SCRIBNER’S CATSKILL LODGE

Now that fall is finally here, I am ecstatic and welcoming this chilly beautiful weather with open arms! One of my dreams has always been to witness the fall foliage upstate and to stay at a cozy lodge. My dreams came true last week when I was privileged to have Scribner’s Catskill Lodge host me for two days. It was a quick, short of 3 hours drive from New York City and it was the perfect getaway to take in nature and embrace the new autumn season. For planning purposes, I would suggest that you look into the fall foliage peak season and times for upstate regions to truly make the most of your Catskills adventures.

Scribner’s Catskill Lodge was founded to welcome a new generation of urban explorers to the beautiful year-round destination of the Catskills. With thoughtful design, friendly service, and delicious food and drinks, the lodge is the perfect basecamp for your escape to the outdoors. In addition to our 38 guest rooms and suites, we offer a locally-inspired restaurant, multiple indoor and outdoor event spaces, and over 20 acres of mountainside to explore.

This hotel has been on my list for quite some time now and I know that they are always booked especially during this time of the year. Given that we are still in a pandemic, I can honestly say that I felt safe during my stay given Scribner’s Lodge social distancing and COVID protocols. There is contactless temperature check upon guest arrival and masks are required to be worn in all public areas. There are also hand sanitizing stations throughout the property and the lodge is actually closed on most Monday and Tuesday nights for additional deep cleaning. All of the guests at the hotel abided by the rules and I was happy to know that we all prioritized our own safety as well as the safety of others.

I stayed at a cabin double and although this didn’t have a mountain view, I was still okay with that given that I only really stayed in the room to sleep. I did love the fireplace in the room as the heat kept me warm throughout the night and the dark maple wood floors and custom furniture set a cozy, cabin vibe that I was looking for. However, the selling point for staying at Scribner’s Lodge is the mountain view, which can be viewed outside (if you can snag a room with a mountain view, that would even be better!).  It was beautiful to wake up to the stunning color of the fall leaves and breathe in the crisp air.

There is a nice lounge area located at the lodge for guests to unwind, work and hang out. I enjoyed spending some quiet time reading in the library and there are also board games and a pool table available should you want to have a fun game night. After the entryway to the lounge, there is a stunning view after opening the window doors, which leads you to the s’mores campfire area. I  made sure to make s’mores both nights because I think it’s a staple activity to do especially during the fall/ winter. Make sure you also visit Scribner’s garden and book a dining experience at Prospect!

When I grow older, I definitely want to have my own garden. I loved the outdoor garden setup at Scribner’s Catskill Lodge. I spent quite a while there, just admiring each vegetable and the care, patience and effort it takes to grow these healthy foods that we often take for granted. Some of the vegetables are also used as ingredients in Prospect, so I loved the garden to table aspect. There’s something so refreshing and gratifying to know that exactly where the vegetables were grown and how they ended up on my plate.

Speaking of Prospect, I had an amazing dining experience and being able to eat outside during sunset with the mountain backdrop was unforgettable! I ordered the garden kale salad, the gemelli cacio e peppe, hand cut tagliatelle and the fish special which came with brussels sprouts, all of which were scrumptious. I don’t think you can go wrong with anything you order from their menu and I would love to try their other dishes the next time I’m there. I want to point out that all staff  wore masks at the restaurant and there were at least 6 feet between the other guests and me. There weren’t a lot of people there so it was great to dine with a peace of mind.

Overall, my stay at Scribner’s Catskill Lodge was perfect. I actually prefer to take mini getaways in the middle of the week and I came back extremely refreshed and stress free. The drive around the Catskills was magical and the sights and views were exactly what I saw in photos but even better since I was able to witness it with my own eyes and also take in the smell and nature atmosphere. I highly recommend visiting the Catskills and stay at Scribner’s Lodge if you are looking for a getaway from New York City! I also want to make this a routine every fall and I am already looking forward to returning next year.