handed the alpacas leashes to them and sent them on their walk.
We never heard another complaint out of them the entire trip. LOL
The 30 minute alpaca walks are guided, the alpacas are super friendly and the terrain walked is easy and flat enough for young
children to walk. The alpaca walk costs $28 per person and the girls had such a ball it was worth every penny of that $28. You must make reservations ahead of time for the walk.
General admission to the farm is $10 and you can do a self guided tour. Children 3 and under are FREE.
With general admission tickets, you'll receive a farm map filled with fun facts about the alpacas and other animals. Stroll through the pastures, observe these gentle creatures up close, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
Want to make your visit even more interactive? Feed the animals! Purchase feed on-site at check in, and hand-feed the friendly alpacas, sheep, goats and other barnyard friends.
ALL VISITORS MUST CHECK IN AT THE FARM STORE UPON ARRIVAL
The herd of BORING Alpacas
After bidding goodbye to your new furry friend, visit the O&W Railroad Museum,
7 Railroad Avenue, Roscoe.
The Roscoe O&W Railway Museum consists of a main museum building, caboose, trout car and shanties. The museum preserves historical artifacts of railway transportation, mainly from the New York Ontario & Western Railway, which ran from 1868 to 1957 and helped foster growth in this part of New York.
If you don't know what a trout car is, don't feel bad. I'm a railroad brat and I didn't know either until I ran across one near New Orleans. A trout car transferred fish from hatcheries in upstate New York (in this case) to the rivers and lakes in this area of the Catskills. The train would stop at river and stream crossings and dump fish into the water. I've only seen 2 trout cars in my lifetime, they're pretty rare now.
Hours: Saturday and Sunday - 11 am - 3 pm
Admission is FREE but donations are accepted.
Afternoon: Have lunch at Spotted Cow Cafe & Grill, 43 Stewart Ave , Roscoe.
Monday & Thursday: 8 AM - 6 PM
Tuesday & Wednesday: Closed
Friday: 8 AM- 7 PM
Saturday: 9 AM–7 PM
Sunday: 10 AM–6 PM
After lunch visit Roscoe's Beaverkill Covered Bridge. The bridge is located along Campsite Road (County Route 30) in an area with the public campground, one of the oldest in the Catskill Park, on both sides of the river. It was erected in 1865, one of the first bridges over the river in what was then still a largely unsettled region of the Catskill Mountains.
It's FREE to visit the bridge.
Suggestion: If your kids are doing a travel journal of their trip, make time to get some unique photos for them to put in their travel journals - as we did at this bridge, among our other travel destinations.
Evening: Have dinner at Northern Farmhouse Pasta, 65 Rockland Road, Roscoe, NY
Photo credit: Northern Farmhouse Pasta
Northern Farmhouse Pasta is a cafe priding itself on a plethora of unique things to do in Roscoe, NY, for all ages with delectable Italian cuisine in a comfy and welcoming atmosphere.
With a friendly staff and a menu of home-crafted pasta meals, fresh seafood, and tasty desserts, the restaurant offers a chance to savor original Italian tastes while on a satisfying dining adventure.
This restaurant is in a 200 year old restored farm house. They make their own pasta from 100$ NY sourced ingredients, including the flour, and are the only restaurant in the U.S. that does this - and you can taste the difference! Their food is delicious, the service friendly and prompt, and the most expensive main entree on their menu (involving lobster) is a very reasonable $32. Two thumbs up on Northern Farmhouse Pasta.
Kingston
Drive 1 hour into Kingston, NY which sits on the banks of the Hudson River. I think this is one of the most interesting towns in the Catskills.
Kingston is divided into 3 neighborhoods: the Stockade or Upper Kingston, This is the oldest part of town. It is home to one of the state’s greatest historic sites, the Four Corners, where all the stone buildings date to the 1600s and 1700s, and a visit feels like a stroll through America’s colonial era. Kingston was also New York’s first capital, and original buildings remain.
Adjacent to Uptown, moving downhill toward the river, is the curving Midtown district centered on Broadway, where brick and wood-frame architecture mirrors the neighborhood’s origins in the late 19th and early 20th century. Both historic and brand-new restaurants are located there, as well as bars and cocktail lounges.
