Woodstock, NY
Looking to get away for the long weekend, a friend and I decided to go on a short girl’s trip to Woodstock, NY for a change of scenery and some relaxation. Located only about a two hour drive from New York City, Woodstock was the perfect destination for us, because on our list were massages, yummy food, and nature.
DAY 1
We hit the road Friday morning and drove straight to our first location, the Buttermilk Inn & Spa for our much anticipated massages. Situated on the Hudson River Valley with a working farm, this inn is incredibly charming and beautiful with spectacular views all around. This would also make for a lovely weekend getaway.
Once we arrived, we checked in at the main lobby to have our temperatures taken and to fill out a questionnaire form. We then drove over to the spa to hand in our paperwork and to get ready for our massages. I went with the 60 minute hot stone massage while my friend went with the 60 minute Swedish.
. 
The overall experience was just what we were looking for. Both of our masseuses were friendly and hospitable. The spa followed safe and clean COVID guidelines so we felt very safe and comfortable.
Feeling relaxed from our massages, we were also hungry, so we walked over to their farm to table restaurant, Henry’s at the Farm for a late lunch/early dinner. Inside the dining room, there were only three small groups and the tables were very well socially distanced, so we decided to sit down for a meal. I was very glad that we did because it felt so nice to eat at a restaurant again.
Everything on their menu looked amazing and I would’ve been happy with any dish but, I was craving a good ol’ fashioned burger. So I ordered their 1/2 pound house ground beef burger with cheddar cheese, fries, and a hibiscus ginger cider. YUM!
The burger was cooked exactly the way I asked for it (medium) and it was juicy, flavorful, and served on a soft buttery brioche bun. For dessert, I ordered a scoop of the “ice cream of the day”, which was made from mushrooms and maple, both grown and picked from the farm on site! It was an ambitious choice but so well worth it because it was DELICIOUS. It was smooth, nutty, and had a hint of sweetness. I would definitely come back just to try more of their ice cream flavors!
Before heading to our hotel, we decided to take a quick stroll around the property to see the lama farm. Who can say no to lamas! If you ever visit here, I highly recommend walking around and admiring the beauty of this place!
Day 2
Waking up feeling refreshed and well rested, we were of course HUNGRY for our first meal. We decided to grab breakfast/brunch at the very well known Phoenicia Dinerfor some classic American comfort food.
Due to COVID, their indoor dining was closed but their heated outdoor seating area was open for diners. Orders have to be placed inside the diner and picked up in the outdoor patio. There was also an option to call in your order in advance.
Once we placed our order inside, we went to grab seats in the outdoor area, which was nicely set up with heating lamps and socially distant tables. Besides the food of course, the atmosphere really stood out to me. It was laid back and the staff had great hospitality and were so cheerful as they were calling out names for the orders. They even encouraged all diners to cheer and clap when a name was called!
For breakfast, I ordered the Corned Beef Skillet, house-cured pastured brisket, onions, peppers, potatoes, two poached eggs, and sourdough toast. What I really liked was that the dish was still piping hot when we brought it back to our table. The brisket was tender, flavorful, and paired extremely well with the potatoes and poached eggs.
With our bellies full, we were ready to get some exercise in, so we went for an easy hike (ha!) at the beautiful Ashokan Reservoir Promenade (This is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a trail that is paved and flat.)
Fun fact: 40% of New York City’s water comes from here!
To end the day, we headed into the main town of Woodstock for some shopping, drinks, and dinner. We popped into the the Golden Notebook for some browsing because who doesn’t love perusing around a bookstore?! For drinks, we stopped at The Mud Club because of its large outdoor space that had plenty of seating, heat lamps, and camp fires. Their bar was definitely worth checking out because of its cool speakeasy feel and unique cocktails.
After having been out all day, we decided to take dinner to go so that we could relax and continue watching Bridgerton (hehe). We each grabbed the Meatballs & Veggies Bowl from Sharkie’sthat came with a mix of turkey and pork meatballs, served over a bed of spaghetti squash, and smothered in marinara sauce and parmesan cheese. It was flavorful and comforting and there was even enough leftovers to take home the next day. It was the perfect meal to end the day.
Day 3
On our last day, before hitting the road, we decided to grab a quick breakfast at the Bread Alone Bakery in Woodstock. We had actually passed this bakery the night before, but they had already closed when we got there.
When we arrived, it was clear that everyone else had the same idea for breakfast, because the line was down the block! We weren’t thrilled about having to wait in line in the cold, so we went over to The Mud Club again, to try their breakfast offerings.
We were so glad we did because their bagels were exceptional and the coffee was good. We shared an everything bagel with smoked lox and scallion cream cheese, chocolate almond croissant, drip coffee, and latte. We were even lucky enough to grab the best seat the place had to offer!
It was a great weekend indeed and we left feeling super relaxed, rejuvenated, and with satisfied bellies.
Thank you for reading and I hope you get to visit Woodstock, NY one day!