704 Mountain Road · Middletown, New York 10940
The Upstate
Curious Guide
Hand-picked by your hosts
Everything worth knowing within reach — farms, forests, cideries, crystals & quiet roads
Mountain Rd · Middletown, NY 10940
Start your morning
Coffee & Cafés
Callie's Coffee Cafe
A hidden gem with serious charm — think hot churro lattes, Ferrero Rocher coffee, and seasonal specials that rotate with the owner's imagination. Cozy, welcoming, and run by someone who genuinely loves what she does.
Tue–Fri 7am–2pm · Sat–Sun 8am–2pm · Closed Mon
Local Favorite
Fresh from the land
Farms & Markets
Freedom Hill Farm
A beloved local dairy farm with raw milk, fresh-baked goods, homemade ice cream, and a small store stocked with products from neighboring farms. Happy cows, friendly farmers, an honor-system checkout — and week-old calves in spring.
Mon–Sat 9am–6pm · Sun 12–6pm
Raw Milk · Ice Cream
Farmer's Daughter
A beloved farm stand open only on Saturdays during the warm season — which makes every visit feel a little special. Family-run with high-quality local produce, meats, honey, and baked goods that disappear fast. The apple pie and bread-and-butter pickled squash have their own fan clubs.
Saturdays only · 9am–5pm · Warm season
Seasonal · Saturday Only
Pierson's Farm
A beloved family farm with something for every age — petting zoo, corn maze, sunflower garden, hayrides, a little train ride, and live music. Especially magical during the fall harvest and sunflower festival. The cider float is a crowd favorite.
Seasonal · Check website for hours
Family · Fall · Sunflowers
Soons Orchards
A multigenerational family orchard with apple picking, fresh-pressed cider, homemade donuts, pies, jams, fudge, and a wide market of local goods. There's also a hard cider house and live music on weekends. Reviewers call it better than ever.
Daily 9am–6pm
Apple Picking · Hard Cider · Live Music
Shady Acres Organic Farm
A magical organic farm and event venue with ceremony space among the trees, a cocktail hour orchard, and a pavilion that feels like dining under the stars. The farm itself is open to explore — a dream-like landscape that changes with every season.
By reservation for events
Organic · Events · Dream Venue
Winterton Farms
A serene lavender and maple farm with thoughtfully curated on-farm events — yoga in the lavender fields, cyanotype printing workshops, Oktoberfest, and more. Their maple syrup and lavender skincare products are guest favorites. Note: shares an address with Two Farms Brewing — a natural double stop.
Sat–Sun 12–5pm
Lavender · Maple Syrup · Events
The Hudson Valley doesn't shout. It lets the light through the trees do the talking.
— A NOTE FROM YOUR HOSTS
Into the wild
Nature & Outdoors
Bashakill Wildlife Preserve
One of the area's best-kept secrets — a gorgeous, flat marsh perfect for kayaking, birding, and easy nature walks. The waterway meanders four miles through lily pads. Bald eagles, herons, turtles. The Bashakill Winery sits conveniently right across the street.
Open year-round · Free
Kayaking · Birding · Free
Sam's Point Preserve
A jaw-dropping 5,000-acre preserve atop the Shawangunk Ridge — panoramic Hudson Valley views, the famous Ice Caves trail, and a rare ridgetop dwarf pine barrens. The drive through Cragsmoor hamlet is part of the experience. Fall foliage here is transcendent.
Daily 9am–8pm · $10/vehicle · Weekend reservations required (Apr–Nov)
Ice Caves · Views · Fall Foliage
Winding Hills County Park
A gorgeous county park with hiking trails, a serene lake, camping, boating, and fishing. Dog-friendly with well-groomed paths of moderate difficulty. Perfect for a peaceful morning walk or a full weekend camping trip. Book ahead for holidays.
Daily 7am–8pm
Hiking · Camping · Dog-Friendly
Raise a glass
Sip & Taste
Two Farms Brewing
Down a long dirt road that makes you question everything — and then opens into something wonderful. A craft brewery set on a beautiful property with food trucks, dog-friendly outdoor space, kombucha for the designated drivers, and a vibe that feels genuinely local. Try the hopped cider.
Fri 4–9pm · Sat–Sun 12–6pm
Dog-Friendly · Food Trucks · Outdoor
Scotchtown Craft
The area's go-to craft bar and restaurant with a loyal, regulars-heavy following. Known for creative cocktails, excellent food (the shrimp tower and burgers are perennial favorites), and an exceptionally warm staff. Reviewers call it their personal Cheers. Don't miss the drink of the week.
