Hudson River Valley Getaway



Lover's Leap overlooking the Hudson River at Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa

While I was enjoying the fall foliage this past weekend in the Hudson River Valley, I found a gem of a spot called the Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa in Milton, NY. I had heard about the inn’s restaurant, Henry’s Farm to Table, but had not visited the property.

Henry's Restaurant

I took the morning train from Grand Central to Poughkeepsie and then a 15-minute cab ride across the Mid-Hudson Bridge to Milton. I had called Henry’s in advance for a lunch reservation and I was seated at a window table overlooking Swan Pond. The chef utilizes organic produce from Millstone Farm, which is located onsite. I ordered the fresh grilled vegetable wrap greens with Fontina cheese. The service was very slow because Henry’s was short on staff. I heard my server apologize to guests at a nearby table that only two chefs were in the kitchen. But the dining room did not have enough wait staff, either. It took an inordinate amount of time for my glass of wine to be served. My veggie wrap tasted fresh and light. For dessert, I ordered the apple crisp, but I was later informed that it was not available and so I selected the poached pear with a scoop of ginger and cinnamon ice cream. The pear was uninspiring but the ice cream was worth the calories.

Buttermilk Falls Inn

After lunch, I walked over to the inn to pick up a map of the property. The inn was built in 1764 and includes 10 guest rooms. Additional accommodations include four guesthouses and a former barn. A private party had booked the entire property for that evening which precluded me from viewing any of the rooms.

View from the inn's patio overlooking South Pond and the Hudson River

I began my stroll of the 75-acre estate from the inn’s patio, which had an exquisite view towards the Hudson River. It looked like an autumnal painting. I followed the path towards the river to Lover’s Leap, where I observed a couple of lovers enjoying the serene view from their Adirondack chairs. I then stopped by the tennis court before heading to Swan Pond.

A new friend

Organic Garden and Barn

I crossed the bridge over the pond to Millstone Farm, which encompasses the organic garden, barn, beehives, llamas, Angora goats, alpacas, peacocks and chickens.

The Spa

I then walked over to the Spa, which was taking advantage of the fall harvest of herbs by incorporating them into handmade oils in signature treatments. I was given a brief tour of the pool, which had a delightful view overlooking the garden.

The beauty and serenity of the property, the indulgent spa treatments and charming variety of accommodations entice me to return as an overnight guest. But the restaurant needs to raise the level of service if they want to have repeat business. 

http://www.buttermilkfallsinn.com/
845-795-1310