Hudson Valley Memorial Day Getaway Special

In honor of our brave Service Men and Women and the sacrifices they've made, the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa is offering special discounted rates this Memorial Day Weekend- an unbeatable rate to get away to the beautiful Hudson Valley Resort & Spa!

Nestled in the heart of the Shawangunk Mountains, the Resort is ideally situated for exploring the many important Hudson Valley historical sites which pay tribute to our Troops, and the leaders who inspired them.

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, West Point, Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum, and many more attractions are all within easy driving distance.

What better way to enjoy this Memorial Day Weekend?

Stay in Style and SAVE this memorial day!  The luxuriously appointed lobby and common areas at the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa hearken back to a grander age: rich carpeting, Crystal Chandeliers, and graceful works of art will enhance your stay.

Of course, the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa features a perfectly manicured par 71 championship golf course surrounded by beautiful Catskill Mountain views, a full-service European Health Spa with glass enclosed Fitness Center, tennis and basketball courts, an arcade center,  indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and much more!

For more information, or to reserve your room, call 845-626-8888 or email info@hudsonvalleyresort.com.


Be sure to mention this Memorial Day Manager's Special to receive your discounted room rate!

Offers like this don’t come along often, so call now!  Availability is limited, and for this great unbeatable rate this opportunity won’t last long!

*Based on availability.  Rates are for a standard room, per night, subject to taxes and resort fees.  This special rate does not apply to pre-existing reservations, and does not include meals.  Offer valid May 25th through May 28th 2012.

Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day!

May 15th is National Chocolate Chip Day!

In the spirit of the holiday, the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa would like to share our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe!

Baking these Chocolate Chip Cookies couldn’t be easier, and the results couldn’t be more delicious!

So go ahead and treat yourself to this gooey-sweet chocolaty treat!  


Ingredients
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
2. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
4. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.


The Hudson Valley Resort & Spa is the perfect place to host your Hudson Valley wedding or group event With 41,000 sq. ft of conference, meeting, and ball rooms, we can buffet up to 1200! Serving up everything from informal BBQ to elegant plated dinners, we can accommodate your needs.

Need to work off those cookies, or just want to recharge?  Stop on by our beautiful European Health Spa and Fitness Center or the 18 Hole Championship Golf Course and discover the balance here at Hudson Valley Resort & Spa!

Do you have a favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe to share?  Comment below, and tell us about it!

History of the Hudson Valley

Originally inhabited by the Algonquian speaking Mahican and Munsee Native American people, Europeans first discovered the Hudson Valley in the early 17th century, a time of tremendous social and political upheaval.

The Dutch established the first Hudson Valley colony at Fort Nassau in 1610 as a trading post exchanging European goods for Native treasures.  The region remained at the heart of the New Netherland colonies until November 1674, when the Treaty of Westminster ceded New Netherland to the English.

Through much of the 1750s, the Hudson Valley became the bulwark of the British defense against French invasion during the French and Indian War.

During the American Revolution, the Hudson Valley was one of the major regions of military contention.  Part of the early strategy of the British was to sever the colonies in two by dominating the Hudson River.

Much of this plan was thwarted by the construction of an enormous iron chain stretched across the river at west point which greatly impeded the progress of British Ships through the Hudson Valley.

The completion of the Erie Canal on October 26, 1825 opened the Hudson Valley and New York City to commerce with the Mid-West and the Great Lakes Region, which helped the Hudson Valley to become an important industrial center.

In the early 19th century the Hudson Valley gained a reputation as a region of untamed gothic beauty, as popularized by writers like Washington Irving and through the landscape masterpieces of the Hudson River School painters.

The birthplace of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the Hudson Valley is still home to his legacy, residence, and presidential library.

Today, the History of the Hudson Valley is still alive.  You can explore some of the region’s rich historical resources by following these links:

Senate House State Historic Site

The West Point Museum

The D&H Canal Historical Society and Museum

The FDR Presidential Library and Museum

Washington's Headquarters

Ulster County Historical Society

Formerly “The Granit”, the historic Hudson Valley Resort & Spa is the perfect destination for anyone exploring the rich history of the Hudson Valley.  Perfectly situated on more than 400 gorgeous acres with stunning mountain views, this beautifully renovated historic hotel offers guests an unparalleled Hudson Valley experience.    

Have a favorite place to learn about Hudson Valley History?  Comment below, and tell us about it!

Hudson Valley: Top 10 Travel Destination for 2012

For those of us familiar with the Hudson Valley, it comes as no surprise to see who landed on Lonely Planet's list of Top Ten US Travel Destinations for 2012:

2. Hudson River Valley, New York
"It should be a given that any visitor to New York City breaks for a day or two ‘upstate’ in the Hudson River Valley, a slice of rural Americana just north. It’s a real city break, with leafy drives, wineries and plenty of farm-to-table foodie options that draw even spoiled-for-choice Manhattanites away from the city."

Only the exotic US Virgin Islands, half a world away, was ranked higher.

We’re honored to see the Hudson Valley region receive this kind of recognition from the largest and most well respected international travel authority- we all know the Hudson Valley is like no other place in the world!