Below that along the Hudson River is an area known as the Rondout, where riverfront architecture that might seem familiar to Mark Twain is located, along with abandoned factories and brickyards, a fair number of arts institutions, some of the city’s more touristy restaurants, and a swimmable beach.
We're going to start in the Rondout, along the river.
Go to Dock: 1 East Strand Street, Kingston, NY and look for the Rip Van Winkle Cruise boat,
Take a 90 minute narrated boat tour of the Hudson River. The boat will cruise south on the Hudson River to about the Staatsburg Mansion before doubling back to Kingston. Along the way, you will see Hudson River lighthouses, waterfront mansions, the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge and scenic and historical sights.
ADMISSION:
Adults: $37
Seniors 65+: 33:50
Children 4-11: $25
Infants 3 and under: Free
Please note that due to US Coast Guard regulations, all passengers are required to have a ticket, even a free one, so be sure your entire group is accounted for and has either a paid or free ticket.
Afternoon: Have lunch at Ship To Shore restaurant, 15 West Strand | Kingston.
Ship to Shore restaurant is set at the Kingston Rondout and across the street from the Rondout Creek which feeds the Hudson River. The atmosphere is calming, the staff courteous and professional, and the prices moderate. There is outdoor dining which brings you in closer proximity to all that’s going on there. The Kingston Rondout has a variety of cultural places to eat, a ship building business, trolley car that will take you to a beautiful park and the Hudson River.
You won't get an ‘ok’ meal at this restaurant, what you will get is any number of five star meals to choose from. The food is absolutely delicious with generous portions. On Mondays they serve the biggest, baddest, and tastiest burgers in all of Kingston.
Hudson River Maritime Museum
Tour the Hudson River Maritime Museum, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston.
Photo credit: Hudson River Maritime Museum
This place is full of interesting stories about the river and its history. You’ll see fun exhibits that show how boats were built and how trade happened on the river.
Learn about the important role the Hudson River played in helping the local community grow and thrive.
There are also cool displays about
river ecology. You can discover the unique plants and animals that live along the banks.
Join a guided boat tour or take part in hands-on workshops. I've never seen a maritime museum that has as much to offer visitors as this one does - including a program called Museum Mates that is held at 11 am on the third Thursday of each month and is specifically geared toward kids and parents alike.
Take this unique opportunity to play in a museum setting, surrounded by local historic objects and educational resources and get your children excited about museums and learning! When you’re done with the activities, enjoy complementary museum admission and explore. This program is suited for children age five and under and adults of all ages! And the program is FREE! All you have to do is preregister at the link above.
Guided museum tours are available - which I recommend in this case as you'll get so much more out of the tour. The tour lasts about 1 hour and you'll get a much more in depth look at the museum.
ADMISSION
Adults: $10.00
Seniors (62+): $7.00
Children (ages 6-18): $6.00
Family Rate (2 adults & children under 18): $25.00
Children 5 years & younger: FREE
Veterans & Active Duty Military w/ID: FREE
HRMM Members: FREE
CAMM Members: FREE
MUSEUM ONLINE BOOK DIRECT
TICKET DISCOUNTS
0 – 5 Free
6 – 18 $7.00
19 – 6 1$10.00
62+ $7.00
Active Duty Military w/ID Free
Family Rate (2 adults & children under 18) $25.00
Members Free
Money $aving Tips:
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Promotional Offers: The museum occasionally offers online-only discounts or packages that aren’t available at the door. Subscribing to their newsletter can keep
you in the loop about these deals.
Solaris is the Hudson River Maritime Museum’s fully solar-[owered tour boat. She was built on-site at the Hudson River Maritime Museum's Wooden Boat School in 2018 by the Museum’s restoration crew, under the direction of Jim Kricker. She holds the prestige of being the first solar-powered boat licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as a passenger vessel.
Trolley Museum
Explore more of the town of Kingston. Head on over to the Trolley Museum, 89 East Strand Street, Kingston.
