Quiet CoordinatesQuiet places worth the drive.

Ulster County

Highland

A cidery in the village, a haunted night in Ulster Park, and a riverbank inn in Milton. None of them is a reason to expect a public soak.

Perfect fall day in Highland

  1. 01 · Morning

    If it is Saturday, the Heart of the Hudson Valley Farmers Market runs 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at Cluett Schantz Park in Milton, June through mid-October, plus a Thanksgiving market on November 18. Locust Grove Fruit Farm, 199 North Road, prints a farm stand Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and does not list the months.

  2. 02 · Afternoon

    Bad Seed is the Highland cidery. Their own pages do not agree on the hours, so read the taproom page the week you go and do not treat a weekday as a sure thing.

  3. 03 · Skip the soak

    Buttermilk Falls Inn is in Milton, not Ithaca. The pool and spa amenities are temporarily unavailable. Henry's at the Farm is the restaurant on the property. We are not printing spa hours, because the spa page gives two different schedules.

  4. 04 · After dark

    Headless Horseman in Ulster Park is the busy October night, not a quiet substitute. The nights still ahead at the higher October price, as of October 20, are October 23, 24, 25, 30, and 31. Arrive 30 minutes early.

Worth the drive

Food

Main Street Bistro, New Paltz

Their site mentions a tavern after the attractions. Do not count on that as dinner. Main Street Bistro, 59 Main Street in New Paltz, prints dinner Friday–Sunday 4:30–8:00 pm and breakfast most mornings except Tuesday.

Their page

Sauna

Amenities temporarily unavailable

The inn’s spa page says the main spa is under renovation. The pool and its amenities are temporarily unavailable. Treatments continue in a temporary room overlooking the river. That page prints two different hour ranges, so we are not repeating either one. Call before you plan a soak.

House site

Farm stands

  • Locust Grove Fruit Farm · Their page says Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It does not print the months.
  • Heart of the Hudson Valley Farmers Market · Their site says every Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., rain or shine, June through mid-October, plus a Thanksgiving market on November 18.
  • Locust Grove Fruit Farm · Their page says Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It does not print the months.
  • Heart of the Hudson Valley Farmers Market · Their site says every Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., rain or shine, June through mid-October, plus a Thanksgiving market on November 18, at 1801-1805 Route 9W, Cluett Schantz Park.
  • Locust Grove Fruit Farm · Their page says Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It does not print the months.
  • Heart of the Hudson Valley Farmers Market · Their site says every Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., rain or shine, June through mid-October, plus a Thanksgiving market on November 18, at 1801-1805 Route 9W, Cluett Schantz Park, Milton.

Getting here

Metro-North’s Hudson Line is the calmer arrival for Beacon and Cold Spring. Hyde Park is a taxi from Poughkeepsie. New Paltz and Phoenicia want a car. Times on the day-trip pages are a guide, not a promise.

Day trips from New York

Staying in Gardiner – snapshot (lodging only)

Last checked: 2026-10-16. We recommend; you book directly. Prices are nightly, low–high by season, with a source. “From” prices depend on your dates. Items we couldn't verify are marked †.

The quiet base: Gardiner, with Brookfield Farm in Modena as the farm stay. Highland sits next to both.

Inns, B&Bs, farm stays, guesthouses, campgrounds

  • Little Logan's Farm, Gardiner
    Type.
    Farmhouse, 4 BR
    Price (low–high).
    No price on file
    Good for.
    Strong, sleeps 8
    Book via.
    Airbnb (per its own site; listing not found); Glamping Hub listing found
    Why we like it.
    Working veganic farm
  • Brookfield Farm B&B, Modena
    Type.
    Farm B&B
    Price (low–high).
    $210 Mon–Thu, $230 Fri–Sun, 5% off 5+ nights; no seasonal variation shown (own)
    Good for.
    Suite for 4
    Book via.
    Booking/Expedia: not found
    Why we like it.
    Highland cows, orchards

Vacation rentals

  • Charming Cottage, Gardiner
    Sleeps.
    Up to 8
    Price (low–high).
    No price on file
    Good for.
    Up to 8
    Book via.
    Vacasa
    Why we like it.
    Up to 8

Know before you book: Little Logan's is seasonal and has no price. Charming Cottage has no price.

Some links may earn us a commission.

The letter

One email a week

The quiet Hudson Valley plan for the weekend.

Get featured · 10% off when you pay in Bitcoin. Disclosure