A few weekends ago, I headed out of the city with Maxim, Pluto, my sisters and friends for a much needed getaway in Woodstock, NY. We stayed at the coziest cabin courtesy of Glamping Hub and spent our time hiking, bonding, playing games, soaking in the hot tub and snuggling by the indoor wood stove. It was a perfect and much needed mini-vacation! Read on below and I hope you get inspired to take some time off and getaway somewhere even if just for the weekend:
Stay – Glamping Hub
Step #1 was to select a perfect getaway destination for the weekend. I’ve always loved the accessibility of Catskills and Hudson Valley in upstate New York. Hiking, nature, food, art scene and a relatively short drive from NYC have always attracted both outdoorsy and bohemian types to this region of New York. We settled on Woodstock as our ultimate destination due to all of the things I’ve listed above – proximity to the city, nature, bustling cultural scene as well as it’s music history with Woodstock ’69 being held in a nearby town of Bethel.
Once we knew where to go, I partnered up with Glamping Hub to find the perfect cabin for the weekend! Glamping Hub has over 31,000+ outdoor accommodations throughout the U.S. and around the world and had tons of options in the area. Hosts can add their properties to the website directly – while looking, I found everything from tree houses and tents, to cottages and castles (yes, castles!). We settled on a cabin that had everything I was looking for – close to hiking trails and town center, plenty of board games and entertainment, indoor wood burning stove, sleeping for 6 and a hot tub. And it lived up to my full expectations and more! Here’s how I spent my 2-day mini-vacation:
Day 1 – Dinner + Poker Night
Being out in nature makes you hungry fast. We started the evening with a home-cooked meal around the table. Pasta, vegan sauce (pasta sauce, tomatoes, mushrooms, vegan ground beef, spices; simmer for 4+ hours), sides of roasted broccoli and brussel sprouts. We fired up the wooden stove and cheered to the new year and all of the exciting things that it will bring!
Afterward, we’ve set up a poker game – it was my first time playing but I picked up on the rules quick and soon was winning every hand with my impeccable poker face…ok, fine I might have lost a few games in reality 🙂 But I do know how to go all-in now and will be ready for my future Las Vegas outing.
Day 2 – Hiking + Hot Tub
On a beautify sunny Saturday morning we got up early and decided to check-out nearby Overlook Mountain Trail. It was a quick 15 minute drive to the mountain and we set off from there – about 3.5 miles one way with a steady climb up to the top of the mountain. The climb could be a challenge for some but it’s definitely worth it once you get to the top. The views of the Hudson Valley below are simply stunning! Pluto was a true champ and ran all the way up and back for a total of nearly 7 miles! What can I say, he loooves nature walks. On the way up, we passed an abandoned hotel, an old fire watchtower that you can still climb, and finally ended up at the viewing platform. If you are in the area and have a chance to do this 2.5-hour hike, I highly recommend it.
After the hike, it was time for a much deserved relaxation in a hot tub! Nothing treats sore muscles better than some hot water and jet streams. It was crisp 30° F outside and we decided to pop another bubbly. Music was playing, champagne was flowing, and Pluto was in deep slumber somewhere in the house. It was a great way to end our time in Woodstock!
Day 3 – Going Home
Our bags were packed and after grabbing bagels from a nearby shop, we headed back to New York as more relaxed and accomplished versions of ourselves if even just for a short while.
I highly recommend booking your own outdorsy adventure and exploring parts of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania that are just a short drive away from the city. And if you do, definitely check-out Glamping Hub to find your perfect glamping adventure