If you love history, then you’ll want to stay in America’s Oldest Inn right? The Beekman Arms Inn is known to be the oldest inn in America and is located in the heart of Rhinebeck New York, a gem of an upstate New York destination in Dutchess County.
Delamater Inn is part of the Beekman Arms and they offer a combination of great rooms and cottages. Designed by one of America’s first architects, Alexander Jackson Davis, the buildings are one of the finest remaining examples of American Carpenter Gothic.
Above, a view of one of Rhinebeck’s main streets from an outdoor table in front of the Beekman Arms where we had lunch.
The Delamater Inn includes seven guest houses clustered around a courtyard which offer spacious accommodations, many with woodburning fireplaces. They offer a range of styled and elegantly decorated rooms and suites, private baths, phones with voicemail and data ports, refrigerators, as well as fireplaces in 29 of the rooms.
We went for a suite with a pull out couch because we had kids in tow, but if you’re a couple on a romantic getaway, I’d suggest going for one of the more charming and historical rooms in the Main Inn where you’ll go down history lane.
Outside, it’s about as traditional as it get and this extends throughout the inside lobby, restaurant, lounge areas and rooms, including the Colonial Tap Room.
Flags hang from the front, facing Mill Street on one side. They have parking lots for both inns depending on what section you stay and there are plenty of great restaurants and cafes you can walk to during your stay, including The Tavern at the inn, where we had lunch on our first day.
The Beekman Arms
The accommodations on the upper floors of the original inn date back to 1766 although they have been renovated so you have all the luxury amenities of a modern hotel.
We stayed in The Courtyard which is where there are newer buildings surrounding beautifully landscaped grounds a couple of blocks behind the Main Inn. They are decorated in a country Victorian style and rooms have king, queen or 2 double beds, and all rooms have fireplaces. The courtyard is a favorite for families and was perfect for us given the pull out couch and spaciousness.
On one of the side tables in our room, there were two glasses and a bottle of sherry – nice touch! It reminded me of my colonial stays in upscale hotels in southern Africa where they almost always included a bottle of sherry and often whiskey or port in your room.
History & Space, a Rarity
You can also book a house, such as The Germond House, which dates back to the mid-1800’s. Germond House accommodates four junior suites, each with a bedroom and separate sitting room and a gas fireplace in the bedroom or living room. The building maintains a lot of its original charm and is a great option for a quiet getaway.
The Carriage House is the original carriage house to the Delamater House built in 1844, which is a more rustic style building with wide board floor and overhead beams.
Dining at the Beekman
The Tavern is located on the ground floor of the main inn and while you can sit inside in one of the historical rooms where there’s no shortage of charm.
Because it was such a lovely June afternoon, we opted to sit outside and watch the Rhinebeck community walk, cycle and drive by.
They offered healthy salad options, sandwiches, wraps and a to-die-for French onion soup, all perfect for a summer afternoon.
We ordered a few salads to share, including the kale, which they made with toasted pumpkin seeds and roasted grapes, a classic Caesar and a Chicken and Fruit salad, which included grilled chicken, romaine, strawberries, blueberries, orange, grapes, pineapples and pecans.
I went for the Roasted Beet and Arugula salad with Coach Farm goat cheese, dried cranberries, spiced pecans which they toss in a honey maple balsamic dressing. Oh so delish!
They make a delicious carrot cake as well – be sure to read my more extensive Food Round up which has more details on The Tavern as well as other restaurants in the town.
I always stop into the Beekman Arms Antique Barn when I come to the area (my third time since childhood) and love everything in there. You can get some good deals if you scout carefully and know what you’re looking for, even jewelry. The barn features over 30 dealers and is located directly behind the Main Inn.
The village area around this is home to a variety of shops, galleries and cafes and in the immediate area, you can explore the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Home and Library, the Culinary Institute of America in closeby Hyde Park, the old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, which is on our Family Travel Top Picks list, and a number of Hudson River Estates, such as Montgomery Place, Olana, Clermont, Mills and the Vanderbilt Mansion.
Also check out our piece on upstate New York’s Glenmere Mansion.
Photo credits: inside Room – smaller stock shots, photo credits: Beekman Arms. All other photos: Renee Blodgett
DETAILS:
The Beekman Arms Inn & Delamater Inn
6387 Mill Street
Rhinebeck, NY 12572
(845) 876-7077
http://www.beekmandelamaterinn.com/
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Note: We were hosted by the inn but all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