Daily from 12pm · Fri–Sat until midnight
Craft Cocktails · Bar Food · Neighborhood Gem
City Winery Hudson Valley
A fully-functioning winery, tasting room, and restaurant inside a beautifully restored 130-year-old mill on 22 stunning acres. Wine and food pairings, live music events, and a knowledgeable, warm staff. A sophisticated evening out that feels transportive.
Wed–Fri 4–9pm · Sat 10am–10pm · Sun 10am–8pm
Winery · Live Music · Fine Dining
Angry Orchard Cider House
The flagship cidery set on a working orchard with stunning views. Try a cider flight, take a production tour, or grab the treehouse tasting room if you can. Food trucks on-site. Dog-friendly outdoors. They pour exclusive drafts unavailable anywhere else.
Mon & Thu–Fri 2–8pm · Sat 11am–8pm · Sun 11am–6pm
Dog-Friendly · Tours · Exclusive Pours
NY Makgeolli Brewery & Pub
One of the most singular spots in the region — a Korean brewery and pub tucked into the woods, run by a couple who hold one of the only freshwater eel fishing licenses in New York State. Call ahead to order. The grilled eel, house-made makgeolli rice wine, and spread of banchan sides are unlike anything else around. An absolute hidden gem.
Mon, Wed–Sun 11am–7pm · Call ahead to order
Hidden Gem · Korean · Unique
Wander & discover
Curious Stops
Crystal Connection
A crystal lover's dream set inside a beautifully unique building — massive specimens, a high-vibrational energy room, a salt cave, and geodes you can actually sit inside. Warm, knowledgeable staff. Sit in the wish chair by the giant amethyst stones. Pairs perfectly with a Wurtsboro afternoon.
Mon, Thu–Sun 11am–5pm · Wed closed · Tue 11am–3pm
Salt Cave · Crystals · Wellness
Bashakill Bazaar
A wonderfully curated vintage marketplace with 25+ vendors selling clothing, records, housewares, jewelry, and oddities. The interior is funky and photo-worthy. Steps from Crystal Connection — build your Wurtsboro afternoon around both.
Mon, Wed–Sun 12–6pm · Closed Tue
Vintage · Records · Local Art
Fair Oaks Drive-In
A nostalgic, classic drive-in theater showing double features. Tune your car radio for the audio. The crinkle-cut fries have their own fan base. Bring bug spray and snacks — a great summer evening out with that golden-hour feeling.
Seasonal · Check website for showtimes
Double Features · Nostalgic · Summer
Otisville Train Station
A quaint NJ Transit/Port Jervis Line stop with reliable parking and a heated waiting room — perfect for guests arriving from NYC without a car. A charming little slice of small-town Americana right in the village.
Check NJ Transit for schedules
Train Access · From NYC
Slow down. The best things up here don't have opening hours — they have seasons.
— 704 MOUNTAIN ROAD
Beyond the door
Towns Worth Wandering
Wurtsboro
A charming small town tucked into the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. Sullivan Street is the heart of it all — art galleries, antique shops, Crystal Connection, Bashakill Bazaar, and local restaurants within a short stroll. A perfect afternoon wander.
Best on weekends · Full of surprises
Middletown
The nearest city hub for dining, shopping, and errands. A lively downtown with diverse restaurants, the restored Art Deco Paramount Theatre hosting live performances and films, and easy access to everything you need. Great for an evening out.
Always open · Paramount shows year-round
Montgomery
A historic village nestled along the Wallkill River, blending small-town charm with a contemporary vibe. Home to City Winery, the Montgomery Village Museum, charming shops, and community events like the beloved annual Tractor Parade and Summer Concert Series.
Village events year-round
From us to you
Good to Know
01
Book Sam's Point Early
Weekend parking reservations open two weeks in advance and fill fast. Book as soon as you know your dates — weekdays don't require reservations.
02
Saturdays Are Magic
Farmer's Daughter, Winterton Farms, Two Farms Brewing, and the Mamakating Farmers Market all shine on Saturday. Build your whole morning around it.
03
Call NY Makgeolli First
This one requires a call ahead to place your order — they cook everything fresh. It's worth the extra step. Don't skip it.
04
Wurtsboro Is a Full Afternoon
Crystal Connection + Bashakill Bazaar + lunch on Sullivan Street + the Bashakill Preserve across town. Give it a few hours — you'll be glad you did.
05
Come in Fall
The Hudson Valley in October is something else entirely. Sam's Point, Soons Orchards, Pierson's Farm, and every back road near the house are at their absolute peak.
06
Getting Here from NYC
The Otisville Train Station is a 5-minute drive from the house on the NJ Transit Port Jervis Line. No car needed from Penn Station.
