Heatwave in the Hudson Valley

What is there to do to get out of the heat? Why not visit the Hudson Valley and get some culture at Dia:Beacon in their 300,000 square feet of Art & Air Conditioning. Take a look at their new exhibition Blinky Palermo.

Art isn't your thing how about a boat ride on the Hudson? From the Newburgh landing you can catch a ride on the Pride of the Hudson or the River Rose - both will take you thru the beautiful mountains and West Point.

Don't have your sea legs? At Newburgh Landing you will find a choice of excellent restaurants and outdoor dining with entertainment ranging from Rock & Roll with ribs at Billy Joe's Ribworks or Martinis and romance at the River Grill.

Hudson Valley Fourth of July, Cornwall New York

Are you looking for the quintessential Fouth of July Independence Day celebration? Look no further than Cornwall, New York. The Cornwall Independance Day committee has put together an agenda that will satisy everyone's needs. You can start the day with a Fireman's breakfast (unless you stay at Cromwell Manor Inn and partake in one of New York's best breakfasts http://www.cromwellmanor.com/) followed by visiting vendor booths where you can buy almost anything! Enjoy live music all day long and visit the Lion's booth for a lobster feast. Do you think you are a pretty good pie eater? Find out how you stack up against Cornwall's best at a noontime pie eating contest. Are you a runner? The Cornwall Mile starts at 4:30 pm. This year's Grand Marshall is Ailsing Cuffe from Cornwall, a scholastic national champion runner and she is running in the race. The only question is, how far behind her will you finish? The Cornwall parade starts at 5 pm and you won't want to miss it. It will make you proud to be an American and have you laughing at the same time. The evening culminates with a fantastic fireworks celebration. Make your plans now to visit Cornwall, New York in the Historic Hudson Valley for a great fourth of July!

Hudson Valley Hiking

The Hudson Valley offers wonderful hiking opportunities for the avid hiker to the occasional hiker longing for a nice walk in the woods. When you get the desire to become one with nature while visiting the Hudson Valley, it can be difficult to know which hike would be best for you. I have put together several options with varying levels of difficulty that are close in proximity to Cromwell Manor Inn. Before you begin any hike make sure you wear comfortable hiking shoes, dress in layers and carry water, a light snack for energy, cell phone, insect repellent and sunscreen, as well as a trail map/directions.

Storm King State Park

With 9.7 miles of moderate to strenuous trails, the views one receives at the top of Storm King Mountain are the hiker's reward!

Black Rock Mountain and Sphagnum Pond Loop

This 5-mile moderate hike leads you to the top of Black Rock Mountain with panoramic views of the area. The trail begins just one mile from the inn!

Highlands Quest Trail This easy 1.8 mile trail is part of the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum located directly across the road from Cromwell Manor Inn. You might see Great Blue Heron or wood ducks fishing in the Muskrat Pond. A great trail for the occasional hiker.

Schunnemunk Mountain The highest mountain in Orange County and just a 10 minute drive from the Inn, this 25 mile trail system contains many geologic features from the rocks you will walk on to the interesting megaliths you can investigate.

Arden Point and Glenclyffe Trail

Across the river in Putnam County, this is an easy 3.7 mile hike in the Hudson Highlands State Park, a 25 minute drive from Cromwell Manor. The trail offers views of the Hudson River and West Point Military Academy. It follows an historic road used by Benedict Arnold in the Revolutionary War.

Breakneck Ridge Loop

This is a very strenuous hike across the river in Cold Spring, about a 20 minute drive from the inn. The 2.8 mile trail contains very steep climbs and offers several panoramic views up and down the river!

These 6 trails are a great way to begin discovering the beauty that the Hudson Valley offers for hikers. For more trails go to the New York New Jersey Trail Conference website.

Happy Hiking!

Hudson Valley Scenic Drive

(Originates from Cromwell Manor Inn, Cornwall, New York)

Are you looking for a very scenic drive (1 1/2 hours) in the heart of New York’s Hudson Valley? Well, here it is:

Take a left from the driveway of Cromwell Manor Inn.
Continue to traffic circle.
Go halfway around circle, continuing onto Main Street.
Go through first stop light. At next light, bear right, passing the pond.
At blinking stoplight, continue straight.
Stay on Route 218 (it takes a 90 degree right in town).
Go up 218 being sure to take the first pullout for a great view of the Hudson River.
Continue up the mountain to 9W south. Be sure you get on 9W south, not north!
Go to traffic circle and continue straight on 9W south.
Take first right to Bear Mountain.
Continue until you see Perkins Memorial Drive.
Take Perkins Memorial Drive to top of Bear Mountain.
On a clear day, you can see the skyline of Manhattan if you look carefully.

When you come back down the mountain, you can return by reversing the directions above, or you can take a right when you get to the bottom of Perkins Memorial Drive and then follow the signs to Seven Lakes Drive.
Stay on Seven Lakes Drive and enjoy great views until you get to Route 6 West. Take a right on Rt. 6 West to Route 32 North, continuing until you see Woodbury Common Premium Shopping Outlet on your right.
Go past Woodbury Common by about 1 mile into Central Valley.
Take a right on Smith Clove Road at the traffic light in Central Valley (there is a Chinese restaurant on your right). Smith Clove Road eventually turns into Angola Road.
Go about 8 ½ miles and you will pass Jones Farm on your left.
Cromwell Manor Inn is on your left after Jones Farm.

Hudson Valley Wineries Tour | 2 Days

Buy local, Eat Local, Drink Local. Enjoy a 2 day Hudson Valley Wineries Tour and stay local at one of NY's top 10 inns, Cromwell Manor Inn.

