good for you

Just two hours north of New York City, this 19th century farmhouse is a delightful bed and breakfast set on five pastoral acres in an incredibly pretty and historically rich corner of the United States. Take a walk along the Hudson River, drive through the nearby Catskills, hunt for antiques or take part in the many outdoor activities the area offers - from kayaking in the summer to skiing and tobogganing in the winter. There are some excellent museums and art galleries nearby, as well as many heritage sites, including the Mount Lebanon Shaker Village and Olana, and several historic homes, including Persian-style mansion of Frederic Edwin Church, one of the Hudson River's most important painters.

The inn itself is a cosy and welcoming place, with comfortable and well-furnished rooms and chickens pecking about the garden and frogs croaking in the ponds, serving hearty organic breakfasts and delicious afternoon teas.

good for new york

With only three guest rooms, this bed and breakfast is pretty low-impact - it's in an old 19th century farmhouse, and the owners do their best to adopt eco-friendly practises. One third of the electricity is solar-generated and all light fittings and appliances are energy-saving. The inn buys locally and hires local tradespeople, gardeners and household help who all receive fair wages. Another eco-plus - you can get there on the Amtrak train.

Rooms

Food

All foods served at the inn are organic and seasonal whenever possible. Breakfast - and, on weekends, afternoon tea with home made pie - feature produce from the inn's own organic vegetable and herb gardens as well as produce sourced from local farms and whole food stores. Fresh eggs come from the inn's own chickens. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian selections are available, freshly baked breads, fresh fruits and juices and fair trade coffees and teas.

There are several wonderful restaurants within a short drive of the bed and breakfast and two very good restaurants are only 2 miles away. Your hosts have tried them all and are happy to make recommendations.

For daytime excursions, the inn can provide reasonably priced organic picnic lunches and candlelit dinners can also be arranged for an extra cost.

Features & Facilities

• Non-chlorinated salt-filtered swimming pool
• Library well stocked with classics and reference books on the area
• Organic gardens and grounds with ponds and outdoor games.
• Children are invited to help with faming activities like feeding the chickens, hunting for eggs and milking the cow.

Local Info & Activities

the inn and its grounds

Explore the gardens, swim in the pool, swing on one of the swings, or catch frogs or fish in the ponds. There is badminton, soccer, croquet and tetherball on the lawns.

Locally there are many points of interest, seasonal festivals and recreational activities to explore. The Inn is located within easy driving distance from many historic Hudson River Valley towns as well as the Catskill and Berkshire Mountains. There is also sledding and ice skating on site when the winters are cold enough and down hill skiing is less than half hour away.

further afield

This part of New York State is filled with points of interest and places of natural beauty. You can explore the area by car or bicycle (the inn can arrange bike rental on request). The Catskill mountains and the historic Hudson River Valley are both excellent places for driving.

historic towns and homes

Much of New York state and US history had it foundations along the Hudson River. The homes of many prominent early American families; a the Shaker settlement at Lebanon; and Olana, the home of Frederick Church, a Hudson River School painter, are just a few of the historic places open to the public. The nearest town of Hudson (pop 6,200) is filled with examples of 19th century architecture, and there are lovely views of the Hudson River. The area also has a remarkable selection of antique stores and auction houses, as well as country and farmers' markets.

outdoor activities

Columbia County is an outdoor paradise, with year-round sporting opportunities. Winter activities include skiing, snowboarding and skating, while in the summer kayaking, fishing, cycling, and swimming are all readily available. There is also sailing on the Hudson River and you can pick your own seasonal fruits and vegetables on local farms.

cultural activities

Year round, you can find cultural activities to enjoy from one end of the county to the other. There is a wide choice of live music from jazz, blues, folk, rock, country and bluegrass. Local theatres offer plays, comedies, musicals and poetry readings. Indoor and outdoor art exhibitions are a frequent event in the local towns while seasonal festivals celebrate the arts, the seasons, antiques and food.

Movies, live music and/or theatre can be enjoyed most nights of the week in and around the nearby town of Hudson.

insider tips

Spring starts in March but the warmth doesn't arrive until late April. March and April are windy months with ever-changing weather. Leaves open and flowers bloom in early May. Summers can be hot and sultry with temperatures in the 90¡F range. Peak summer months are July, August and early September. Fall is crisp and clear and beautifully colourful - the peak fall month is October. Winters can be snowy and very cold, with temperatures sometimes dropping to below 0¡F.

