I'm always on the hunt for unique and quirky, one-of-a-kind travel destinations and stumbled upon some accommodations I thought would be perfect for Jay's and his great niece's, Ashley's next trip together.
Facetime!
"Hey," I said to Jay. "Wanna show you something. I found the perfect place for you to take Ashley next summer! Check this hotel out! It's all theme rooms and cottages! And visitors are raving about the place..."
"Holyyyyyyyyyy cow! I'm booking it for four of us. Ashley can bring a friend along. How's next June sound?"
The next thing I knew we were in a two hour long video conference, planning a trip to the Catskills and 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. Choosing which theme cottage to rent was the most difficult part of the trip planning but we finally narrowed it down to the Cinderella Gown and Faerie Forest cottages.
I think Jay secretly breathed a sigh of relief when I said the girls were probably too old for Cinderella Gown. If Jay's buddies ever found out he'd rented a pink Cinderella cottage and slept in a bed with an 18 foot high Cinderella ball gown for a bed canopy they'd never let him live it down!
The 18' tall Cinderella bed canopy
Jay booked a total of 7 nights at the Roxbury, for the following June. We decided that since we'd be traveling with two 9 year olds, we wouldn't overload the itinerary.
You can reconfigure this itinerary to suit your own family and length of trip,
We also decided we wouldn't tell the girls Jay had booked the Faerie Forest cottage. We'd take the Beast (Jay's RV) so the girls would think that's where they'd be staying and spring the Faerie Forest cottage on them as a surprise.
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 or rent a car to get around if you take this trip. There is no public transportation.
Check out this Faerie Forest Cottage!
Photos credit: The Roxbury
If you’re looking for unique and luxurious accommodation in Roxbury, this is the place. The boutique hotel is owned by husbands and business partners, Gregory Henderson and Joseph Masa. It’s located on 27 acres of wooded land and features 8 suites and 7 cottages, each with its own private entrance and outdoor hot tub. But the big appeal of staying at the Roxbury at Stratton Falls is the fabulous themes of each room.
Henderson and Masa are NYC transplants with a passion for the theater, and they’ve used that flare for the dramatic to transform the elegant mansion inn. They’ve trimmed it out with bespoke décor and elaborate themes that make each stay a special and unforgettable experience! There is no other hotel like it in the world. It's been featured on CBS News, In Forbes, Reader's Digest, USA Today, POPSUGAR, the New York Post and several travel magazines.
You can enjoy a stay in the stunning mansion, with sprawling suites that feature charming and graceful themes based on local legend and history. Or stay in the magical tower cottages, with more whimsical themes like Cinderella’s Dress and Dracula’s Fangs.
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!
Photo credit: The Roxbury
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.
Jay booked 6 paid nights at a cost of $3774, But if you factor in the 3 FREE nights ($3774 divided by 9 nights) the cost comes out to a reasonable $419 per night.
It's difficult to book a plain old mid range hotel room during peak season at that price! This was a 2 bedroom cottage with 2 bathrooms.
You're not likely to get those amenities in a plain old standard $419 per night hotel room either.
Check for promotions on the Roxbury Hotel website and take advantage of them when booking. We planned our trip dates and itinerary around that promotion and the availability of the 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.
One of the most enjoyable and enjoyable activities for families to do in Roscoe, New York, is to spend time at the peaceful outdoor getaway known as Roscoe Campsites.
Along with amenities including tent, RV, and cozy cabin camping, the park offers neighboring Beaverkill River fishing, hiking, and kayaking.
Other Campsites:
experience. Campers have praised the scenic views and the cleanliness of the facilities.
Beaverkill Campground: This campground is appreciated for its cleanliness and quiet atmosphere, with easy
access to the river for fishing and other water activities. Campers have noted the friendly staff and well-maintained facilities.
Russell Brook Campsites: Known for its spacious sites and direct access to Russell Brook, this campground
provides a tranquil setting for nature lovers. It is ideal for families looking for a peaceful getaway.