If you want to see amazing views of Kingston’s landscape, this is the place to be. When you hop on one of the old trolleys the ride takes you through stunning areas in the Hudson Valley. You’ll see green trees, sparkling water, and lovely scenery all around. Friendly guides will share fascinating stories about the history of the trolleys and the area.
There are two levels to the museum, Downstairs: Trolleys from Germany, Belgium, Sweden, and Norway on display. See them through our observation deck in the upstairs gallery, or up close and personal on the shop floor.
Upstairs: Gift shop, exhibits, and interactive, hands-on activities for kids, plus restrooms.
Feel free to bring lunch and/or a snack, then sit and relax at the picnic tables available at each of the three main stops on the trolley line: T.R. Gallo Park (great for walking around the town, boat watching, picturesque views, etc.), Kingston Point (great for nature views, plus it is a short walk to the park and beach), and the picnic tables by the entrance of the museum. It's a great way to see Kingston!
You can find admission prices here and your admission ticket is good for all day.
Money $aving Tip: We found it was cheaper by $9 to buy the $35 family membership than individual day tickets for each of us.
To make a reservation, please send them an email, call (845) 331-3399, or reach out via mail.
Note that this is a weather dependent activity!
Open on weekends from 12 pm to 5 pm during the spring and summer seasons.
Evening: For dinner go to the Midtown neighborhood of Kingston. This is where all of the best and most interesting restaurants are. There are so many good restaurants in Kingston it's difficult to choose a favorite.
In Midtown, my fave restaurant is Eng's.
On the other side of the traffic circle between Uptown and Midtown is Eng’s (726 Broadway, near Albany Avenue), a white edifice gleaming with neon founded in 1927, making it one of the oldest Chinese restaurants in the nation.
The menu offers dishes like chop suey and chow mein.
Eng's offers an all you can eat buffet on Wednesday and Friday from 5 to 9 pm and Sunday from 4 to 8 pm.
If you're a group of 5 or more, then you should make reservations. Call 845-331-2520 to reserve.
Another restaurant I love for both its food and its ambiance is Hoffman House, 94 North Front Street
Kingston.
The Hoffman House was built prior to October 1679, and with very few exceptions, the entire structure, both interior and exterior, is intact. Rather than destroying any part of the building, all usable materials were salvaged and restored; any warped or damaged floorboards were carefully removed, planed, sanded and if necessary, turned over. Original nails were also reused.
Tables are scattered in several dining rooms. Or go to the small wooden bar and you’ll probably sit beside a local and strike up a conversation. It’s not fancy, and it’s not trendy. But it’s a great value. The garlic steak sandwich at $13.50 is one of the best lunches in town but they also serve dinner.
The prices are very reasonable and they offer both indoor and outdoor dining.
Kingston has a lively arts scene! If you'd like, after dinner attend a live performance at a local venue.
You can enjoy live performances at local spots that feature many types of music and talent.
Here are three awesome places to check out:
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The Rondout Music Lounge – This cozy place hosts local bands that play heartfelt music. It’s a great spot to relax and enjoy the show.
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UPAC (Ulster Performing Arts Center) – At UPAC, you can watch plays and concerts. They showcase both new artists and well-known performers, so there’s always something exciting happening.
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The Kingston Coffeehouse – Grab your favorite drink and listen to a mix of different artists in a warm, friendly setting. It’s the perfect place to unwind and enjoy some live music.
Hunter Mountain & Mount Temper
Sky Ride
We drove to Hunter Mountain Sky Ride, about a 30 minute drive from Roxbury.
Take the Kaatskill Flyer to the summit of Hunter Mountain and experience one of the best scenic attractions in the Great Northern Catskills! On a clear day, beyond New York's mountain peaks, you can see the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts and the Green Mountains of Vermont.
Purchase Scenic Sky Ride tickets at the Main Lodge ticket window OR in advance online for the best rates.
The ride is approximately 22 minutes round trip.
At the summit of Hunter Mountain, you will find a marked DEC hiking trail leading to the highest fire tower in New York State. At 4,040 feet, this moderate 4-mile hike requires approximately 3 hours for a round trip. It is strongly recommended to wear hiking shoes and check weather conditions before ascending.
All hikers must be back at the Scenic Sky Ride summit by 3:45 p.m. for the return ride.
