6 Best Hotels in The Catskills, New York

The spectacular Catskills vistas at this B&B—the former summer home of mayonnaise magnate Richard Hellman—will leave you breathless. A massive stone fireplace presides over the great room, a magnificent space with a soaring ceiling. Oriental rugs, scattered across wide-plank honey-color floors, cushion your every step, and Asian antiques and American pieces enjoy an elegant coexistence. Some rooms have fireplaces and hot tubs, and one has a window seat with dazzling valley views. Play billiards in the cavernous game room, or sweat it out in the sauna. The loveliest spot might be the 60-foot dining terrace, where you're treated to expansive views of the mountains.

Ecce is Latin for "behold," and the word fits: from a seemingly precarious perch on a ridge overlooking the Delaware, travelers get a true eagle's eye view of the river's majesty from every room. Sitting on the main deck imparts a feeling not unlike being suspended 300 feet over a valley. It's not unusual for resident raptors, eagles, ospreys, and hawks to float at eye level, riding thermals in search of prey far below. Trails lace the inn's 60 acres, and a hammock graces rock outcropping above the resort. Myriad outdoor activities are close by, including hiking, rafting, kayaking, and skiing. Innkeepers Alan and Kurtis have meticulously created a serene getaway that's removed, but not distant, from other Catskill attractions.

The exterior of this single-story 1950s motel reveals little of what's inside the meticulously appointed suites, owned by Kate Pierson of the B-52s. The funky decor includes vintage pieces—Eames furniture, Russel Wright kitchenware—as well as custom wallpaper and handcrafted bathroom tiles and shower curtains. Most of the suites have a mint '50s kitchen and a sitting area with a gas fireplace; some suites have sleeping lofts and private decks. Lush gardens designed by Dean Riddle (a nationally known garden writer and green thumb) surround the red motel. A bonfire pit overlooks Esopus Creek, where you can fish for trout.