There is no doubt that New Paltz, NY is a college town, but it is also a lot more than that. The area is rich in history, natural beauty and offers an abundance of activities to keep visitors busy for days.
I have been to New Paltz myself on many occasions and never tire of it.
What follows are just a few of my insider suggestions on places to go in New Paltz for historical tours, dining and lodging.
Historic Huguenot Street Tours
Travelers wishing to step back in time to the 1700’s will want to take a guided walk through the six acre tract of land known as Huguenot Street.
Designated a National Landmark District, Huguenot Street is representative of an early 16th century settlement founded by French and Belgium Huguenots.
The street contains seven of the settlement’s original structures as well as the settlement’s church and burial ground.
As of early 2011 Historic Huguenot Street admission costs vary depending on the type of guided tour selected. In most instances the guided tours begin at 11:00 am and depart from either the Visitor’s Center or Deyo Hall.
The $9 per person, half hour tour includes admission to a pair of the original houses whereas the $12 per person, ninety minute tour includes admission to three houses as well as the church and adjacent burial grounds. Discounts for children, students, families and certain clubs are available as well.
Historic Huguenot Street is open year round with hours of operation varying by season.
Historic Huguenot Street
18 Broadhead Avenue
New Paltz, NY 12561
845-255-1660
Dining in New Paltz
There is a wide assortment of eateries available in New Paltz. From the vegan garbanzo bean dahl at Karma Road, Italian pasta at La Satzione and shots of saki at the risqué Katana Sake Bar to Chicken Godfather Panini at McGillicuddy’s Restaurant and Tap Room; this college town has it all.
I personally recommend McGillicuddy’s Restaurant for lunch simply because the incredible flavors of their Irish offerings cannot be understated.
The Irish Egg Rolls stuffed with corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese at $7 a plate is a good way to start out, followed by a $3 cup of Irish Potato soup with crumbly bacon and a $7 Big Salad.
The Corned Beef Rueben with waffle fries for $10 is also worth a mention. A variety of fishbowl drinks are available at $15 each to wash the meal down.
McGillicuddy’s also features non-Irish cuisine including over 20 varieties of chicken wings, blackened salmon, spare ribs and New York sirloin.
McGillicuddy’s is open year round, daily from 11:00 am until 4:00 am.
It is imperative to note that travelers looking for a quiet evening meal should take heed. In the evenings McGillicuddy’s crowd has a tendency to be quite boisterous thanks in part to the live musical entertainment normally geared towards the college scene.
McGillicuddy’s Restaurant and Tap Room
84 Main Street
New Paltz, NY 12561
845-256-9289
Lodging in New Paltz – The Mohonk Mountain House
I remember the first time I made the drive up the sun-dappled Shawangunk Ridge and caught a glimpse of the Victorian visage of the Mohonk Mountain House.
An imposing castle, it stood ostentatiously against the molted fall backdrop of the Shawangunk Mountains and the glacial carved Lake Mohonk.
The castle’s grand veneer combined with the extraordinary landscape filled me with silent reverence for both the natural beauty of my home state and the Smiley family’s ambition to make such vistas available for all.
In business since the 1800’s, the massive Mohonk Mountain House currently sits on 2,200 acres and features over 200 expertly appointed guest rooms, many with balconies and fireplaces, as well as 125 gazebos and an abundant, diversified series of gardens with French and Italian influences.
Additional amenities include three restaurants, a state-of-the-art fitness center and spa, indoor pool, Sky Top Tower observation deck, over 85 miles of hiking trails as well as other traditional recreational activities standard among luxuriant, full-service resorts.
Room rates start around $510 per person, per night and are inclusive of an American Meal Plan as well as access to many of the resort’s on-site activities.
Mohonk Mountain House
1000 Mountain Rest Road
New Paltz, NY 12561
800-772-6646
Sources:
Historic Huguenot Street, “Home” huguenotstreet.org
Mohonk Mountain House, “Home” mohonk.com
McGillicuddy’s Restaurant and Tap Room, “Home” cuddysny.com
