As a kid who dreamed of being a professional artist, I spent hours at an abandoned dairy farm near my childhood home.
26.07.2024 - 20:13 / cntraveler.com
This past June, New York City’s hectic energy (as well as its humidity) had gotten to be too much for me; I needed a weekend away—time to rest and restore. Thankfully, after a quick surf on Airbnb’s site (one of my favorite pastimes), my partner and I found ourselves heading to “The Upstate A,” a newly renovated and uber-fabulous A-frame cabin in the Hudson Valley.
Dante
Just over a two-hour drive from Manhattan, we headed to the super-scenic and sweet Valley town of Pine Plains, right on the border of Dutchess and Columbia counties. (For those without access to a car, you can also take the train to Rhinecliff station). While the two of us did not need an entire three-bedroom cabin to ourselves, my craving for space on the heels of our compact NYC lifestyle quickly justified the decision to book it.
After taking the exit off of a parkway on the side of a weathered rockface, we were immediately greeted with long stretches of farms, rolling hills, and countryside vistas. Eventually, the winding street on which the A-frame resides came into view. Located on a quiet acre of land with endless woods behind it, the cabin appeared just as it did in its pictures: its wood panels complemented the darker roof, and the front facade was made almost entirely of glass. The house itself was built back in 1968 but was just renovated (and intentionally redesigned) in 2021.
The exterior and patio of the A-frame.
Upon opening the front door, we were immediately greeted with all three bedrooms and both full bathrooms, all located on the first floor (alongside a washer and dryer). Upstairs, we found the living room with its massive glass windows and attached balcony, perfect for taking in the forest views. Across from it sat the dining table, and to the right was the spacious, modern kitchen with its high-tech amenities (and a gifted bottle of wine, courtesy of the host). A spiral staircase from the kitchen led to a private loft that could be used as a fourth bedroom. We quickly realized that this wasn’t your typical “cabin in the woods.” It was there—alongside the spanning, triangular, floor-to-ceiling windows under the 20-foot ceiling—where I truly appreciated the thoughtful design of the space. Within these open, airy common spaces, I understood how this cozy A-frame could comfortably host up to eight.
Before we settled in, I wanted to catch my bearings with Pine Plains. I hadn’t spent much time in the town other than a quick drive through it. Thanks to a recommendation from the (Super)hosts, we took a five-minute drive to Chaseholm Farm, an adorable farm store that sold local produce and goodies (like Alleyway Ice Cream made in Saugerties, another town in the Hudson Valley). It was sunset, and the sparkly outdoor
As a kid who dreamed of being a professional artist, I spent hours at an abandoned dairy farm near my childhood home.
Jul 24, 2024 • 6 min read
It wasn't so long ago that America's most famous winemaking regions, the Napa and Sonoma valleys, attracted only a tiny and somewhat eccentric cohort of tourists. Then came the legendary Judgment of Paris competition in 1976, when two Napa wineries bested some of France's most prominent vintners in a blind tasting, helping to legitimize Northern California as a world-class wine destination.
Jul 24, 2024 • 7 min read
Jul 23, 2024 • 6 min read
As a professional travel writer, I cover a lot of ground. This year, I’m hopping on several flights per month ranging from long-hauls to Vietnam, Cape Town, and Hawaii, to slightly shorter jaunts to Paris, Rome, and Greenland—a whopping 77,000+ miles so far and counting. One thing that’s hugely important on any trip? Staying comfortable in transit.
Eco river tourism continues to grow fast in France – and a new four-river network brand in the Atlantic Loire Valley, Les Rivières de l’Ouest (‘The Rivers of Western France’) is launching to the UK market this year. Located in France’s largest basin of navigable rivers, Les Rivières de l’Ouest unites three departments – Mayenne, Sarthe and Anjou – and four rivers – la Mayenne, la Sarthe, L’Oudon and La Maine. Why visit? To experience France’s slow and green ‘tourisme fluvestre’ – a mix of ‘fluviale’ (river-based) and ‘terrestre’ (land-based) activities…
Jul 20, 2024 • 9 min read
Scientists have developed a new way of tracking polar bears and it could help us better understand how they cope with disappearing sea ice.
Set amid the scenic Sonoran Desert, dotted with towering Saguaro cacti and under the gaze of majestic Camelback Mountain, Scottsdale is a true oasis that feels worlds away from the bustle of neighboring Phoenix, the state capital of Arizona that happens to be the fifth-largest city in the U.S.
I'm in my 60s, and I've been fortunate to take over 30 solo cruises over the last 15 years.
Are airport lounges the next culinary frontier? If you are an American Express cardholder passing through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), the answer is a resounding yes. Today, the credit card issuer opens its 29th Centurion Lounge right outside the nation’s capital, and it comes with some serious foodie perks.