Sit Visit: Mohonk Mountain House

It is located only about one-and-a-half hours from NYC. For those without a car, it is easily accessible by taking the Trailways bus from NY Port Authority to New Paltz, NY, and Mohonk has a complimentary shuttle that will pick you up from town, about 10 minutes away. Alternatively, a train to Poughkeepsie via Metro North at Grand Central (runs regularly and no advance ticket is needed) or via Amtrak. You must take a taxi from Poughkeepsie (the hotel can help or rideshare,) which takes about 40 minutes.  

Mohonk Mountain House is not a budget-friendly stay, BUT it can be well justified by receiving three gourmet meals and a slew of activities (varies depending on the season). They have periodic sales and offer a mid-week special of 20-30% off. They also offer two different meal plans breakfast, lunch and dinner or breakfast and dinner only. I can see the latter being a better option in the warmer months as you might be out all day after breakfast hiking and skip lunch anyway. 

Meals- All meals are included. Reservations are needed for the main dining room and can be arranged at booking. There are two options for breakfast: there is a grab-and-go in the central area starting at 7:00 AM, which is excellent for those early risers. Breakfast and lunch are also served buffet-style in the main dining room. Dinner is a la carte with a choice of an appetizer, main and dessert. Non-alcoholic beverages are included. In the summer, they serve lunch in a picnic area, BBQ style, i.e., hamburgers, hotdogs, etc. Menus and buffet items are all marked regarding any dietary preferences. My husband is a vegan and he felt delighted with the selections. There are even yummy vegan desserts. The resort prides itself on its farm-to-table cuisine. The serve coffee and tea all day and snacks in the early evening. There is a gift shop to buy other snacks and homemade ice cream. 

Activities vary depending on the season. There is a ton and too much to list, and all are included. Having stayed in the winter, they provided micro-cleats, snowshoes or skis for cross-country skiing, along the miles of hiking paths and land. Ice skating and toasting marshmallows on an open fire were also on the menu. Guided hikes and tours of the property are also available, as well as nightly entertainment, such as trivia night, talks and movies.

There is a beach off their lake for swimming, boating, fishing and tennis in the spring/summer and an all-year Kids Club (open only on the weekends for winter), which is complimentary and allows you to drop off your children ages 4-12. They also have a Junior Naturalist Program. There is a large extensive gym with free weights and machines as well as group fitness classes. They have horse stables and offer guided rides, carriage rides and pony rides that can be arranged for a fee. There was also a fantastic Barn Museum on the property with a ton of items collected through the years.

The Spa was very recently renovated and was a highlight on our trip. There are private and co-ed solariums, steam saunas and a co-ed outdoor heated jetted spa. Purchasing a spa service permits you to access the spa area/locker room all day.  

Accommodations: They are currently finishing up renovations to the Rock Tower. This is part of a five-year plan to renovate all of their rooms, which will occur from January to May of each year. The room's décor are very much, in the traditional sense, and well cared for, but I would say definitely in need of those renovations. The renovated rooms are kept to that traditional sense with a clean, modern twist. Some have fireplaces and balconies with views of the lake or the mountains. There are some family suites, larger suites, two bedded and connecting rooms. The best way to get the room you need is to call. I found the reservation hosts very easy to work with and extremely knowledgeable about the property. One important thing to mention is that rooms have WiFi but no TV. Some of the family suites have TVs; you will need to ask if TV is a priority.

Traditional non-renovated room

Renovated Room

This resort is appropriate for solo travelers, couples and multi-gen and families and is an excellent getaway in all seasons for a weekend or a week. There are a ton of things to do, see and take in. Guests can do as much or as little as they like. I will be back.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to New York City. In need of further inspiration? Check out Erica Gould’s guide, How to Spend 1 Week in NYC with Tweens.