Showing posts with label Dutchess County. Show all posts

The Old Rhinebeck Inn - A Historic American Farmhouse In Dutchess County New York State

Recently we were lucky to visit the beautiful Dutchess County area of New York State. Dutchess County is located in southeastern New York State, between the Hudson River on its west and the New York–Connecticut border on its east. It's an area of America, with lush green countryside, with vineyards dotting the landscape, farms selling their tasty produce and plenty of outdoor activities.



Our stay for the whistle stop press trip with Dutchess Tourism was the Old Rhinebeck Inn, an early American style farmhouse built around 1745. Located three miles away from the little town of Rhinebeck, just over two hours drive from New York City, this little gem of a farmhouse is tucked away in a rural location surrounded by meadows and trees. 


We had a warm welcome from Cindy who helps run the farmhouse with the owner Jonna and on arrival were offered local apple cider, which is a non-alcoholic beverage like cloudy apple juice. It was delicious and just what we needed after the drive.

 The inn began as a home to the farming family of Johann Michael Pultz and his wife, who extended the house room by room as they had more children.

The four bedrooms at the Old Rhinebeck Inn are all individually furnished in a rustic style. Each room is filled with antiques and has an air of comfort and cosy luxury. Each room has a private bath and/or shower, eco-friendly toiletries, hair dryers and plush soft robes, as well as all the modern conveniences you expect these days like free W-Fi, USB chargers, Netflix and satellite TV.


The little touches in this place make your stay feel extra special. Each room has fresh cut flowers, a guest fridge with complimentary soft drinks and a welcome plate on arrival with scrumptious cookies. Complimentary tea and coffee were available on each floor and fresh milk (including almond milk) provided on request. 

Our room was called the Plow and Harrow suite. A large suite, this consisted of a cosy sitting room, a stylish and rustic bedroom and a cool modern bathroom. 


The furnishings fitted in with the American farmhouse feel. I was particularly impressed with the bed that was huge and really comfortable with a memory foam mattress. The room had a sofa, small table, bedside tables and a little nook to store your clothes. An in-room fridge full of cans of complimentary soft drink were very welcome, and not seen very often in a hotel room.







The bathroom consisted of a shower, separate claw foot bath, toilet, and sink. Everything was suitably pristine and spotlessly clean, which is super important don't you think?

 Toiletries were eco-friendly and the accommodation has a Trip Advisors Green Leaders platinum level for its eco-friendly practices such as recycling and growing their own vegetables. 

 The view from the bathroom and bedroom was of the green fields below but was shaded so no one could see you too. 


There was a gas fire in the room, which I would think would be very welcome on a cold winters day, keeping you cosy and warm.

We had a glimpse of the other rooms as well and some of the highlights are below.











As you can see the whole place was gorgeous and the photos really don't do it justice.  Each room was decorated authentically and in compliment to the history of the inn. 

Breakfast was served at 9am in the dining room and included items such as homemade vegetable frittata, baked french custard pancakes and other scrumptious delights that change on a regular basis. Dishes incorporated organic milk, the freshest eggs from their own chickens, and vegetables picked that day from their garden. 

We were treated to Bircher muesli which was possibly the best I have ever had, avocado toast with radish which was seasoned perfectly, baked eggs with salmon and crispy sauteed potatoes. The juice was a cherry and berry mix packed full of antioxidants. Everything was healthy but tasty too and you certainly wouldn't go hungry with the food on offer. 

Rooms at the Old Rhinebeck Inn start at $225 a night, which for the standard of accommodation I think is fairly priced. It's not cheap certainly but in this instance, I believe you get what you pay for.

 Would we stay here again? Most definitely! I've always wanted to stay in a homely American farmhouse, being brought up with the Waltons TV show in the 1970s. The Old Rhinebeck Inn exceeded every expectation I had on the decor, the amenities and the warm welcome. The breakfast was outstanding and the quality of the ingredients was exceptional. Cindy and Jonna are friendly and warm and were great company too. 

 For more information on what to do in the area check out this post on the village of Rhinebeck. 

 If you are ever staying in the Rhinebeck area or want a luxurious base to explore Dutchess County then I can say with my hand on my heart you can do no wrong staying here.  Thanks to Dutchess Tourism for hosting us. Exceptional.

