Hudson Valley

New Paltz, NY, is a picturesque village in Ulster County (Hudson Valley region), just under an hour’s drive from NYC. We spent the weekend at a farmhouse before moving on to the hotel where I was attending a work meeting for three days.

Fire pit at the Robibero Family Vineyards. They have board games inside that entertained the kids while we did an extensive tasting. It’s an expansive outdoor setting with picnic benches and tables on a huge balcony overlooking the vineyards. Staff were so great with the kids and gave them pizza baked in the outdoor oven.

We caught the Chili Challenge again this year at the Water Street Market

The Mohonk Preserve Foothills Gatehouse. Photo courtesy of Keith Kelly – More of his photos of Mohonk and New Paltz are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithkelly/albums/72157676203397664/with/32512450892/

This is the second year I attended a meeting held at Mohonk Mountain House, in the Mohonk Preserve that’s set in the Shawangunk Mountains. It’s the dead of winter, with very few activities and most of the trails closed due to ice. But it’s such an isolated, idyllic environment that the winter solace makes it so peaceful, notwithstanding the creepy “institution” vibe the setting gives!

Photo courtesy of Keith Kelly – More of his photos of Mohonk and New Paltz are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithkelly/albums/72157676203397664/with/32512450892/

The trails were closed but you can sneak on to them. This cove was from the trails outside the newer end of the buildings. Photo courtesy of Keith Kelly – More of his photos of Mohonk and New Paltz are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithkelly/albums/72157676203397664/with/32512450892/

View from the Conference Rooms and main house

View from the Parlor where afternoon tea is served by the fireplaces

Meeting attendees had a spare 20 minutes to test out the skating rink

The pool was almost always empty. Photo courtesy of Keith Kelly – More of his photos of Mohonk and New Paltz are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithkelly/albums/72157676203397664/with/32512450892/

On the weekend before we went to Mohonk, we stayed nearby in a farmhouse that we found through AirBnB. We had a lovely host at her fantastic historic farmhouse and barn, where the kids got to feed the chickens and observe some wildlife. I’m a fan of the hosting platform now!