Room at the Inns
New England is known for its charming bed and breakfast inns; so is Cape May, N.J. But did you know there are a handful of equally charming inns and B&Bs within 30 minutes of White Plains that are perfect for a weekend away without the attendant summer traffic?
HAVERSTRAW
The village of Haverstraw, with its urban vibes may not be the first place you'd think of when planning a staycation in the Hudson Valley, but maybe it should be.
There, Casa Hudson at 34 First St. will surprise you. The exterior of this recently renovated Renaissance-style villa is impressive, with Old School stature and style and, from the grand porch, you can watch the boats sail by on the Hudson River. Open the massive front door, and you slip into a hip NYC-style gallery with high ceilings, art on exposed brick walls, distressed wood floors and doors, and one-of-a-kind lighting fixtures. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the Hudson. This is the living room.
“From trash to cash,” said innkeeper and artist Nelson Diaz, who moved up here five years ago with partner Andrea Caccuro, a former design executive.
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They painstakingly restored the 1840s villa from its most recent incarnation as a pre-school, and won the Rockland County Executive's Historic Preservation Merit Award for Adaptive Use in 2015.
Diaz explains that they repurpose whatever they can and have engineered a mixture of antique furnishings to blend seamlessly with the new stuff from places like Home Goods that they refinish to match.
The feeling is decidedly contemporary. Diaz’ artwork hangs throughout the house, and Caccuro does the styling, bringing years of design experience in the fashion industry (having worked for Liz Claiborne, Isaac Mizrahi for Target and Calvin Klein). She currently does business/brand consulting for start-up design brands, and locally, is on the board of the Haverstraw RiverArts Committee, a non-profit that celebrates the community and the Hudson River through music and art. The Haverstraw RiverArts and Music Festival is on Sept. 17.
Open a year now, Casa Hudson has three guest rooms upstairs, each reflecting a different period of the house. In front, you get river views from the blue and white Blauvelt Room with its Juliette balcony and the golden-tinged Roma Room, both with private bath.
The Blauvelt room is so named after the original owner, a pharmacist. The Garden Room is in back, but is larger, with two double beds and a clawfoot soaking tub in lieu of the river view. The entire house can be rented as an option for groups.
Adding to the contemporary flavor and making this more than the traditional B&B are events the couple have created such as “Fellini Night, signature cooking classes: “Celebrating the Tomato Canning with Papa Cilio” (Aug. 20, 27 and Sept. 3), and “Creative Flow Adult Day Camp” (Sept. 24). In January, a weekend intensive detox cooking and yoga intensive is being planned.
Diaz, who is a cyclist, found Haverstraw and the gem of a house via bike rides on a trail that is easily accessible. Hiking is an option. Bikes are available for rent, and the village is walkable, so a car is not essential and lots of ethnic restaurants are nearby. Get here from NYC via Metro North and ferry. 34 First Street, 845-210-1698. For rates, go to casahudsonny.com
Casa Hudson isn't the only, or the first B&B in the village, though.
Innkeepers Michelle and Joe Natale opened the Bricktown Inn 13 years ago. A little more traditional, the Bricktown Inn (named for the industry that made Haverstraw the “Brickmaking Capital of the World” in the 1800s) is located at 112 Hudson Ave.
The Natales have operated the renovated Victorian-style red brick house as an inn for 13 years. Built in 1868, it has a big front porch full of comfortable wicker furniture and architectural features inside that are true to the period: mahogany staircase, tall ceilings, plaster moldings.
“I want guests to feel like they have stepped back in the 1800s,” said Michelle Natale. She has succeeded. Each of the four bedrooms has a private bath and antique furnishings. www.bricktowninnbnb.com.
What else is there to do? Head to the Garner Arts Center. Housed in a reclaimed Civil War-era industrial center, there are art shows and an outdoor sculpture garden here. 55 W. Railroad Ave., Garnerville, garnervillearts.com, 845-947-1155. Dining out: Don't let the name fool you — UNoodles is way more than just a noodle bar. A more casual restaurant from the team behind Union (also in Haverstraw), the industrial-chic space beckons you to the large U-shaped bar and restored communal table where you're encouraged to mix and match from the menu's diverse small-plates. 14 Main St., Haverstraw, 845-947-7625. www.unoodles.net
COLD SPRING
Heading north on the opposite banks of the Hudson River to Cold Spring, there’s Hudson House on the corner of West and Main streets.
