LODGING Front porch of the Red Hook Country Inn.
If you or someone you know is planning a visit to Red Hook from out of town, you’ll find options as diverse and charming as the town itself. You’re not going to find the generic and forgettable rooms that are standard at every highway exit in the land. Instead, you’ll find coziness, gracious hospitality and the amenities you’ll need. The Hearthstone Motel will provide a comfortable and clean room two and a half miles out of town complete with cable, Wi-Fi, phone, air conditioning, microwave and fridge—perfect if you’re in town on business and need a low-key place to hang your hat. Other establishments are Personality Plus, proudly promoting the stylistic vision of the management. On Hemingway Lane, for example, at the Hemingway Lane B&B, innkeeper Johanna Bard maintains a breezy tropical ambiance that’s based on a Hudson Valley recreation of Hawaii, where she lived for eleven years. Her single guest room will succor your spirit; the lanai invites relaxation—it’s “a little bit of aloha,” she likes to say. Then there’s the Stone Church Bed and Breakfast, a country contemporary on eight pretty acres ten minutes from the center of the village. At Stone Church, a common room offers ping pong, board games and a library along with more usual items like cable TV, and there’s a bottomless cookie jar on top of the fridge— rather like staying with an indulgent relative. Linda Murphy, hostess at the Bird’s Nest, sees quite a few indulgent relatives. “We get a lot of Bard parents,” she says. “It’s not fancy and antique—it’s a comfortable two-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen and bath and a nice big deck over the garden, and we give you breakfast. One 16
RED HOOK AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
man said it was like staying at Grandma’s.” If fancy and antique is what you’re seeking, try the Grand Dutchess Bed and Breakfast. This 1874 classic in the heart of the village offers an escape to another century, managing to be elegantly formal and warmly welcoming at the same time. It’s all about light, airy rooms decorated with heirlooms, river views, and attention to detail. Then there’s the Red Hook Country Inn, described by a reviewer as a “perfect” blend of family trip and romantic getaway. Your host, Chef Nabil, has studied cooking in five countries and specializes in Kosher delicacies; the real secret to the recipe, it’s said, is the individual care taken about the desires and needs of every guest. The outdoor hot tub is also highly regarded. The Gaslight Inn, in the DeCarolis family for four decades, has the refreshing and pristine serenity of a beautifully kept country retreat. It’s all about spectacular Catskills views, strolling over to Greig Farms to pick some fruit to go with the free-range local meat you picked up for the grill after a day antiquing. “The bottom line is, a visit to Red Hook should be on everyone’s “bucket list,” says resident Cathie Mondello. “You will feel as welcome as if you were in your own neighborhood.” Red Hook’s innkeepers are a gifted group, and invite you to make our town your special place.