Cold Spring

Living in New York City has been an amazing experience for us, but being surrounded by concrete and asphalt definitely takes its toll, even with our generous outdoor space. Andrew had a week off between the end of the regular school year and the beginning of summer school, so we took the opportunity to get out of town and see some greenery. It was also a chance to celebrate some wonderful personal news: we're expecting a baby in December!


Originally we wanted to visit Connecticut or Vermont, but the prospect of renting a car convinced us to stay a little closer to home. The amazing thing about living in this city is that just thirty minutes north of the Bronx the scenery becomes instantly beautiful. We decided on Beacon, where Andrew's cousin Catherine lives, so we could visit her and also borrow her car for daily excursions. Once we stepped off the Metro North at Beacon, we took a ferry across the Hudson River for a tour of Bannerman Castle. This little island is the site of a crumbling old munitions factory and a luxurious house.

 We had a nice tour around the island before heading back to Beacon and checking into our romantic bed n' breakfast, The Swann Inn. We were the only guests that weekend, so we were upgraded to the nicest suite in the house, which included a game table, a couch, a piano, and the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in. Each morning we were treated to a huge, homemade breakfast, including orange cinnamon French toast and plum and cabernet sorbet.

Our second day we spent just downriver at the cute little town of Cold Spring, where our friend Krisy met us for some kayaking. It was a slightly drizzly day, but we made the most of it and were able to visit a marsh and see a family of racoons eating mulberries.