Make sure you bring a photo ID, credit card, ATM card, drivers licence, casual clothing like jeans and a sweat shirt, and comfortable walking shoes. The neighbourhood is not known for formality in dress, but there are opportunities to dress up if you go on an evening cruise along the Hudson River, or out for dinner or the theatre. For the most part the museums, historical sites, festivals and surrounding towns are quite casual.

Sustainability

Construction: The inn focuses on recycling and restoring as opposed to rebuilding, using local and recycled materials and employing local tradespeople._

Energy: One third of the inn's electricity is solar. Compact fluorescent light bulbs and motion sensor lighting outside help to conserve energy, and the inn uses energy efficient appliances.

Cooling: Fans, natural ventilation and intelligent use of shading keeps the inn cool during the summer. Individual room air conditioning is used only when it is very hot and humid. The house is well insulated with many large and old trees throwing shade on the property. _

Cleaning: The inn does not use perfumes or harsh chemical cleansers in cleaning or laundering, and linens are air-dried. Instead vinegar, baking soda and other non-chemical cleaners are used to clean the house, the dishes and the laundry. The vacuum has a HEPA filter. Floors have area rugs, which are removed weekly. Rugs are beaten out doors and then vacuumed. Curtains are washed seasonally and the heavy drapes used for winter are replaced by light curtains in summer. The floors are wiped with a damp rag by hand weekly. _

Water: Water use is minimized in the laundry, dishwashing, gardening and bathrooms. The inn has one rainwater tank that collects water for the garden, and intends to install more.

Cooking: The inn practices and support organic farming methods and buys from local farmers. The produce from the inn's own gardens is turned into home-made preserves. Groceries are bought in bulk and all meals made from scratch. _

Insect, pest control: The inn cultivates organic vegetable, herb and flower gardens and does not use pesticides. Companion planting helps ward off pests, while manure and compost fertilize the gardens. The chickens are free range and birds are encouraged to nest, as well as bats.

Getting There

The B&B is only two hours from New York City by train. The Amtrak station at Hudson is only 5 miles (8km) from the B&B, a $10 cab ride.

The nearest airport is at Albany, some 45 miles (72km) away and the nearest bus stop is at Catskills (20 miles or 32 km)

Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.

Rates & Bookings

lavender room with shared bathroom

In-season $130.00 | Off-season $120.00

The lavender room with its subdued colors and lighting on the west side of the house has a very peaceful feel to it. The double antique bed with down quilt has a linen duvet. Two comfortable upholstered chairs can be pulled up to a drop leaf table to share a private tea or candle light dinner. A new connecting room has also been added with 2 single beds and so it is perfect for a family! Plenty of storage in the large closet and double dresser. Private bathroom.

rose room with private bathroom.

In-season $135.00 | Off-season $125.00

The Rose Room looks out over rolling meadows and flower gardens. It has a queen sized bed with all natural fiber bedding, a private shower bathroom and an antique table for two to share a cup of tea or a bottle of wine. Curl up with a book in the corner loveseat. Plenty of closet storage and cabinet space in the bathroom.

sumac room with shared bathroom.

In-season $125.00 | Off-season $115.00

The Sumac room in the west back corner of the house looks out over flower gardens and meadows. It has the charm of an old farmhouse bedroom and the comfort of a soft organic matress on an queen sized iron bed. This room has a comfortable reclining chair and a table for two . Plenty of storage in the closet and the antique dresser. This room shares a roomy bathroom with shower and tub.

booking conditions

• All rates include breakfast
• Minimum stay of 2 nights at weekend or holidays.
• Rates are per night and assume 2 guests per room.
• A $25/night fee is required for one extra child in parent's room over the age of 12, children 4-12 years are $15 and under 4 years are free.
• A deposit equivalent to 10% of the total cost of stay is required in order to secure a booking. The balance is due at check in.
• If you cancel your reservation at any time up until 7 days prior to arrival, you will lose the 10% deposit.
• If you cancel your reservation less than 7 days before arrival date, you will lose your 10% deposit plus one night's room charge.
• Cancellations made 24 hours or less before arrival date will incur a cancellation fee of 100% of total cost of booking.
• Check-in hours are 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM and check-out is 11:00 AM. Late check-in can be accommodated by prior arrangement.

Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.