Elegantly rustic, the Lodge at Emerson Place has a log cabin exterior that holds 27 beautifully decorated rooms and suites overlooking the Esopus Creek, a favorite spot for fly fishermen.
Friends who recently visited New York and spent two nights at The Plaza Hotel in the city and one night at the Lodge at Emerson Place claimed this Catskill getaway featured superior accommodations. After inspecting their spacious luxury suite at Emerson Place, I had to agree.
Country Comforts Inside the Catskill Forest Preserve
The air-conditioned luxury suite at the Lodge at Emerson Place consists of two stories. Downstairs sits a long couch and comfortable chairs beside a large, gas-fired fireplace, the perfect place to cuddle up on a cool Catskill evening. Tall windows overlook the creek and Catskill Forest Preserve land, a great place for hiking. Or just sit on the porch and let the creek roll by. And bring your dog, if you like; well-behaved pets are welcomed for an additional $25.
Should one's attention wander over to the TV, the set is wired for cable programming, including HBO. A dataport for laptop luggers keeps guests connected to the world outside the Catskill mountains. There's also a bathroom furnished with Penhaligon amenities, a dining table and chairs, and generous closet space.
Upstairs in the loft of the luxury suite at Emerson Place is a vast king-size bed and one of the largest in-suite whirlpool baths I've ever seen; it could surely fit four Catskill lumberjacks comfortably. Soft Belgian linens, goosedown comforters, and Woolrich blankets and pillows ensure a good night's sleep at the Emerson Place Lodge in the quiet of the forest.
Emerson Place Attractions
During the summer, visitors can swim in the outdoor pool at the Lodge at Emerson Place. The Marketplace at Emerson Place, a short stroll from there, holds a few upscale shops selling gourmet foods, spa and bath products, furniture, Woolrich shirts for men and Eileen Fisher fashions for women, woodsman-crafted furniture, and other country comforts.
Emerson Place is also home to a unique attraction, the World's Largest Kaleidoscope. There's an admission charge to go inside, where you crane your neck to watch a film that mimics being inside a kaleidoscope. To help you bring the memory home, just outside this Emerson Place attraction is a shop which sells one of the world's most extensive collections of kaleidoscopes, ranging from cheap toys to multi-faceted works of art.
Seasonal Activities in the Catskill Mountains
In winter, skiers have a choice of two ski areas within 15 miles of the Lodge at Emerson Places: Belleayre and Hunter mountains. Belleayre is the low-key, old-fashioned choice. Hunter, tallest of the Catskill Mountains, attracts many day-trippers.
In summer, the Catskill Mountains truly come alive. In neighboring Phoenicia, float down the meandering Esopus in a rented inner tube, a refreshing activity on a hot day. The creek also attracts kayakers. Or fish for trout upstream. Hike one of the nearby mountains, or follow the path just outside of town for a bird's-eye view of this picturesque hamlet and the surrounding Catskill Mountains.
Since Emerson Place is within the protected Catskill Forest Preserve filled with tall pine and other evergreen trees as well as white birches and sturdy maples, fall days are spectacular. Breathtaking foliage panoramas reveal themselves at every turn on Route 28. Spring, however, can be rainy and muddy, so bring a book.
Catskill Mountain Dining
Catskill locals prefer the hearty breakfasts and lunches served at Sweet Sue's in Phoenicia. The town also has four restaurants that serve dinner.
Couples considering an outdoor wedding will find that the Lodge at Emerson Place offers an unusually pretty setting, the tented Pavilion set along the Esopus Creek. And whether or not you hold a wedding here, you'll find a visit to this Catskill Mountain retreat wonderfully romantic and restful.
Note: In the summer of 2004, the Lodge at Catskill corners was re-named the Lodge at Emerson Place.
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