Escape to One of the Oldest Towns in Connecticut and Stay at the Exquisite Saybrook Point Inn, Marina & Spa

When planning a trip do you pick the hotel as the destination? Or the location as the destination? I’m going to tell you about a resort that IS the destination and a place you should add to your bucket list. Nestled on the Northern Connecticut coast in one of the oldest towns in New England, you’ll find the Saybrook Point Inn, Marina & Spa, a resort that will allow you to escape the craziness of life. Let me tell you a little bit about our stay with this beautiful inn and how it stole our hearts.

To back track just a little, my Mom and I went on a mother / daughter trip back east starting in Boston, then off to Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and then onto northern Connecticut. Staying along the coast we were able to stay at some beautiful places. The Saybrook Point Inn & Spa was our last spot and one of our favorites.

As you enter the hotel you’ll be immediately impressed with the luxurious lobby. To the left you’ll find the welcome desk and beyond the glass doors at the end of the lobby is a beautiful harbor, waterfront restaurant and bar.

What I remember most when we first arrived was the bellman named John. What a delight he was during our entire trip! In fact, everyone was nice. Scott at the welcome desk and Candace were all amazing. Unlike the large hotels, this is a family owned Inn so the service and amenities are first class.

Let’s first visit the rooms which are beautiful, and large! We looked at a few rooms and decided on the water front room with a king size bed. Mom could have done cartwheels in this room and even in the bathroom, yes – it was that spacious! πŸ™‚

Our room (#201) had a balcony which overlooked the harbor and restaurant. We sipped wine, sparkling water, played cards and even had the pleasure of watching a wedding. It was especially beautiful at night with everything lit up including a cozy gas fireplace located down by the water.

We ate at the restaurant which is right by the water. What fun to watch the boats, people and have a really fabulous meal. That’s Mom and me eating fish and chips and salad. Mom wants to make sure everyone know we were sharing.

The grounds are lovely. There are two women who manage them and being gardeners ourselves, we were impressed. There’s also a spa and you’ll see the entrance below. You’ll be amazed at all the flowers, exotic plants and beautiful walkways.

Finally, the harbor. What a gorgeous area to walk around and see including a lighthouse you can rent and actually sleep in. They also have 3 saltwater pools, one we could see from our room.

If all of that wasn’t enough they love dogs!

On behalf of my Mom and me, thank you so much John, Candace, Scott and the rest of the team at the Saybrook Point Inn, Marina and Spa for a wonderful stay! We will definitely go back. If you decide to visit this beautiful inn please tell me about your visit! Cheers!!!! Photogirl and Mom XO

Saybrook Point Inn, Marina & Spa website: www.saybrook.com

Battlefields and Lighthouses (Part 4)

Part 4. It’s time to leave Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown and head north in search of a revolutionary battlefield and the oldest lighthouse on the Hudson River. At this point in my trip I had no reservations so I really wasn’t sure how far I’d drive or where I would stay. After coffee, I got an early start, hit “play” on my book on CD, and coasted out of Tarrytown. My goal was to keep to the shoreline as much as possible. I was particularly excited about today as I was going to stop by one of the Revolutionary Battlefields at Stony Point and also see the oldest lighthouse on the Hudson River.

Continue reading “Battlefields and Lighthouses (Part 4)”

Castles and Spooks (Part 3)

At the end of Part 2 we were just leaving Sleepy Hollow and heading to Tarrytown, NY (which is right the town right next door.) You can bounce back and forth between these two towns when doing your tours. Also, make sure you walk through downtown Tarrytown. There are a lot of quaint shops and great restaurants. (Many Zagat rated) One of the residents of Tarrytown was Washington Irving who wrote the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. Before I went on this trip, I ran out and got the book from the library. In the first paragraph of the story is description of this area that I fell in love with.

“Not far from this village, perhaps about two miles, there is a little valley, or rather lap of land, among high hills, which is one of the quietest places in the whole world. A small brook glides through it, with just murmur enough to lull one to repose; and the occasional whistle of a quail, or tapping of a woodpecker, is almost the only sound that ever breaks in upon the uniform tranquility.”

Our day in this beautiful area will begin with breakfast at the Castle on the Hudson

Continue reading “Castles and Spooks (Part 3)”

Sleepy Hollow Ghosts (Part 2)

We’re off to Sleep Hollow! Filled with mansions and ghosts this is the perfect place to visit during the month of October. In this blog we’ll walk under a star-lite sky and view over 5000 hand carved lighted pumpkins placed on the grounds of a historic, 18th-century riverside mansion. Next, we’ll stroll along the carriage pathways on a lantern lite tour at the Sleepy Hollow cemetery…Visit a church with a candle lite path and look through the glass that is century’s old, out onto the old burial grounds with tomb stones dating back to the 1500 and 1600s. We’ll walk along a wooded trail, back in time, to the 1750s and tour an old manor and gristmill. Finally, we’ll travel to the top of a hilltop and tour one of the most incredible estates which was home to four generations of Rockefellers, exploring the rooms in a six story stone mansion along with a tour of the incredible grounds. If you’re ready…then let’s go!

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Steaming Scones and Stunning Views (Part 1)

Imagine castles along a river that cuts through rolling hills. Dotted with islands and shores that cascade and dip into the dark blue waters, this area is rich with history, architecture and ghost stories. Truly you could be embarking on a historical tour of Europe but yet you are still in the United States. The Hudson Valley in New York state be exact. Around every bend and turn there is something more amazing and wonderful.

Traveling to the Hudson Valley in the fall is one of the best times to go. If you want to β€œleaf peep” then the third and fourth week of October are the best times. If you are in the New York area you still have time to take this tour (or at least part of it) This travel itinerary will take you through a journey that encompasses history, architecture, and beauty. You’ll stroll through a battlefield and up mossy hills to the oldest light house on the Hudson. You’ll explore the Sleepy Hollow cemetery at dusk. Visit manors and castles including the Vanderbilt and Rockefeller Mansions. And you’ll stroll down the quaint, shop and restaurant lined streets of Rhinebeck where you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Especially if you stay at the oldest inn in America.

Part 1 of this trip includes getting there, Rockefeller Lookout and the beautiful city of Piermont. Part 2 will take you to a number of fabulous places, especially during Halloween. They will include Sleepy Hollow where you’ll tour the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery by lantern light and Kykuit which is the Rockefeller Estate. But first, we need to get there!

Continue reading “Steaming Scones and Stunning Views (Part 1)”