4 Best Hotels in Rhinebeck, Hudson Valley

America's oldest operating inn, the Beekman Arms is a welcoming presence in the center of town. Beyond the massive doors are wide-plank floors, beamed ceilings, and a stone hearth. The original 1766 building has smallish though cheery and comfortable colonial-style rooms with modern baths. One block north on U.S. 9 is "the Beek's" sister, the Delamater Inn. The American Gothic masterpiece, designed by Alexander Jackson Davis, has a hidden courtyard. The guesthouse behind the inn houses pet-friendly, motel-style rooms.

On a quiet tree-lined street 3 mi from Rhinebeck center, this inn has a resident ghost who reportedly appears with some regularity in the Spirited Dove room. Edith Thomas tends to her guests, telling them the fascinating history of this house, built by German settlers. Much of the original detail in this circa-1745 inn has been beautifully preserved. The country decor mixes rustic pieces with some finer furnishings.

Set in a quaint hamlet overlooking the Hudson River just 3 miles from Rhinebeck, the Rhinecliff is a beautifully restored boutique hotel right next to the Amtrak train station. Rooms are airy with antique beams and balconies with spectacular river views.

You can't help but leave the city pressures behind as you drive up the fence-lined road to this farm where horses graze. The main house is homey and rustic, with more-refined, contemporary-country guest rooms. You may sit on one of many decks and enjoy the display of wildflowers. In winter, the fieldstone fireplace is put to use. For more privacy, stay in the Carriage House, a converted barn with two suites. Breakfast—pancakes or egg dishes—is hearty, and home-baked pie and cake are readily available. After fueling up, explore one of the trails on the grounds.