For those in the Metro NY area, summer in the mountains usually conjures up images of endless car rides north or plane flights west. But this doesn’t have to be the case. If your idea of summer in the mountains includes hundred mile views, vertical crags, pristine lakes and historic lodges, then check out Mohonk Mountain House, about an hour and half from New York City.
Mohonk is perched high on the Shwangunk ridge overlooking the Hudson Valley. Right outside the door is a crystal clear lake and a short hike away (perfect for kids of any age) is the Skytop Tower providing amazing views in all directions. If you want more hiking, there are 85 miles of hiking trails to explore, ranging from carriage roads to rugged single tracks.
For the mildly adventurous, try the Labyrinth, a marked trail through a jumble of boulders at the base of the cliffs. Our family had a great time climbing under, over and through the rocks, and most kids 4 and over can handle it. For more excitement, try rock-climbing with Alpine Endeavors, professional guides lead by Marty Molitoris. The cliffs at Skytop offer some of the best rock climbing on the East Coast.
On the water there’s boating, kayaking, swimming and fishing. From the dock we watched as giant trout (15 – 18 inches) gobbled up the fish food our kids tossed into the water, though I think my son was more interested in the snake sunning itself lazily on a nearby rock. On-site there’s also golf, beautiful gardens with an award winning hedge maze, bike riding, clay tennis courts and more.
Stepping into the hotel is an experience unto itself. The resort was founded in the 1800’s and the historical aura is awe inspiring. The Victorian architecture led my 10 year-old to say “I hope we stay in Gryffindor tower.” Walking the halls you’ll see photos from the past 140 years. I’m not much of a history buff, but often found myself pausing to read the captions below the images on the walls. It’s impossible not to be impressed by the living history presented.
While history abounds, one of the newest additions to the resort is the Spa. We enjoyed the massage treatments, while the kids loved the indoor pool. The Spa has all the amenities you’d expect and after the outdoor activities you’ll appreciate the fact that it’s there. To take advantage of the spa, we dropped our kids off at the Kid’s Club for a couple of hours. By the time we picked them up, they’d hiked, nature spotted, and created some works of art. The kids club is included in your overnight stay, so take advantage of it.
Meals are also included in your stay and the food was excellent. While proper dress is required for dinner (no jeans or sneakers for the gents) it never felt stuffy. The buffets offered a wide variety and we helped ourselves to seconds and thirds. When the weather cooperates, make reservations to dine at the Outdoor Cookout at the Granery that overlooks the lake.
In two nights we were hosted by the resort, we packed in a weeks worth of entertainment and activities. For a full on summer in the mountains experience that doesn’t eat up time with travel, take advantage of all that Mohonk Mountain House has to offer.