Butternut Grove Campsites: Offers standard and waterfront campsites, as well as mini cabins. Each site is
equipped with water, electricity, and Wi-Fi, making it a comfortable choice for campers.
But that's not the same as a theme cottage and/or a fantasy getaway? Why can't it be?
Got a tent? Some battery operated LED string lights? Some artificial vines you can get at a dollar store for a buck apiece? Some big fluffy pillows? A cot or air mattress to sleep on?
If you're camping in the Catskills, odds are you're already in the forest! Now just make it an enchanted fairy forest, for example! Or any other theme you want to make it...
All you have to do is provide the 'spark' and your child's imagination will do the rest. Kids have wonderful imaginations and you don't have to break the bank to spark those imaginations.
Day 1 - Roxbury & Arkville
Morning: Arrive in Roxbury and get settled into your accommodations. Count on this taking longer than usual if you're traveling with kids and have rented one of the Roxbury Hotel theme rooms or cottages. They'll explore every bit of it.
We hung back when we arrived at the Roxbury, handed Ashley the key card and let the girls go into the cottage.
There was a couple of seconds of silence, the girls obviously confused.
"Your bedroom is upstairs", Jay told them.
Shrieks, squeals and ear piercing screams that nearly took our eardrums out. The girls raced around at warp speed exploring every nook and cranny of that cottage. That was fine by us as we could take a breather after the long drive.
Later that morning we explored the resort grounds that are magnificently landscaped with gardens, outdoor firepit areas, and that beautiful waterfall.
The Roxbury Gardens
After you're settled in, walk 350 feet into the town of Roxbury itself. 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. The man who waited on us was very friendly and we asked him where a good place to have lunch was.
Afternoon: Head 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.
WOW! is all I can say. Always listen to the locals.
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 to one of the
local men, who invited him to golf with them the next day. I could tell Jay wasn't sure what to answer but that he really wanted to go golfing so I told him "Go! The girls and I will have a girls day while you're golfing!" Music to his ears. And I believe changing up your planned itinerary, even if it's last minute can lead to some of the best travel experiences.
After lunch, drive 6 minutes to Halcottsville to Susan's Pleasant Pheasant Farm, 1 Bragg Hollow Road, Halcottsville, NY on Lake Wawaka.
Lake Wawaka
Susan's Pleasant Pheasant Farm is actually a beautiful Bed & Breakfast right on the lake. ($300 per night for a really nice and spacious lakeside suite if you'd like to consider Jim and Sue's place for accommodations!)
They also rent canoes, kayaks and paddleboards and have a picnic area, hiking trails and swimming.
Rent a kayak or canoe, paddle the lake to see the wildlife, then take a dip in the lake to cool off.
Evening: We had a special treat in store for the girls that night so returned to the hotel to rest up after kayaking and swimming and before heading out for 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, neither of them having been on a dinner train before.
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 train ride. (I couldn't find any discounts, deals or special promotions on this one, sorry!)
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.
After the dinner train excursion, return to your accommodations. We spent the remainder of the evening sitting around the firepit making S'mores and stargazing.
Day 2 - Windham
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.
Also, it's very inexpensive. Expect to pay around $20 for a breakfast for 4.
After breakfast, Jay headed out for his golf game and we gals decided we'd do a girls spa day.
There's 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 Soa,
16 Mitchell Hollow Road, Windham
Windham Spa
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 left the store, we were greeted by this guy on the front porch!
That's when we realized the Country Store had a little farm there, even including 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 decided to head back to the hotel.
Feeding Wilbur peaches
Once back at the hotel, we took a dip in the pool and relaxed poolside with mocktails from the Crooked Cabana.
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. 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
Day 3 - Windham & Maplecrest
Morning: We had our complimentary hotel breakfast. If you don't have complimentary breakfast with your accommodations, have breakfast in town.
Over breakfast the girls decided they wanted to go bicycling on our R&R day. We stopped at the grocery store and picked up food for a picnic.
Up for some mountain biking? 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.
