Traveler Favorite

Captain Schoonmaker's Bed and Breakfast, High Falls, New York
Nominated By: Jenny, Kearny, New Jersey, October '11

Price Range: US$140-$195 # of Rooms: 5 Kid-Friendly: yes

What makes Captain Schoonmaker's so Darn Good? "We had a wonderfully romantic time and we highly recommend this B&B for the location, house, and hosts, Judy and Bill. For us, the place and hosts went beyond our expectations."

Location: "The b&b is centrally located around the major points of interest, which include Rhinebeck and Woodstock to the North, New Paltz, Mohonk Preserve, and Minnewaska State Park to the South - not to mention all the hiking, shopping, history, and antiquing one would ever want."

Rooms: "The pre-revolutionary house is gorgeous with wide-planked floors and old fireplaces, and chock full of fascinating old pictures, antiques, and little knick-knacks. You can have coffee, tea, and little chocolate chip cookies while you explore the place or simply read a book from their extensive library by one of the fireplaces. The property's wooded grounds, with a big stream and waterfall, are beautiful as well. We stayed in the "Captain's Quarters" upstairs in the main house, above where breakfast is served, and we had our own lovely fireplace and a one-person jacuzzi in our bathroom." The carriage house next door has four other guest rooms, all with private bathrooms though one is located across the hall.

Food: "For breakfast we enjoyed yogurt with granola and fresh blueberries, whole wheat pancakes with bacon and apple slices, and a confection dreamed up by Judy called "Eggnog French Toast". All was served with scones or muffins, and bottomless juice and coffee."

Vibe: "Judy and Bill go the extra mile to ensure their guests' full and complete happiness - evident in the little touches around the house such as home-baked cookies in the foyer and throw blankets on every chair in the house. They are also very forthcoming with day trip ideas and directions to anywhere you'd like to go in the area."

Keep in Mind: "The main house is close to the road, so in the "Captain's Quarters" we could hear cars and trucks going by on the highway while lying in bed. It's honestly not loud, but sounds sort of like a whoosh as they pass and it became white noise by the second night we were there. Also, Judy and Bill have a very cute, very LARGE golden retriever named Beau who lives in the house next door, so let them know in advance if you have any concerns about dogs."