Olde Rhinebeck Inn
340 Wurtemburg Rd,
Rhinebeck, 

* This was a complimentary stay as part of a press trip

Posted by at 15 comments
Labels: , , , , ,

Top Attractions In Dutchess County New York State

Dutchess County is an area of upstate New York State, known for its countryside, farm areas, parks, nature and outdoor sports but there is more to Dutchess County than just that. Recently we visited as part of a press trip with Dutchess County Tourism and were impressed with the natural beauty of the area and attractions. Here is my post on top attractions in Dutchess County, New York State. I hope you enjoy it!

 Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome

 For your aviation geeks, a trip to Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome is highly recommended. This non-profit organisation has a living history museum where you can see vintage aeroplanes from the Pioneer, Golden Age and WWI eras of aviation. 

 We were lucky to visit on the weekend when they had a great airshow. Firstly there was a model aeroplane show then we were treated to displays by historic aeroplanes such as the 1909 Bleriot, the oldest flying plane in America.  If you want to go up in a Biplane you can do that too, but booking in advance is highly recommended.

Address: 9 Norton Rd, Red Hook, NY 12571
https://oldrhinebeck.org/ 

 Taconic Distillery

Taconic Distillery is known for their award-winning handcrafted bourbon and rye whiskies made in small batches using grains grown in New York and natural spring water from their farm. Sold in 12 states and with awards such as Best Bourbon in 2014 by MAXIM magazine you know you are in for a real treat when you taste it.

 We indulged in a tasting of their class act bourbons. A tasting costs 15 dollars and included a 115 proof bourbon. Wow is all I have to say, that stuff was strong but flavourful too! A stop off for those that love their hard liquor, as they say in the US. It was very relaxing, sitting in a rocking chair looking out over the countryside and sipping bourbon.

Address: 179 Bowen Rd, Stanfordville, NY 12581
https://www.taconicdistillery.com/ 

Staatsburgh State Historic Home


Staatsburg State Historic Home was the elegant country home of Ogden Mills and his wife Ruth Livingston Mills.  This mansion was built during the Gilded Age, an era of the transformation in the economy, technology, government, and social customs of America.
Our tour by Maria Reynolds the curator was incredibly interesting. This was one of 5 houses of the Mills family, their Autumn home, which they visited in the fall every year.  With 75 rooms all lavishly decorated in the French style, the beauty and decor were intricately detailed with no expense spared.  

 To a UK visitor, this historic home is perhaps not widely known but I highly recommend a visit. To see and hear about the life 'below stairs' of the maids and butlers too was fascinating.  They even do special Downton Abbey themed tours.

 Address: 75 Mills Mansion 1 Rd, Staatsburg, NY 12580
https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/25/details.aspx 

Millbrook Vineyards and Winery 


Millbrook Winery has been voted “Best Winery” in the Hudson Valley for the last 20 consecutive years, so you know you are getting a great experience when you visit. The winery bottles over 188,000 bottles a year and is over 36 acres in size with beautiful vineyards all around.


We enjoyed a tasting of some of their award-winning wines including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Tocai Friulano and Riesling, followed by a tour of the vineyard and winery by Jake our tour guide and wine expert. 

 The tasting and tour cost only 15 dollars which we felt was good value for money and lets you try some lovely wines too. Jake was very informative and spoke about the details of how the grapes are grown, the trellis system for the vines and more.

 Address: 26 Wing Rd, Millbrook, NY 12545
http://www.millbrookwine.com/ 

Clinton Vineyards 

Clinton Vineyards is a small boutique winery inspired by the beautiful wineries and vineyards in France. Over the last four decades, they have created a line of Estate-Bottled wines that have earned awards Internationally. 


We met the owner of the vineyard Phyllis Rich Feder, a large than life character with a real passion for her wines. The tasting, in a historic 19th-century Dutch barn, allowed us to try a range of their wines including an amazing sparking Jubilee Champenoise, a not too dry wine in the Champagne style, a medium Seyval Blanc with pear and floral notes and a delicious Cassis blackcurrant wine, perfect for making Kir Royal. 

 Tastings start at 12 dollars which is a bargain for what you can try. 

