4 Best Hotels in New Paltz, Hudson Valley

The rambling Victorian-era hotel—a jumble of towers, chimneys, porches, and turrets—sits at the edge of a mountaintop lake. The resort's 1,200 acres encompass private woodland and elaborate gardens and overflow with options for recreation, including 85 miles of hiking trails. Antiques fill the guest rooms, which are luxurious and spacious. The on-site spa includes an indoor heated pool with mountain views, a solarium with a fireplace, a fitness center, and full-service salon. Choice accommodations in the towers have original Victorian woodwork, wood-burning fireplaces, and balconies. Your room rate includes three meals daily, plus afternoon tea and cookies, and most resort activities. Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style; dinner is a formal affair (men may want to wear jackets). Four self-catering cottages, which sleep four to six people, are also available and include full kitchens.

Cathedral ceilings, Arts and Crafts styling, and towering windows with views of white cliffs or deep forests contribute to the delight of this lodge. Works by local artists and photographers add interest. Some guest rooms have balconies.

Linger over breakfast by the pool and hot tub, which face the Shawangunk cliffs, or in the country kitchen. Later you may want to test your badminton game in the garden or shoot some pool in the cozy rec room, which also features a fireplace. Frills and florals adorn furnishings in the guest rooms.

Seven miles southeast of New Paltz, this all-inclusive dude ranch is loaded with activities for all seasons, including a children's zoo and the Big Splash Waterpark with the 250-foot long Gold Rush Flume Ride. Summer fun includes kayaking, water-skiing, and boat rides, while during the winter you can enjoy skiing, snow-tubing, ice-skating, and horse-drawn sleigh rides. All instruction and equipment is included with your stay. Accommodations include rooms in the main lodge, where the lobby is hung with wagon wheels, and motel-style buildings.