Think of the best aspects of an eco-friendly summer camp, but geared towards adults (or the entire family), and you’re likely picturing something pretty close to Mohonk Mountain House. This charming luxury resort was the ultimate weekend getaway in New Paltz, NY, in the Hudson Valley. We had individualized tennis coaching, paddle boarded, hiked, canoed, took an archery lesson, did three different kinds of yoga, hiked all around the property, ate world-class food, went swimming, and had a fantastic time! I can’t wait to tell you all about how we spent our rainy weekend in my Mohonk Mountain House Review!
Mohonk Mountain House
Location: Hudson Valley, NY
Address: 1000 Mountain Rest Road
New Paltz, NY 12561
Rating: 4-Star
Awards: Dozens! See them here
Number of Rooms: 267
Staff Helpfulness & Friendliness: 5/5
Cleanliness: 5/5
Room Amenities: 5/5
Room and Bed Comfort: 5/5
Valet Parking: Yes
Pool: Yes
Spa: Yes, Voted #1 Resort Spa in the USA by Condé Nast Traveler
Proximity to Other Points of Interest: 5/5
About Mohonk Mountain House
This luxury resort destination has been owned by the Smiley family for generations, ever since the resort was founded 154 years ago. Food and activities are included in the stay, and the offerings change with the seasons. We did many outdoor activities like paddle boarding, canoeing, swimming, hiking, archery, and tennis and ate nutritionally balanced, locally sourced, seasonal meals. We had so much fun we didn’t want to leave!
Arrival at Mohonk Mountain House
Mohonk Mountain House was easy to find. It’s located on private property, so all guests must check in at the gates, as do all day hikers. Attendants gave us our valet pass at the gate and directed us into the mountains. We drove for about five more minutes until we pulled up to the front of the hotel, where bellhops gathered our luggage and the valet parked our car. Then, we went inside to the reception desk off to the right and were checked in in a matter of minutes!
Above: Mohonk Lake Beach
Check-in begins at 4 pm, but they called us a couple of hours earlier than that to tell us our room was ready. Our luggage awaited us in our room, and I was amazed at the excellent service. If you have to wait a while before getting into your room, you can explore the property while you wait, and there are plenty of things to explore.
Above: Mohonk Greenhouse & Garden Shop
Ambience of Mohonk Mountain House
Mohonk Mountain House was so peaceful and serene. Our room was so quiet (on the sixth floor), and I never once heard anyone in the hallways. We slept perfectly here, and I awoke every day feeling well-rested, which is a big point for me. If I can’t sleep well, I’d rather stay home, you know?
Above: Lake Lounge & Porch (Great Spot for breakfast!)
Set in the mountains along Mohonk Lake south of the Catskill Mountains on the Shawangunk Ridge, the entire resort is emersed in nature. We have a cabin in the forest of Northern Michigan, and this felt very similar in that it was surrounded by nature, wildlife, and lush plants. Inside, the resort had a very classic and timeless feel. Dark woods and rich textiles adorned the floors and walls giving it a sense of sophistication that was at once inviting and relaxing.
Our Room
Our room was small, but we didn’t spend much time there anyway, and it was just the two of us. It had all the usual amenities, and the bed was SO comfortable (seriously, someone, please tell me what kind of mattress that was because I need one!) plus, we had a balcony overlooking the mountains. As mentioned above, our room was quiet and had a wood-burning fireplace. While we didn’t use it, it inspired us to visit again in the winter when possible!
Above: View of the mountains from our room on the sixth floor.
Dining at Mohonk Mountain House
The food here was phenomenal. I only ate one thing I didn’t absolutely love, and it was still really good! My husband and I agreed that we looked forward to eating here as much as we did all of the activities we did (which I’ll get into in a moment!). See for yourself how delicious all of this was!
Dining at Mohonk Mountain House is like having a highly-skilled personal chef whenever you need them. Everything you need is right there waiting for you. We ate at the granary and in the main dining room, and it was all superb! The menu changes daily, and everything they use is locally sourced, in-season, and full of flavor. Even the plating looked gorgeous!
For breakfast and lunch, they had a very abundant buffet (I don’t generally like buffets, but this was great and so clean!). There were plenty of options for someone who doesn’t eat gluten or meat like me. Some of the highlights were a poké bowl station, a salad station, and all of the cocktail shrimp I couldn’t eat enough of. On weekends, they offer brunch, which is what you see here. All of the allergens in the food were clearly marked, and the staff were more than happy to double-check when I had questions. I really appreciated how careful they were and how respectful they were of the things I couldn’t eat.
I’ll make another post all about what we ate and the names of each dish, but for now, here are a few images of some of my favorite dishes! Did I mention the food is included with your stay? We’re already planning a return journey to have fun and eat more great meals! Let’s take a moment to admire these awesome portions too!
Activities
There is SO much to do at Mohonk Mountain House. I’m not even kidding; they have practically anything you can think of. There were so many things we wanted to do we had to pick and choose because some of them overlapped. I’ll make an itinerary post to show you how we spent our time here, so stay tuned for that.
Above: Hiking to Sky Top Tower in the Fog
I’ve already mentioned some of what we did, like paddle boarding, hiking, canoeing, a customized tennis lesson with a tennis pro, and lots more. We also did Tui Na (self-massage like acupressure), Tai Chi, a Mobility Class, Barkan Yoga, Chinese Yoga, a Singing Bowl Meditation, Core Strengthening Class, and so much more! Some things I wanted to do but didn’t get a chance to do included a geology tour, Qi Gong, Birdsong ID class, Illumination of the Mountain Ceremony, and so much more.
Above: Walking to Mohonk Mountain House’s Greenhouse & Garden Shop During a Respite from the Rain
The resort significantly emphasizes wellness, mindfulness, and holistic healing, while simultaneously encouraging guests to get out and enjoy nature and familiarize themselves with it. There are many guided climbs, hikes, biking opportunities, horseback riding, naturalist courses, art classes, and live musical performances, meaning there’s never a dull moment. I’ve never been to a resort that offers so many insightful, high-quality activities like this.
If you’re like us and don’t have kids, watch for the adult classes. Families have family and child classes/opportunities too! Check out the ever-changing list of daily activities here.
Final Thoughts
This resort was SO much fun! I wished I could’ve slept less and done more, haha! Everything we did was so fun, the natural beauty around it was magnificent, and the views from the hike to Mohonk’s Sky Tower in heavy fog were unbelievably breathtaking. We are already planning our next visit, and I can’t wait to go back again someday soon!
Thank you so much to Mohonk Mountain House for hosting us for this adventure-filled weekend. As always, all images and opinions are entirely my own.
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