After a two-day visit to the hustle and bustle that is Manhattan, this SoCal girl was excited to visit a town that is what can only be described as a storybook come-to-life: the picturesque and romantic Rhinebeck, NY. I’d been invited to a college girlfriend’s wedding and made the trip solo, challenging myself to really take advantage of the sightseeing during my latest trip to New York.
Taking the train out of the city, I felt as if I were entering a completely different world as I watched the concrete and brick buildings melt away and turn into pastures, farmhouses and beautiful colonial homes that dotted the shoreline of the Hudson River. Only an hour and a half north of Manhattan, Rhinebeck is the home to historic mansions and 18th and 19th century architecture…the perfect getaway anytime of year.
Upon arriving at the Rhinecliff train station, I hopped into a cab and took the 10-minute ride into town. I was immediately enamored with the quaint cafes, refined restaurants, chic clothing stores, various antique shops and the art-house movie theater. If you can imagine the perfect setting of a great, romantic fairytale, this place is it. Rhinebeck offers the visitor an opportunity to take a load off and forget about the constant traffic and noise found in Manhattan.
STAY: Beekman Arms/Delamater Inn-The Beekman Arms is the oldest operating Inn in America, with 73 rooms throughout several buildings on the property. I had the pleasure of staying in the Delamater House, designed in 1844 by famed architect, Alexander Jackson Davis. Reminiscent of a life-size doll house, my quaint and darling room welcomed me with a carafe of cream sherry on one of the end tables. I woke up feeling like beloved Anne of Green Gables, though the flat screen television brought in modern luxuries.
DINE: Terrapin—divided into two sections–one an informal bistro for the under $20 crowd and one section for those of you who want to go all out. Touts locally grown, worldly cuisine. Order the artichoke and ricotta ravioli in a garlic cream sauce if they have it (menu changes seasonally). You won’t be disappointed.
DO: Leisurely strolls in the adorable shops—I fell in love with Paper Trail and being inspired by the colonial, pre-Internet era, I bought a lovely set of stationery. Other attractions include The Culinary Institute of America, Vanderbilt Mansion National and Eleanor Roosevelt’s home, Val-Kill Cottage. There are also a number of places to go hiking as well as apple picking. Ah, country life!
WHEN TO GO: This time of year (fall), while more crowded, promises breathtaking backdrops perfect for a storybook romance.
Beekman Arms/Delamater Inn. 6387 Mill Street. Rhinebeck, NY. 845-876-7077
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