Things are getting a little busy here in the Cain household and all this snow hasn’t really helped much. My husband and I pride ourselves in taking time away together, but life has gotten in the way as of late.
That’s why on the one free weekend we managed to put aside for ourselves, we decided to take a short road trip to Hudson Valley for an overnight retreat. Lucky for us, it was also the warmest weekend in a long time. We ventured to Rhinebeck, NY.
We set out on our weekend eager to reconnect and get away from the insanity at home. Rhinebeck delivered.
We were invited to spend the night at Beekman Arms Inn, originally Bogardus Tavern, and were excited to check it out. Established in 1766, the inn is the oldest in America. As is the case with venues rich in history and stories, it also is said to be haunted. Though we didn’t experience any supernatural activity during our stay, we did really love a lot of the details of the inn, the service, and the comforts of our traditional, old Americana style room of which there are a total of 23. The Delamater Inn next door has 50 rooms in total with garden courtyard views.
There is a small conference center in the Delamater Inn, as well as a greenhouse-style restaurant in the Beekman Arms which serves Continental breakfast, lunch and dinner in the Beekman Arms. The dark wood around the lower part of the Beekman Arms (which include the tavern, the waiting area and ball room, and the library and reading room) gives a warm and cozy feel to the space. On colder nights like the one during our visit, the fire places throughout the inn and in some of the guest rooms make for a wonderful reprieve.
The inn has sections that are pet friendly. But beware, because of the age of the inn the walls are thin and neighbors could hear the small and very temporary yelp of my doggie just as clearly as we could hear our neighbors’ television shows. In other words, I wouldn’t bring small kids/babies or dogs who might cry. Lucky for us, our pet is pretty well-behaved in general and it wasn’t at all a problem overall. We were all welcomed warmly, but it’s important to mention.
I would come back. I loved the inn. I found it comfortable and beautiful. I couldn’t stop admiring the space and I loved the details in the rooms and hallways, from the paintings found throughout to the simpler details like the knobs in the bathtub. So sweet and very romantic. The intimacy and size of the inn also allows for friendly, personal service fitting of the overall feel of the town and the people we encountered there.
The restaurant at the inn is very convenient and not too bad, though we enjoyed a lot of the food options outside the restaurant more.
Good Eats
We had lunch at Market St. Restaurant, about a block from the inn. It’s not much when one looks at it from the outside, but inside it is a contemporary, sleek bistro-style eatery with a brick oven for their delicious pizzas and focaccia – which I highly recommend. I also recommend trying their homemade soda. The ginger one is my favorite. Great ambiance with a really nice community feel to it.
Caprina Pizza: fig, rosemary spread, Coach Farm goat cheese, pear, and arugula with truffle oil
We stopped in for baked goods and treats at Bread Alone, also a short walk away. Not exclusive to just this area (they have locations in NYC), this bakery specializes in organic breads with high quality grains. I instantly fell in love with their chocolate chip cookies! This is one of those neighborhood favorites, it would definitely be one of mine if I lived in the area. I walked in there curious and walked out smiling. Of course the bread had something to do with it, but so did the friendly, smiling staff. 
We indulged in the artisan made, fair trade chocolates at Oliver Kita. Try their hot chocolates too…yum.
On our list for next visit is the farmers market held on Sundays and Terrapin, which in addition to being one of the coolest buildings in the area, it has also been named one of the best restaurants and as having the best burgers in Hudson Valley (by Hudson Valley Magazine). That’s a bold statement, so of course, I have to go check it out. 
We walked past Le Petit Bistro, but it was closed. It looked romantic and yes, quite petit and cozy.
Doggie Friendly Town
I have to say, our puppy had an amazing time discovering Rhinebeck with us. Not all the shops and restaurants welcome dogs, but we spent a nice part of the afternoon checking out some spots that do.
At Pause Dog Boutique we not only outfitted him with a comfy fleece jacket, but also got some tips and advice on how to best protect his little paws from the cold, street, and salt. Incredible service and beautiful product selections.
Periwinkles has a selection of bath and body products, as well as some gourmet foods, including doggie biscuits which our puppy absolutely enjoys.
Other Fun Activities
The wineries are worth visiting in the area. It might even be fun to do a girlfriends or couples retreat and make a spa and wine weekend out of it.
Also worth checking out later in the season is the Liberty Public House, an event space that also serves as a bar and restaurant. It was closed for the season during our visit, but the space sure looks cool and fun!
Make time for a movie at Upstate Films, established in 1972 with the goal of highlighting alternative and independent films that break away from the mainstream norms. The theater itself is like a walk back in time.
To say that Rhinebeck was a fun destination to visit is an understatement. I loved a lot of what this town has to offer. I enjoyed its obvious respect for conservation of local history, as seen in the Beekman Arms Inn and Upstate Films theater and its celebration and support of local restauranteurs and shop owners. The community was more diverse than I expected (we saw a few blended families) which of course made me love it even more, and we appreciated the laid back, friendliness of everyone we encountered – we talked to a lot of people due to everyone wanting to pet or say hello to our dog.
We went for a quick visit, but there really is so much more to see and do. Even if you can’t commit a whole weekend it still makes for a nice day trip as well, only 1.5 to 2 hours from NJ/NYC.
For more photos check out our Storify “Day Trip to Rhinebeck, NY“. All photographs are property of GirlGoneTravel.com and may not be used without direct consent from the publisher.
Disclosure: We received a complimentary stay (minus the pet fees and a portion of our in-house meals) at the Beekman Arms Inn for the purpose of its review. We received no other compensation or directives.
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thebritishberliner
Oh yes please! This place sounds like an excellent little haunt. Who would have thought it? I haven't been to New York yet but I can just imagine coming to this "little" town for a day or two before moving on. So quaint and so traditional it seems.
Being British, I like the old rather than the new!
My recent post A mango, a street, and a bollywood production: How to spend 48 hours in London.
caincarol
thebritishberlinerExactly, who would've thought. I have to say there are a lot of little towns further out of NYC that hold lots of treasures. If you have a car and can take the drive it's like discovering another side of the state that few get to see.