Tranquil Treasure
You’ll find beauty, luxury and serenity in this Hudson Valley resort
Nestled in the picturesque Hudson Valley and surrounded by the breathtaking Catskill Forest Preserve is a travel find you’ll cherish: the sumptuously restful Emerson Resort & Spa.
The city-chic design of the resort— which is set on 40,000 acres of land and is made up of both historic and modern buildings—features a serene and sophisticated palette of natural tones and indigenous slate. The arched hallways are lit by Moroccan metal lanterns, and walls are punctuated with antique carvedwood architectural elements.
My room was perfectly appointed, with a cozy gas fireplace and sitting area, a canopy bed steeped in Asian flair with rich, exotic red-and-gold silks, a flatscreen TV and an air-jetted tub and Swiss shower. Emerson features 26 of these adults-only suites; families can find equally impressive accommodations in the Emerson’s Lodge, which has 27 charming Adirondack-style suites. If Fido could use a respite as well, bring him along—the resort is pet-friendly.
After the tranquility of the suite has put you into relaxation mode, take it a step further at the inn’s full-service spa, which offers dozens of Eastern- and Western-inspired treatments. The most unusual of these are the Ayurvedic rituals, such as the Shirodhara, in which warm oil is streamed onto your forehead to calm the mind, followed by a massage and facial.
Continue the pampering with a deluxe dinner at the resort’s Phoenix restaurant, where Chef Curt Robair prepares seasonal food using ingredients that are homegrown (from his own garden) and locally sourced. I had a fantastic pumpkin soup puree with perfectly roasted venison. For a more casual dining experience, the Catamount Restaurant at The Lodge offers family-style American food and features music and dancing on select evenings.
Finish your stay on a high note by visiting the world’s largest kaleidoscope, located in the historic barn silo. Catch the stunning kaleidoscope show “Hexagon Holiday,” which runs through President’s Day weekend, and bring a souvenir home from the Kaleidostore, where you’ll find a vast display of kaleidoscopes in every size and shape and ranging in price from $4 to $40,000.
Although the resort has all you’ll need, be sure to leave time to explore the area— you can hike, ski or snowboard at one of the many nearby mountains, visit famous Woodstock or go antiquing in the charming town of Saugerties.
Getting There
Emerson Resort & Spa
5340 Route 28
Mount Tremper, N.Y.
877.688.2828
emersonresort.com
Driving time: about 2 hours
To Receive a FREE MIDWEEK NIGHT at the EMERSON Resort and Spa:
You must like the Emerson Resort on Facebook.
You must post on their Facebook wall that you read about them in Bergen Health and Life (print or online).
Midweek is Sunday – Thursday.
The free midweek night is redeemable in the months of March or April, 2012. You must book a stay anytime from March through April, 2012.
If someone booked a Friday and Saturday night stay with Emerson in March, then they might be able receive Sunday night free. Or, you could choose to come back any other midweek night in March or April and your one night would be free.
All of the above is subject to availability.