Hundreds of thousands of travelers flock to the Hudson Valley each year to experience the exciting cultural events, sample the exceptional regional cuisine, and witness the region's magnificent natural beauty.

With so many opportunites for exploration, recreation, and relaxation, the Hudson Valley is truly in the midst of a travel Renaissance: With an abundance of food, wine, and film festivals, a thriving art and music scene, diverse sporting options, and a progressive focus on natural health and wellness, the Hudson Valley has something for everyone.

The Hudson Valley Resort & Spa is the perfect landing spot to explore this rich and diverse American Destination.  Surrounded by more than 400 acres of beautiful Catskill views and nestled in the heart of the Shawangunk Mountains, we’re within arms reach of all of the major Hudson Valley Attractions.

While you’re here, enjoy a round of golf on our Championship 18-hole golf course or pamper yourself in our European Health Spa.  Whether you’re visiting the Hudson Valley to explore or to relax, we’ve got you covered.

What do you love about the Hudson Valley?  What makes it so special?  Comment below, and tell us about it!

The Comic’s Haven: It was an Honor.

The Old Catskills Resorts were once a haven for American Comedy; an honor which has forever made its mark on the region, if not the world.  Every year, tens of thousands of New Yorkers would flock to the Hudson Valley to relax in luxury, enjoy the outdoors, and be entertained by the pioneers of modern stand-up.

Milton Berle, George Burns, Sid Caesar, Don Rickles, Jackie Mason… the list goes on and on.  Perhaps the greatest legacy of The Kings of the Catskills is “the one-liner”.

While many of the old Catskill comics have passed on, the one liner still thrives today.  In honor of the Catskills heritage as a comedy haven, we’ve complied the best of the best of the one-liners of old.

I just got back from a pleasure trip. I took my mother-in-law to the airport.

I've been in love with the same woman for 49 years. If my wife ever finds out, she'll kill me!

The doctor gave a man six months to live. The man couldn't pay his bill, so the doctor gave him another six months.

You have the Midas touch. Everything you touch turns to a muffler. 

A doctor has a stethoscope up to a man's chest. The man asks, "Doc, how do I stand?" The doctor says, "That's what puzzles me!"

I wish my brother would learn a trade, so I would know what kind of work he's out of.

A car hit an elderly man. The paramedic says, "Are you comfortable?" The man says, "I make a living."

I was playing golf. I swung, missed the ball, and got a big chunk of dirt. I swung again, missed the ball, and got another big chunk of dirt. Just then, 2 ants climbed on the ball saying, "Let's get up here before we get killed!" 

Doctor: "You'll live to be 60!" Patient: "I AM 60!" Doctor: "See! What did I tell you?"

Patient: "I have a ringing in my ears." Doctor: "Don't answer!"

While the days of Catskill Comedy may be gone, the Hudson Valley is still a favorite destination for tens of thousands of visitors every year.  With endless opportunities for recreation, entertainment, relaxation, and outdoor activites, it’s no wonder.

Formerly "The Granit", The Hudson Valley Resort & Spa, is honored to have been a part of the great Catskill haven of comedy.  Conveniently located just 90 miles from New York City, we're always happy to host groups of any size.  With 41,000 sq. ft. of banquet and meeting space, grand ballrooms and theater, we’re tickled pink to have you.  Give us a look, and find out how affordable true customer service and comfort can be.

Top 20 Hudson Valley Mother's Day Quotes

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, we decided to gather up the top 20 Quotes which best exemplify the personal crisis which every mother in the Hudson Valley finds herself facing sooner or later- speaking with the same clichés her own mother used! 

20) “If everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you?”

19) “It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye.”

18) “Do you think I was born yesterday?”

17) “Why? Because I said so, that's why!”

16) “Money doesn't grow on trees!”

15) “Don’t put that in your mouth.”

14) “Did you put on clean underwear? What will people think if you’re in an accident?”
13) “Wash behind your ears—I can see carrots growing back there.”
12) “Finish your meal—there are children starving in (misc. impoverished country)
11) “Would you eat like that on a first date?”
10) “Would it hurt to call once in a while?”

9) “Are you proud of yourself?”

8) “I went through labor, and you can't even do this one little thing?”

7) “I’ll give you something to cry about”

6) “I’m the one who brought you here, don’t think I can’t take you out.”

5) “Slow down. You’ve got your whole life to be a grown up.”
4) “You call that a broken heart? You’ve got a lot of living to do.”
3) “If you keep making that face, it’s going to freeze that way.”
2) “Sticks and stone may break your bones, but names will never hurt you.”

And finally....
1) “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

At Hudson Valley Resort & Spa, we respect the enormous personal sacrifices mothers make for their families, and understand the daily stress and fatigue they endure.      

This Mother’s Day, there’s no better way to show your mom that you care than by giving the gift of relaxation- and there’s no better way to relax than a trip to the Spa.  That's why we're offering deeply discounted room rates and 10% off spa treatments with our Mother's Day Weekend Spa Getaway. 

Do you have a favorite Mom Cliché, or have you coined a new one yourself?  Comment below, and tell us about it!