Yes, you can climb to the top of the fire tower - all 80 steps of it! Don't attempt it unless you're in good physical condition.
Hours: Saturday, Sunday & Monday 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM (weather permitting)
Afternoon: Have lunch at the Hunter Mountain Brewery, 7267 Route 23A, Hunter, NY.
American pub style restaurant with 90 plus seats, full bar, full menu, pet friendly deck and on premises brewery with over 15 taps of their own craft beers and guest taps of local NY brewed beers.
Mon:Closed
Tue - Thu:2:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Fri & Sat:Noon - 9:00 PM
Sun:Noon - 8:00 PM
World's Largest Kaleidoscope
Step inside the world's largest kaleidoscope inside the Emerson Resort in Mount Tremper. 5340 Route 28, Mount Tremper, NY
Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1997, the World’s Largest Kaleidoscope (60 feet high!) was designed by renowned kaleidoscope artist Charles Karadimos. The original Kaleidoshows were created by psychedelic art pioneer Isaac Abrams and his son Raphael Abrams, with composer Gary Burke providing a musical score.
We debated including this activity. When we asked Ashley if she wanted to see a giant kaleidoscope she asked "What's a kaleidoscope?"
(I feel sorry for the tech addicted kids of today!)
I'm glad we did include it because both girls enjoyed this attraction, especially shopping in the Kaleidostore for their own kaleidoscopes.
The Kaleidoshows have different themes: Star Dust, The Earth Laughs In Flowers, USA, Metamorphosis, etc.
Tickets are $5/person and children under 12 are FREE.
Thursday – Monday 10am – 5pm
Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Take the rest of the day as an R&R day and just chill before returning home the next day.
The girls apparently loved their Faerie Forest Cottage trip because Jay and I both got a big hug and were told "You guys take us on the best vacations EVER!"
A fantasy party was one of my favorite kinds of parties to throw because it's so versatile.
When I had my party planning business my friend, Mary and I threw a fairy party for her daughter, who was turning six. I don't know who had more fun - the kids attending the party or Mary and I putting the whole party together!
You don't need to go as over-the-top as Mary and I did. Once our creative juices get flowing they're like a runaway freight train between the two of us. LOL But I will give you some cool things we did that you can work off for your own fantasy party - and make it as simple or complex as you like.
Mary owns a garden nursery that of course, has a huge garden in it. Toward the back of this garden is a large rectangular lighted gazebo with a stone walkway leading to it. This is where the girls fairy party meal was held. It was a partly after dark party as the party had to take place after the nursery closed for business that day.
Pine forest surrounds the gardens, gazebo and nursery property.
Normally I don't use my photo backdrop frame but since this wasn't my gazebo/property I did, as we were going to use a photo backdrop on one end of the gazebo.
The most expensive item we bought was the photo backdrop itself - under $20. Everything else Mary had in her nursery and I already had in my crafts inventory.
Staging
I rolled a mat of artificial grass out in front of the backdrop. The tree stump was a spray foam one I'd made for another party. The fairies and frog were lawn ornaments Mary had. We used this as the area to position the cake table in front of. We used my round table and underlit it with white mini lights. We hung mini white fairy lights at the top of the backdrop.
Mary's husband built 2 stage flats (below) for us, to which we stapled corrugated cardboard to look like a story book.
Using spray adhesive we glued white kraft paper for the "pages" to the corrugated, using a large wallpaper roller to iron out any wrinkles as we applied the spray adhesive. Do this a small "page" section at a time.
Then I hand painted the lettering and castle.
The story book formed the 'archway' entry to the gazebo We spotlighted it with two of my spotlights as it was an after dark party.
Do you have to go through all that? Of course not. Use kraft paper to cover part of one wall and just draw a storybook on that. If you don't do calligraphy, get an alphabet stencil to make the letters, then use a black marker to fill them in.
You can even make it into a party activity. Just draw the book and page outlines, give the kids some crayons and markers and let them have at it and fill in the story in the book.
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For the tables we used leaf tablecloths and the chairs we picked up on the cheap from Habitat for Humanity Restore and made DIY moss chairs. Your chairs don't all have to match!
