Castle Hotel & Spa

This is another fine example of a hotel whose name pretty much says it all. As castles on the Hudson go, this one is perhaps second in grandeur only to West Point, with the decided advantage that you can check in to Castle Hotel & Spa without becoming an Army officer in the process. Not that there’s anything wrong with that; but New Yorkers will be cheered by a chance at some luxe castle living, a half hour’s drive from the city, which doesn’t require a four-year commitment or a letter from one’s Senator.

It was built a century ago as a private residence, and it was an impressive one — today it comfortably contains thirty-one bedrooms, all of them thoroughly modernized, the equal of just about any contemporary luxury hotel. Of course they’re helped along considerably in the personality department by the rest of the castle, which is never short of atmosphere, and by some judiciously chosen antique furniture, including some grand old four-poster beds.

The public spaces are where you’ll get a heavier dose of the old stone walls, especially in Equus, the restaurant, with its timbered ceilings and massive stone hearth. The cuisine tempts many a dinner guest up from the city for the night, and in the fairer months the terrace is tempting; the views from the Castle’s hilltop estate are nothing short of extraordinary.

How to get there:
Castle Hotel & Spa is located only 1 hour north of Manhattan (by car).