Built in 1832, it has 13 guest rooms, so you can find a bit more anonymity than in a smaller inn, if that’s what you like. It offers two restaurants and private parties. It is a literally a stone’s throw from the river and just steps away from all the shopping Cold Spring is known for. Rates range from $170-$260 per night, depending on accommodations. 2 Main Street, Cold Spring, 845-265-9355, hudsonhouseinn.com
Also in Cold Spring is the Pig Hill Inn at the corner of 73 Main St. where breakfast in bed is a sweet reality with nine rooms to choose from. The three-story brick building was built in 1825, and is filled with antiques and high- quality reproduction period pieces that are also for sale. 73 Main Street, Cold Spring, 845-265-9247, pighillinn.com.
What else is there to do: Shopping. Main Street is lined with cute stores, antique shops and bookstores. Check out Boscobel in nearby Garrison. A period house museum, it also has gorgeous gardens to tour, yoga on the lawn and an events schedule. To get there, hop the trolley, which costs a dime. The trolley runs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and makes stops at Boscobel. Dining out: Roundup Texas Barbecue: Former Texans Bill Villetto, Linda Vaughan and Roy Hammond's unassuming establishment has become a local mecca for smoked meats. Expect long-smoked beef brisket, meaty beef ribs, whole chickens and pork sausage. For sides, go with the ranch beans — a delicious Texas-style take on baked beans that incorporates a healthy dose of chilies and garlic. Go: 2741 Route 9, Cold Spring, 845-809-5557, rounduptxbbq.com
CROTON
Fans of the Tony-winning “Hamilton” will be chagrined to know that the Alexander Hamilton House, a romantic Victorian inn overlooking the Hudson River in Croton- on-Hudson, never played host to the Founding Father. But perhaps he would have enjoyed it.The inn’s eight rooms are all different, but some have fireplaces, and there's a pool with a river view available to guests. 49 Van Wyck Street, Croton-on-Hudson, 914-271-6737, alexanderhamiltonhouse.com. What else is there to do: Learn how to kayak or paddleboard, or rent a canoe at Hudson River Recreation, which runs tours and offers rentals on the Croton River and at Croton Point Park. For information go to www.kayakhudson.com. Dining out: Hit the Ocean House, a local favorite owned by husband-and-wife team Brian and Paula Galvin, who have created an elevated New England-style clam shack in an old railroad car. Disclaimer: They don’t take reservations so be prepared for a wait. 49 N. Riverside Avenue, Croton, 914-271-0702, oceanhouseoysterbar.com.
CHAPPAQUA
The Kittle House in Chappaqua, which dates to the 1790s, has the distinction of being both a historic inn and a well-reviewed restaurant, so guests who spend the night don’t have to wander far for a stellar meal. The Inn has 13 guest suites. Go: 11 Kittle Road, Chappaqua, 914-666-8044, kittlehouse.com. What else is there to do: The Jacob Burns Film Center in nearby Pleasantville is known for independent films and film-related events. The theater is currently showing Daniel Radcliff’s “Swiss Army Man,” a magical realist gonzo buddy comedy. 405 Manville Road, Pleasantville, 914-773-7663, burnsfilmcenter.org. Dining out: Snag a table on the lovely patio just outside the taproom here. Then order your first course: the bigeye tuna sushi pizzetta. Served on a delicately crisped cake of sushi rice, a layer of tuna tossed with spicy Japanese aioli is topped with flying fish roe and a sprinkling of paper-thin jalapeno. 914-666-8044, kittlehouse.com.
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BEDFORD
For some star power, head for the Bedford Post in Bedford. The inn and its restaurant were opened by actor Richard Gere and partner Russell Hernandez in 2007. A Relais & Chateaux property, the inn has eight rooms designed by Gere’s ex Carey Lowell. There are five different layouts and most have a working fireplace; some have a terrace, but all come with Frette linens and towels. Go: 954 Old Post Road, Bedford, 914-234-6386, bedfordpostinn.com.What else is there to do: This is the ultimate staycation. Book a dinner reservation at the Campagna at Bedford Post Inn, a rustic and elegant restaurant whose owner, Michael White, has multiple James Beard nominations under his belt. Spend the night, then head to one of the inn’s onsite yoga classes at its Yoga Loft. Hit up an outdoor concert, part of Caramoor Center For The Arts annual summer music festival, which runs through Aug. 7. 149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah, caramoor.org.Brunch: On Sunday, have a casual brunch or lunch at the Inn’s The Barn. For reservations at Campagna, go to www.campagna-bedford.com