While this looks like a labor intensive project it's really not! We roughly sanded any wood on the chairs to make the gold spray paint adhere better, wiped them down with some TSP and let them dry, then spray painted the wood gold and let it dry. The paint drying overnight was the most time consuming part of the entire project.
We cut the moss from faux moss rolls and glued it to the upholstery on the chair.
The table centerpieces were mason jars filled with 1/3 white aquarium gravel and 1/3 moss with white mini LED lights on top of that. The fairies on the jars were fairy silhouette adhesive decals. We set the centerpieces on wood slices I cut from a log on my woodpile.
Fairy dishes by Cicely Mary Parker.
Fairy Goblets by Sunburst Reflections.
But you can buy a disposable dinnerware kit with a fairy theme if you like. Amazon carries a whole line of them, some of which include a tablecloth and party decorations.
These table cards are super easy to make and can be used on your food table to display the fairy names you've given your food items. They can be used as name cards by each place setting at your meal/snack table too.
You just need plain white index size cards, some fairy stickers and a package of doilies from the dollar store.
Fold the cards in half, apply a fairy sticker and write on them.
I repurpose items from previous parties as it saves money. Remember my well from my medieval party that I'd made into a coffee table? I repurposed it for the fairy party. I added the supports, crank and attached rope to an aluminum bucket I had. I used a wash tub I had to put down into the well and we filled that with water. Each girl got a plastic coin sized bag of pennies as a party favor at her place at the meal table.
We made it part of their scavenger hunt that they had to find the wishing well in the woods and use their pennies to toss into the well while making a wish.
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Set of 12 bendable fairy figuines
Decorate trees and bushes with flowing, shimmering streamers that catch the light and add a touch of magic. Choose colors that match the overall theme, such as pastel pinks and greens.
Food/Menu
Flower Sandwiches with
Edible Flowers
Spring Deviled Eggs
Butterfly Strawberry Salad
Caprese Salad
Pixie Sticks
Games/Activities
DIY Fairy Wands
Every fairy needs a magic wand! There are 2 ways you can go on this project. You can go completely DIY or save yourself some time and buy a kit like the one at right.
If you go completely DIY, I learned through trial and error to glue the stars to the wooden dowel rods BEFORE the party so you can ensure the stars are securely fixed to the dowel rods. I used E6000 glue but be sure to wear gloves when you apply the glue to avoid getting it on your hands. It's also easier to paint the stars before beginning this activity with the kids.
You'll need:
Unfinished wooden stars - 1 for each party guest
Wooden dowel rods at least 12" long - 1 for each party guest
Glue (E6000, Gorilla glue, wood glue or something similar)
Hot glue gun + extra glue sticks
Pastel colored yarn or curling ribbon or colored streamers
Silver or gold glitter spray paint
Elements to decorate the stars with - fairy stickers, adhesive gems, etc.
Optional: Glitter tulle fabric
You'll want to cover the work surface you're doing this craft on with plastic!
Give each girl a dowel and a star.
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Cover one side of the star with silver or gold spray paint. Let it dry completely,
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Securely glue the dowel rod to the unpainted side of the star, then paint that side of the star and let dry completely. Once dry, paint the other side of the star.
DO THE ABOVE 2 STEPS BEFORE THE PARTY! -
If using glitter fabric, cut a piece as long as you want it to hang on either side of the dowel rod.
Bunch the fabric in the middle and tie it with either yarn or curling ribbon. Hot glue to the dowel rod. -
Let the girls decorate the stars on the wands.
If not using the fabric, tie the yarn or curling ribbon directly around the dowel rod. If you don't want to use fabric, you can use any kind of colored streamer as well.
You could do this same thing with say, a boy's wizard party. Just make the colors used more boyish.
Pin the Star On the Fairy Wand
Fairy Ring Toss
from Amazon $14
Make Your Own
Fairy Potions
Mary bought one of these kits for her daughter's party and the girls really got into making their own fairy potions. And it kept them occupied for quite some time!
What we did find is, for easy clean up, spread a disposable drop cloth or tarp on the ground or floor where the girls are making the potions.
When they're done, just roll the drop cloth up and dispose of it.