Address: 450 Schultzville Rd, Clinton Corners, NY 12514
https://clintonvineyards.com/ 

Sprout Creek Farm 


Sprout Creek Farm is a 200-acre working farm that has an education at its heart. This working farm is home to cows, goats, chicken, pigs and more all roaming free. From the farm, they use the milk produced by the cows and goats to make cheese which they sell in their farm shop.


We were shown around by Katie who works with school children, educating them about farming and agriculture.  This educational centre offers day, weekend, and summer programs that help connect young people to the land, the seasons, and the plants and animals. We tried some of the cheese, from goats cheese to soft brie-style cheese to hard cheese and thought everything was delicious. 

 Address: 34 Lauer Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
https://sproutcreekfarm.org/ 

How to get there

 Dutchess County is approximately 2 hours from New York City by car.




If you are driving from New York allow 2-3 hours to get to your first stop, depending on your location in New York City and the traffic. Hiring a car is the easiest way to tour the area as the area is rural and public transport is limited.

Where to stay

The Red Hook Inn

The Red Hook Country Inn is run by Pat and her Egyptian husband and chef Nabil. It is a Bed and Breakfast full of character and personality. 

Our room decorated in an English country style with floral furnishings had an ensuite bathroom with bath and shower, complimentary toiletries, hairdryer and everything else as expected, however, the shining star was a bed big enough and comfortable enough for the best night sleep ever. It reminded me of the song "Grandma's Feather Bed". 

 Nabil's likes to make a speciality every day for breakfast and we were treated to an Egyptian dish of baked eggs with vegetables called Shakshuka which was excellent. Situated in the pretty little town of Red Hook, its a great base for a stay exploring the area. 

 The Olde Rhinebeck Inn


The Olde Rhinebeck Inn is a historic American farmhouse with the emphasis on quality and luxury. Cindy and Jonna that run the farmhouse couldn't have been more welcoming. The decor was beautiful, with antiques and high-quality furnishings and the photos really don't do the inn any justice. It has an ambiance that oozes class and old-world charm.


Welcoming touches such as homemade biscuits, a fridge full of soft drinks, fresh milk for tea and coffee at any time and a gourmet breakfast of avocado toast, salmon frittata, and the best Bircher muesli ever, meant that our stay was a real treat.  Situated just outside Rhinebeck in a rural location, this beautiful historic inn is an exceptional place to stay when exploring the area. I just wanted to stay longer!

 Where to eat

Flatiron, Red Hook


 We ate at Flatiron in Red Hook. This steakhouse was buzzing with atmosphere and I had a tremendously tender steak. Serving American bistro fare and supporting local farms they have a full-service bar too. A great place especially if you are big meat eaters although we saw a couple of vegetarian options as well as seafood and fish on the menu. 

Mr W had the ragu and the shaved brussel sprout salad which I tried and which we both thought was fantastic.

Hyde Park Brewing Company

The Hyde Park Brewing Company is a brewpub serving handcrafted beer since 1996. With a menu featuring all natural antibiotic and hormone free beef and pork from local farms, we really enjoyed our meal here. Mr W had the spinach and arugula salad which was huge and satisfying. Sweetness was added with the cranberries and crunch with the walnuts, to make it a healthy but filling meal.

I had the seared tuna which was excellent - a big portion of fresh tuna served with fragrant rice and asparagus. Mr W didn't try the beer as he was driving but it's definitely the place to go to try all the craft beers and lagers in the area.

 So this is my guide to the top attractions in Dutchess County New York State. In three days we really couldn't do this area any justice so I would recommend taking your time and slowly savouring the delights of this area of New York State.

Check out this video my husband and I made for our Fly Drive Explore YouTube channel. 

 

 To find out more about the attractions, places to stay and eating and drinking establishments in the area check out the Dutchess Tourism website. They have ideas for what to do for a 5 day, 3 day or 1-day itinerary and you can even build your own guide.  Before we went I didn't know much about the area, but now I am so glad I visited. If you are visiting New York, why not take a trip and discover what Dutchess County has to offer. You won't be disappointed. 


Pin for later

I hope you enjoyed my post, what attractions appeal to you?

 *We were guests of Dutchess Tourism
Posted by at 35 comments
Labels: , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)