Kingston and Saugerties: Fall More Deeply In Love
Brunette wine bar. | Photo: Tracy Kennard
So you’re already a regular in Hudson, and your first visit to Storm King happened in college. Ready to deepen your love affair with HV? Make Saugerties and Kingston your next destination. You’ll pop back and forth between centuries as you pop in and out of antiques shops and of-the-moment boutiques along Kingston’s main drag, and small, charming Saugerties will bring you back to nature.
Distance from Philly: 3.5 hours.
Where to Stay
When you really want to untangle from everyday life, the best place to set your bags is The Villa at Saugerties. First dreamed up by husband-and-wife owners Joe Moseley and Amanda Zaslow on their honeymoon in the Spanish countryside, the Mediterranean-inspired oasis is a luxury twist on the traditional B&B. (Moseley is a Food Network alum, so meals are beautifully prepared, and Zaslow’s interior design background means each of the four rooms feels like something out of a coffee-table book.) Be sure to take advantage of the sun-drenched gardens, private patios, fireplaces, heated swimming pool, and opportunity to reconnect as a couple — the property is no-kids-allowed. From $455 per night.
Where to Eat
The exterior of The Villa at Saugerties | Photo courtesy of The Villa at Saugerties
For lunch in Saugerties, Olsen & Company serves up a rotating roster of salads and sandwiches made from in-season ingredients. Come dinner, the Red Onion is popular for both its American-inspired dishes (get the fish if it’s on special — it’s fresh!) and its impressive wine list. In Kingston, grab breakfast at the Outdated cafe, where you’ll sip matcha lattes and nosh on hearty vegan and vegetarian dishes in a space that doubles as an antiques shop.
Places to Shop
Plan to spend all morning rummaging at Zaborski’s in Kingston, a no-frills (and no credit cards, and no heating) 40,000-square-foot architectural salvage emporium that puts similar places in Philly to shame. Next stop: Clove & Creek for speckled ceramic serving bowls, hibiscus lavender cocktail syrups, and other gifts you’ll want to stow away for your most stylish friends.
Nighttime Fun
Hang with the cool kids of Kingston at the darling wine bar Brunette, where owners Jamie and Tracy Kennard take their girl-next-door decor and Friday-night playlist as seriously as they do their menu of small plates and natural wines, beers, and ciders.
Insider Intel
Saugerties is home to Horse Shows in the Sun, a special-events company that produces hunter/jumper horse shows across the country, and locals say you can catch Olympic-level equestrian stars at the Saugerties Grand Prix. Shows run each year from late May to early September, with (generally) free admission and food and shopping on-site.
Natural Draw
Take some time to check out Kaaterskill Falls to the north of Saugerties. You’ll break a sweat — but not a leg — on the half-mile trek to the 260-foot waterfall, and there are photo ops at multiple points along the trail. Or make your way to the breathtaking 19th-century Saugerties Lighthouse, where you can picnic right on the water.
Published as a part of “Into the Valley” in the September 2018 issue of Philadelphia magazine.
