7 Best Hotels in Hudson Valley, New York

The shingle-style inn overlooking Wappingers Creek and its falls, has a rather European feel to it. Rooms are decorated in a contemporary style; some overlook the water. There's a complimentary reception with wine and beer held daily in front of the fireplace.

You can sip your cider from Golden Harvest Farms, located directly across the street, at one of several strategically placed picnic benches scattered on the front lawn. The motel-style accommodations show signs of inspiration—some have handsome black-and-white photographs reminiscent of Ansel Adams. Suites have eat-in kitchens and living rooms with sleeper sofas.

The design and decor of this roadside motel are standard issue: vending machines in one corner, lobby in the other. What makes things interesting are the sights and sounds behind the motel. Each room has a little patio overlooking a nature preserve. Local wildlife—deer, wild turkeys, pheasants—roam right up to your doorstep. Towering cottonwoods frame your view.

This fanciful 19th-century home has a broad veranda and tower and is chock-full of period antiques. A crackling fireplace beckons in the first-floor parlor; in warmer seasons you can relax on the porch or in the garden. Bedrooms are decked out in pinks and florals; some beds are draped with swags.

Exposed timbers, wide-plank floors, antique trunks, and custom-made cupboards evoke a Shaker spirit at this 1830 dairy farm. On the way up to the Loft Room—which recalls a romantic, shabby-chic beach cottage—you pass a shimmering hallway mural of flower sprigs, silver maples, and a rogue bunny. Ralph Lauren sheets complement the elegantly simple rooms. You could lose hours pondering the Berkshires from the expansive back deck. Guests can get free tickets to Olana and discount tickets to the Ghent Playhouse.

Funky artwork fills the guest rooms and public spaces of this inn above a popular eatery. A slightly disheveled East Village flavor prevails here. Simple furnishings reminiscent of the 1970s are a backdrop for the eclectic paintings, multimedia works, and bright murals. Down-home cooking with creative twists keeps the locals coming to the restaurant downstairs.

The family-owned motel, painted presidential white, is in the heart of Hyde Park, within walking distance of antiques shops, restaurants, and museums. Rooms have a queen or king bed, one or two doubles, or a pair of twin beds. The smaller rooms have knotty-pine paneling, whereas the others are more contemporary in style.