An Artful Escape

On a late summer day, we drove the iconic windy mountain roads towards our destination, Deer Mountain Inn, a historic boutique hotel and our home for the next three nights. Before arriving at the inn, we stopped for lunch at Circle W Market, a charming country store dating back to 1908 and a favorite lunch stop for those travelling to the towns of Tannersville, Hunter, Windham, and beyond.

After lunch, we drove along the mountain roads passing Bastion Falls on the infamous hairpin turn on Route 23A. We arrived at the inn, a historic Arts & Crafts style hotel dating back to 1880. Deer Mountain Inn is a longtime favorite destination of mine, boasting handsome interiors, expansive mountain views, 168 wooded acres, and some of the best food you’ll find in the area. After settling into our room, we went downstairs for a delicious dinner of steak and martinis while overlooking the mountains. After dinner, we played pool in the hotel’s attic room complete with a fireplace and honor bar. You really felt transported to another time here – the location and interiors are unparalleled.

After our tour, we headed to Catskill’s Main Street to pop into some favorite shops including Made X Hudson, Spike’s Record Rack, and Magpie Bookshop. After some shopping, we had lunch at Willa’s, the perfect spot to linger and read a book, coffee in hand.

Next we headed north along the Hudson River to explore Coxsackie, a town flowing with historic riverfront charm and a growing wave of stylish shops. We paid a visit to Reed Street Bottle Shop, Pilot House Paper, and Coxsackie General Store before strolling along the stunning waterfront park.

We continued our tour of historic homes in the area with a visit to The Bronck House, a National Historic Landmark with over 350 years of architectural history. Our private tour was expertly crafted, showcasing the oldest surviving house north of the metropolitan area and explored its beautiful grounds. A must visit for anyone with a love for interiors or history.

After a luxurious morning including breakfast in the inn and a soak in our room’s tub, we ventured out for the day to explore Tannersville and the nearby area.

First we stopped at the Mountain Top Arboretum for a peaceful stroll, exploring winding paths, open meadows and stunning mountain views. Located right down the road from the inn, this native plant garden is free and open to the public.

After our stroll, we visited the town of Tannersville also known as “The Painted Village in the Sky” because of its brightly colored buildings on Main Street. We stopped into Tannersville Antiques to find some treasures before having lunch at Mama’s Boy Burgers, an old-fashioned burger and shake joint that we always make a point of visiting when we’re in the area.

We went back to the Deer Mountain Inn to relax by the fireplace before venturing out again for dinner at Matilda in Hensonville. Located in The Henson, Matilda is a cozy restaurant with a focus on locally sourced ingredients. We enjoyed specialty cocktails and oysters in their beautifully lit dining room while the chefs prepared our meal in the open kitchen.