We did investigate a DIY version of this but it ended up being more expensive than just buying the kit. $18.89
Make Fairy Dust
As an alternative you could make DIY fairy dust test tubes. You'll need:
• plastic bottle or test tubes – go with plastic especially if dealing with children. We went with this size because it was larger and fun to hold.
• water
• glycerine – this helps separate the glitter in the water
• two types of glitter – opt for these fun shapes and a traditional style, This way they fall at different rates in the bottle.
DIRECTIONS
Fill the {plastic} test tube about halfway with some water.
Add a few drops of glycerine.
Add your glitter combos – our test tubes came with a helpful
spout container, and we used it for the finer glitter {hello, mess!
– this is why we recommend outside with lots of kiddos or else
you’ll be seeing glitter ’til you’re ninety}.
Add more water to the top.
Secure the top on the bottle {add a few dabs of super glue first, and
screw on tightly.} You’ll thank yourself later for this.
Scavenger Hunt
I usually included a scavenger hunt of some kind because it's a sure bet to be successful with kids and it's so adaptable to any themed party.
We made up our clues on plain colored index cards we decorated with a fairy sticker and the girls had to work as a team to complete the scavenger hunt, working off the index clue cards. The clues led to a box in which my friend (owning a garden nursery she's an expert at flower arrangement) had whipped up flower crowns for each of the girls heads, to go with their fairy costumes.
There was a wood surrounding her nursery so the girls had to find objects in nature, in the woods for each clue.
If you don't want to go to the trouble of making your own scavenger hunt, Amazon has a fairy scavenger hunt kit here for $10. Or get this printable for $3.50
Make A Fairy Garden
A few years back, fairy gardens were all the rage.
I'd made a huge one in my own garden and still had all of the pieces I'd used to make it. My friend had fairy garden items for her nursery business inventory she could no longer move...so why let them all go to waste?
We pooled our fairy garden items and let the girls make their own fairy garden!
Don't Eat the Fairy Friend
This Fairy game is ALWAYS a huge hit!
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Place a piece of candy or small toy/prize on each of the spaces on the board.
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First player leaves the room while all the other players choses a character to be the “Fairy Friend.”
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First player comes back in the room and begins grabbing the candy/prizes, one at a time.
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The goal is to get as many pieces of candy/prizes as possible before you accidentally pick the “Fairy Friend.”
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Once the player picks the chosen space with the candy/prize on it, everyone yells “Don’t Eat the Fairy Friend!” and that player’s turn is over.
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They get to keep all of the candy/prizes that they picked but leave the other ones on the board.
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Refill the board with more candy/prizes and repeat with another player, until all players have had a turn.
It’s such a fast paced game and gets quite intense, especially when there’s only a few candies/treats left on the board.
Pixie Dust Face Painting
Grab some glittery face paint and adorn guests with glittery face designs, making them feel like magical creatures.
Choose designs that are simple yet captivating, like fairy wings, flowers, and butterflies.
Helpful Tip: Ensure the face paint is hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin.
Light Up Fairy Wands
We had the girls make DIY fairy wands but then Mary and I found these light up wands at Walmart.
Since part of the party was after dark, we figured the girls would really like these!
The Great Fairy Rescue
The Story: Several magical creatures have been trapped by an evil sorcerer's spell, and only working together can the fairies break the enchantment. Each trapped creature (stuffed animals work perfectly) needs a different type of magic to be freed.
Rescue Challenges:
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The Singing Challenge: Fairies must sing a lullaby to put the baby unicorn to sleep
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The Kindness Challenge: Share compliments to melt the ice around the frozen butterfly
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The Teamwork Challenge: Work together to build a bridge for the stranded fairy mouse
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The Laughter Challenge: Tell jokes to cheer up the sad baby dragon
We had each of the challenge creatures set up in the woods around the
garden nursery, in different locations. The girls had to work as a team to find each of them, then perform the task they'd been given for each of the animals. When they completed all the tasks, they were each given a fairy cupcake as a prize,
TUTORIAL: Fairy Cupcakes
A fairy party is a great party for little girls but if you want to throw a similar party for boys, just make it a Wizard party vs. a Fairy party.