Conveniently located in the Hudson Valley Shawangunk Wine Trail area, Cromwell Manor Inn is a great place to call home while discovering some of the local wineries the Hudson Valley has to offer. A nice way to enjoy a day of winery hopping is to stop at the local market first to pick up some savory snacks or picnic lunch to enjoy at the wineries as the views are spectacular and worthy of lingering. Here is a sample of a Hudson Valley Winery Tour for your next weekend visit. All the wineries listed on this tour are open year round on weekends.

Day 1

Benmarl Winery


Located on 37 scenic acres overlooking the Hudson River and Berkshire Mountains beyond, their wines are artisan-made, aged carefully in oak or held in stainless steel until ready. They offer 15 different varieties for purchase and several for tasting. Benmarl Winery is known as America's oldest vineyard.



Stoutridge Vineyard


Stoutridge Vineyard is a half mile from the beautiful Hudson River on the south-east facing slopes of a ridge of land on which grapevines and fruit trees have been continuously planted for 200 years. They are a gravity winery meaning that they don't use pumps or filters in their winemaking. All of their wines are sold exclusively at the winery.

Whitecliff Vineyards

This vineyard's 70-acre property surrounds a tasting room that includes a large deck with spectacular views of the white cliffs of the Shawangunk Ridge. Their tasting includes a minimum of 6 wines.





Brimstone Hill Vineyard


The vineyard is over 13 acres and the small winery building houses a cozy tasting room overlooking the vines. Following the French tradition, Brimstone Hill grows 4 varieties of grapes including Chardonnay, Reisling, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. All of their wines are made on premises.

On your way back to the inn for the evening, you may wish to stop for dinner first at one of the area's restaurants.

Day 2

Brotherhood Winery

Brotherhood, the oldest winery in the U.S., has the largest underground wine cellars in the country. Brotherhood's award winning wines include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Riesling.





Palaia Vineyards & Winery

Palaia Vineyards is located in a 200 year old barn on land once owned by Aaron Burr. Nestled in the clove of two mountains, the view of the vineyard is perfect from either their enclosed deck off the tasting room in the winter, or the main stage tent out on the lawn in the summer. They process all their award- winning wines right in the barn, and many are made from grapes grown at their Sweet Clover Farm.

While these wineries are open all year on weekends with longer hours during the summer and fall, there are a few other wineries along this trail that are open for part of the year. You may wish to add these wineries to your tour therefore extending your stay in the beautiful Hudson Valley!

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week and Baked Eggs

It's that time of year again when the Hudson Valley celebrates Restaurant Week. From March 14 - 27, 2011, participating restaurants will offer a 3-course lunch for $20 and a 3-course dinner for $28. This year is even better than last, as many more restaurants in our area are involved! A few of our favorites , The Canterbury Brook Inn, Il' Cenacolo, and Cena 2000 are participants. They are only a short drive from Cromwell Manor.

Our coveted and secret (until now) recipe for Hudson Valley Baked Eggs

We are often asked by our guests if we have a Cromwell Manor cookbook. At this time we don't but we are happy to share recipes when asked for one. I thought we would share one of our signature dishes with you today. As we often serve breakfast to more than 20 people at a time, it's a good thing when we find a delicious recipe that is simple to prepare for that many guests. Hudson Valley Baked Eggs is one of those dishes. The recipe listed here serves 8 but it can be prepared for smaller groups also.

Cromwell Manor's Hudson Valley Baked Eggs

12 eggs

16 oz. tub of cottage cheese

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 stick melted butter

scant 1/4 cup self rising flour

8 slices tomato

sliced green onions for garnish

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Place all ingredients except melted butter and tomatoes in large mixing bowl.

Using whisk attachment, mix on medium speed for 1 minute.

Turn speed to low and slowly add butter until thoroughly mixed, about 2 minutes.

Spray an 11" by 14" glass baking dish with non stick cooking spray.

Pour egg mixture into baking dish, scraping sides of mixing bowl with a rubber spatula.

Place dish into oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until eggs are set.

Add tomato slices to the top of egg dish, equally distanced apart (as placement of slices will distinguish how you'll cut the servings) and bake for another 5 minutes until eggs are fully cooked but not browned.

Take dish out of the oven, and let sit for a few minutes.

To serve, cut into 8 equal slices, topping each slice with green onions.

Enjoy!

Let us know by commenting below how your Hudson Valley Baked Eggs breakfast or brunch was enjoyed.

Girlfriends Getaway

What can be more fun than escaping your busy daily life, enjoying a one hour full body massage or Jurlique signature facial, shopping at the largest premium shopping outlet in the world with your girlfriends and staying in one of New York's Top 10 Inns? Sounds like fun to me except there should be a cold bottle of sparkling white wine upon arrival!

Well if this is what you are looking for, Cromwell Manor Inn located in the heart of New York's Hudson Valley has just the ticket for you with their Girlfriends Getaway package. Here is what the package includes:

• A two night stay in one of Cromwell Manor Inn's standard (non fireplace) rooms


• One bottle of icy cold white sparkling wine upon arrival


• Your choice of a one hour full body massage or a signature Jurlique aromatherapy facial at a great spa, Wellness Springs (10 minutes away)


• A $25 gift certificate to any store at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, the largest premium outlet in the world - 220 legendary stores

• A VIP voucher for additional savings at Woodbury Common


• A full, world reknowned gourmet breakfast to start your day each morning

Photo taken at breakfast by one of our guests, Henry Solorzano. We always start with dessert!

$325 per person, double occupancy

Anything you'd like to see added to the package? Please post a comment below.