We brought our bicycles but they weren't mountain bikes so we headed for Windham Mountain Outfitters,
61 State Route 296, Windham, NY to rent mountain bikes.
Bike the Windham Path Trail.
Photo credit: Town of Windham
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.
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 bike rental place to return our bikes.
Evening: Have dinner at Millrock Restaurant, 5398 NY-23, Windham.
The girls wanted pizza for dinner.
Millrock Restaurant was a good solution - pizza for the girls, steak and seafood for Jay and I.
The restaurant operates on a first-come, first-served basis and does not accept reservations.
My review? Highly overpriced and service can be hit or miss. The food was good, not exceptional, just good but then in this area of the Catskills, restaurants seem to go in and out of business as the wind changes direction, so it's difficult to find suitable restaurants without driving a distance.
We wanted to go to The Fierce Grizzly, only to discover it has permanently closed.
Evening: Return to your accommodations. If you're like Jay and I, hit that hot tub to soothe your aching muscles from all that biking!
Day 4 - Margaretville & Middleburgh
Morning: Have breakfast at your accommodations or in town.
Drive 11.5 miles to and 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.
Before we left I'd bought an Enchanted Forest game for the girls to play to keep them entertained at night. I'd made fairy themed travel journals for each of them as well.
Jay had bought each of them fairy costumes,
This kept them occupied and gave us a chance to have some quiet time to relax.
Homemade Fettucine, grilled chicken with pesto, blistered tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, and ricotta grated on top! Amazing!
Day 5 - 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!"
Never mess with we old people. We're past the age of caring what anyone thinks of what we do or say and are waaaaaaay past the point of allowing people to mess with us.
Little did they know Uncle Jay about to fix their "Going for a walk is BORING! wagons.
Morning: Have breakfast, then drive to Roscoe, about 53 minutes/45 miles from Roxbury. Directions
You're looking for 12 Bestenheimer Road - Buck Brook Alpacas. These guys
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 me 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.
A 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
Monday: 8 AM–6 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Gyro platter
After lunch we visited 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.
This often necessitated taking the Beast so the girls had someplace to change in and out of their fairy costumes, as was the case at the Beaverkill Bridge...but it was oh so worth it.
Evening: Have dinner at Northern Farmhouse Pasta, 65 Rockland Road, Roscoe, NY
Photos credit: Northern Farmhouse Pasta
Evening: 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.
After dinner, return to Roxbury and your accommodations.
Day 6 - Kingston
Morning: Have breakfast in Roxbury.
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.
Photo credit: getawaymavens.com
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.
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.
Adults $15 / Seniors $12 / Children
Price includes general museum admission.
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.
Solaris Cruise Schedule here ...If you want to take a ride that's not a private charter.
Explore the town of Kingston. Head on over to the Trolley Museum, 89 East Strand Street, Kingston.
Photo credit: Kingston Trolley Museum
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.
NINE GREAT RESTAURANTS TO TRY IN KINGSTON
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.
Day 7 -
Hunter Mountain & Mount Temper
We thought the girls might need and R&R day...but nope! They were rarin' to go!
Morning: Have breakfast at either your accommodations or at a local restaurant.
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.
This is an instructional video but it will give you an idea of what the Sky Ride is like.
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
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.
hursday – Monday 10am – 5pm
Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Take the rest of the day as an R&R day and just chill.
Day 8
Return home.
DECORATIONS
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. We also bought the fairy party banner. Everything else Mary and I already had in our crafts inventory.
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 frogs 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 Spanish moss at the top of the photo backdrop and dollar store ivy vines in front of that.
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.
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.
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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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Food/Menu
Onion & Spinach Pizza Rolls
Flower Sandwiches with
Edible Flowers
Spring Deviled Eggs
Caprese Salad
Butterfly Strawberry Salad
Pixie Stix for Fairy Dust
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
A fairy spin on Pin the Tail On the Donkey.
Available here from Amazon for $7.
MAKE YOUR OWN FAIRY POTIONS
My friend 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
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.