Out of Dodge — Winter Magic at Mohonk

by Theta Pavis

Winter is lovely, but sometimes dodging piles of old snow and icy slush on crowded city streets can wear you down. Wouldn’t it be nice to experience a pristine winter wonderland, in a fairytale castle, close to the mountains but with plenty of pampering on hand?

Only 90 minutes from our region sits the grand Mohonk Mountain House, a Victorian-style resort listed on the National Historic Landmark registry. The Hudson Valley, NY resort has a terrific spa, featuring an outdoor, heated mineral pool and a wide range of treatments. There’s also a large fitness center, heated indoor pool and a gorgeous solarium. Relaxing there, poolside, while enormous pine trees swayed in the wind outside was heaven.

As nice as it is inside, it is the outdoors that will call to you. There are 85 miles of trails here—great for hiking. You can also go snowshoeing, snow tubing or cross-country skiing (if the weather cooperates). Our favorite winter activity, however, had to be the time we spent at the majestic open-air skating pavilion. Getting our skates was a snap, and they also have old-fashioned chairs equipped with blades, so you can push little ones around—or just glide across the ice while taking a seat. Private ice skating lessons, as well as some sessions of curling and broomball, are offered. Afterwards we sipped hot chocolate in front of a nearly 40-foot stone fireplace.

Tromp around in the snow, admire the mountain views and once you are back inside there are even more fireplaces to enjoy. Working fireplaces can be found in 124 of the resort’s 259 guest rooms. Even if you don’t book a room with one, you can easily enjoy them throughout the hotel. We lost hours one night tucked inside the main lodge’s cozy reading room, just sitting by the fire.

mohonk.com

Mohonk Mountain House – Jim Smith Photography

Family Snow Shoeing at Mohonk – Jim Smith Photography

Veranda at Mohonk Mountain House

Turtle Room at Mohonk Mountain House – Jim Smith Photography

Indoor Pool with Poinsettias – Jim Smith Photography

Victorian Tower Room – Jim Smith Photography