Posted by GayCities New York editor JJ Keyes
Horns, subway delays and the New York City hot concrete jungle getting you down? Hop on the I-87 and head north to Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa. My partner Chris and I packed our weekend bags and drove an hour and a half north of Manhattan into the Hudson River Valley recently for a country getaway. We were excited to hear dogs are welcome (Kylie, our Shiba Inu pup gets jealous of all our adventures). We reached the Buttermilk Falls Inn while the sun was still out. It is located ion 70 acres of cliffs overlooking the Hudson River.
We set our bags down in Rook’s Nest, tucked away in an old carriage house near the main building. The Riverknoll House offers more boutique lodging with a three-bedroom accommodation located beside the tennis court and overlooking the Hudson. As soon as you get to Buttermilk, you’ll want to wander. Chris and I had a Julie Andrews moment, running down the hill to the waterfall.
Kylie was excited. Rather than chasing Manhattan pigeons, she met swans and a flock of Canadian geese. We took her through the landscaped gardens and introduced her to peacocks in the Aviary House and Angola goats and llamas near the barn.
For breakfast we devoured outstanding buttermilk blueberry pancakes drizzled with Hudson Valley-made syrup, got our mani pedis at the spa, and enjoyed a relaxing day in the country. Chris, Kylie, and I wandered the 70-acres and fantasized about the perfect destination wedding.
Buttermilk, which invited GayCities to explore the property, is in the process of building a new culinary complex with Food Network written all over it. Ask for a tour (and look up, the lights upstairs are fabulous!). I can practically see those hunky Paula Dean boys cooking up a storm downstairs…or better yet, perhaps Buttermilk is the perfect setting for the first gay Food Network host to have his/her show. We met Adam Glinert, the dashing, accomplished and openly gay restauranteur and chef. Glinert was recently appointed the new general manager at Buttermilk.
Plan for your Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa getaway by picking up a new outfit at Wear Me Out in Hells Kitchen, some snacks at the Chelsea Market, a few bottles of wine at the Chelsea Wine Vault or Cabrini Wines Inc., and a good book to read by the fire at the Strand Book Store (But Darling, I’m Your Auntie Mame! will literally leap off the shelves).
Photos and accomodations thanks to Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa
