My Christmas gift from Bobby was a winter stay at Mohonk Mountain House, an all inclusive resort dating back to 1869. I have been wanting to stay there forever, so it was such a lovely treat! It’s everything I love: antiques, lots of beautiful nature, wild animals, tea and cookies, buffets and multiple course meals, and probably ghosts! Ooh…and massages (for an additional fee). It’s a little bit like stepping back in time, and is a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of NYC. I’m trying to find a good excuse to go back, because we loved it so much and want to experience it in other seasons!

In addition to three delicious meals — breakfast and lunch are buffets, dinner gives you two restaurant options — all of your activities are included with your stay. Since we were there in winter and snow was everywhere, that meant skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, a heated pool, yoga, and lots more. This might sound lame, but while Bobby was at the gym, I did some writing on my laptop by one of their many fireplaces with a hot cup of tea. And it was everything.

Hiking

It was our first time hiking in snowshoes, and though I wouldn’t normally assume it to be something I’d enjoy, I did! Skis are also included, if you feel confident on the trails. I, however, have never gone skiing, so I left that to the pros.

With 1,325 acres to explore, we put on our snowshoes twice during our stay…and covered a mere fraction. If you want to have access to their hiking with 85 miles worth of trails but don’t want to stay at the house, you can pay for a hiking day pass.

There are actually a few ways to take advantage of the beautiful grounds (and even the house!) at Mohonk Mountain House, even if you aren’t staying the night. Visit their Day Guest Packages page for detailed info.  You won’t get the full experience, but you can enjoy full access to the expansive grounds and in some cases, the historic resort, for a fraction of the price:

Reserve a meal in advance.

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner — you’ll get a day pass for the grounds and the house, plus free tea and cookies at 4 pm. The least expensive meal is their breakfast buffet (which is awesome!) and you’ll want to get here early to enjoy the place, anyway — so go for breakfast and spend the day exploring. Pack a lunch, then head to the house and sit by the fire with your tea and cookies.

Book a spa service.

During our stay, we opted for a couples massage and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. With your spa treatment, you also have access to their sauna, eucalyptus steam room, mineral pool, and relaxation verandahs. Take advantage!

Book a hiking pass.

As I mentioned before, you can book a Mohonk Mountain House day pass for hiking for $22-$28 a person, which will give you access to the grounds but not the house. They also offer lots of other winter activities and outdoor recreation for additional fees.

While I would much prefer to be an overnight guest at Mohonk Mountain House (or permanent resident, whatever!), I was glad to see that we could come back as day guests if we just needed a little break from NYC and some time in nature. We love to take little day trips, so we’ll add this to our list of destinations. However, with the 40% deals that we sometimes see (he booked our stay during cyber week for a steal!), I can say with certainty that we will be back. Can you imagine how gorgeous this property is during the fall?