Spending a night inside a historic castle—less than an hour from New York City—may sound like a fairy tale, but the magical experience is very much rooted in reality. The state of New York occupies a surprising amount of ancient fortresses, but there are few you can sleep, eat and get a massage inside. Enter Castle Hotel & Spa!
A very brief history lesson: The land was purchased by General Howard Carroll (a playwright, writer for The New York Times and savvy businessman), and was built to replicate the style of Norman fortification in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The fortress was finished in 1910, and after much time had passed, the property was converted into a hotel between the years of 1994 and 1996. In 2013, the oasis transformed once again to emulate an elegant getaway with the addition of the ever-peaceful and restorative Sankara Spa which gives strong nods to Asian practices of peace and tranquility.
Originally boasting 45 bed chambers, the award-winning Castle Hotel & Spa now offers 31 refurbished guest rooms which offer the luxe appearance one would find at a modern five-star hotel without erasing the castle’s historic charms. Such allures include the location’s gothic staircases, stain glass windows, oil paintings hung on the walls, shelves lined with historic leather-bound books and more. And, oh, the back courtyard (equipped with a life-size chess board for you to play with during the warmer months) provides stunning views of the Hudson River atop one of the highest points in the region. (Make sure to catch the sunset. This is an order, not a suggestion.)
Couples feeling particularly ritzy should absolutely book a room and begin their regal adventure with a massage from the spa located a short walk downhill from the property, followed by a superb dinner at Equus, the on-site restaurant. The kitchen sources ingredients from local, artisanal farmers, so the menu does change seasonally. But pray to the heavens the Porcini Mushroom Risotto is on the list—the dish melts in your mouth as the earthy flavors or exotic mushrooms, paired with perfectly aged parmigiano-reggiano and fresh chives, animate your tastebuds.
Thanks to the Castle Hotel & Spa’s generous list of packages, it is possible for you to experience the best of what the attraction has to offer without breaking the bank entirely. We recommend the City Escape Package, which includes one night's stay, breakfast, a $200 voucher for either the Spa or Equus, two round-trip Metro-North tickets to Grand Central/Tarrytown and transportation to and from the Tarrytown train station (a 10-minute drive) provided by the castle's outstanding and lovely concierge, Allison. If you can't swing the overnight accommodation, a dinner at Equus is a perfect way to celebrate a special occasion or anniversary.
The swoon-worthy trip is purely magical, and while that may be the most convenient and overused word to describe it, we aren't using the word loosely: If ever there were a place to experience majestic wonder, then Castle Hotel & Spa is where they make fairy dust.