During March 2024, the air was still chilly in New York City. With warm weather just around the corner, it was a good time to start thinking ahead and get a girls trip on the calendar to dream about as summer slowly approached. My parameters were pretty simple: I wanted to go somewhere within driving distance of Manhattan, with a campy atmosphere, and that would be a guaranteed great time regardless of the weather (though hopes were high for a sunny weekend). My friends and I landed on the Wood Hunter Home, the perfect tranquil oasis packed with activities in the picturesque mountains right outside of Woodstock.
While our journey to the house brought us through a couple of winding roads, two wrong turns, and some rocky dirt paths, we took our final left into the secluded property and immediately forgot about any directional mishaps. The jumbo-size wooden cabin stood glistening, perched atop a grassy hill, overlooking an infinity pool, a pool house with games and a lounge area, and a full-size tennis court just a few steps below. I gulped in a huge breath of crisp mountain air, overjoyed to be away from the musty, humid city for just a few days. Spoiler alert: We were blessed with the best possible weather throughout the entire weekend, which allowed us to make the absolute most of each of the aforementioned features around the property.
Upon arrival, we carefully lugged our bags up the many stairs up to the cabin (something to consider for anyone who may not be as mobile), and immediately started calling dibs on rooms. The lower level had three rooms—two with king beds and sliding doors opening right to the front lawn, and one with a double bed best suited for one person—as well as three bathrooms and a steam room (which happened to be out of order during our stay, but seems ti be usually operable based on other recent reviews). The middle level of the house boasted the ultimate group-trip-friendly living space with floor-to-ceiling windows, alongside a well-equipped kitchen with a huge island, enormous refrigerator and freezer, and all the pots, pans, and utensils you could need. On the very top floor, there were two bedrooms, one with two twin beds and its own bathroom. The other was the primary suite, with a cozy king bed and an A-frame window overlooking the most beautiful views of the property. The primary bathroom had a two-head shower and a large modern tub, both facing an enormous window overlooking the woods. Other features of the house that were notable were the easy-to-use outdoor grill, large outdoor dining area, always-heated hot tub, and enormous patio perfect for morning yoga sessions.
After a restful first night, we woke up bright and early and headed straight to Bread Alone Bakery in Woodstock, a short 18-minute drive away. We popped into the famous Candlestock, a candle-lover’s paradise with shapes, colors, and scents galore. As the summer heat began to kick in right around noon, we made our way back to the Airbnb for a lazy day by the pool. On our way to the Airbnb from the city, we made sure to stock up on groceries and snacks from nearby Tannersville, which I would highly recommend to anyone staying here. While town is a short drive away, this is definitely a homey stay that encourages snacking, cooking, and eating fresh watermelon by the pool, just as we did.
We headed back into Woodstock that evening for a special dinner at Sylvia, a wood-fired grill focused on organic vegetables and locally sourced ingredients. As a group of food-obsessed ladies based in the heart of good food that is NYC, dinner majorly exceeded our expectations—the wood-fired pita, charred shishito peppers, and crispy chicken schnitzel left us already planning our next visit back. Our evening was spent back at the house at the outdoor firepit, putting our few fire-building skills to use for an ultimate s’mores feast. The firepit is located adjacent to a woodsy area with plenty of pre-cut wood available, but it would be worthwhile to check with the host in advance if this will always be the case. We also made sure to pick up some fire starters during our grocery run earlier in the weekend which was a great help.
The rest of the weekend consisted of some combination of all the above, along with some heated tennis tournaments, BBQs on the grill, stargazing on the Airbnb patio, and nights spent with our eyes glued to the Paris Olympics on the living room TV. Our last morning was spent in Hunter—also just a quick drive away—at Fellow Mountain Cafe, best known for their decadent cinnamon buns and delicious sandwiches. As our group split up into two cars to head back home, our bellies were full, and our souls were nourished by a slowed-down weekend away from it all.
