Scattered around the world are hotels of such stature and history they can quietly sit without the need to advertise heavily to attract tourists and visitors. They are so famous that they are just known, their accommodations are sought after and their reservations lists are usually full. Each has a unique attraction bringing people to them, a distinct ambiance and distinctive hospitality that sets them apart from all other places in the world. They just are the best of the best, the reason for the trip not just a place to stay while on a trip.

Mohonk Mountain House is one of these very special places.

First constructed in 1869 on the deep blue waters of isolated Lake Mohonk high atop the Shawangunk Ridge, this 251 room Victorian wood and stone castle is the sole survivor in the competition of the great New York mountain resorts. The Mountain House and its surrounding thousands of acres of protected lands were the creation of Albert and Alfred Smiley, Quakers believing in the pure life and healthful regenerative powers of nature. Beyond the hotel, Mohonk offers 85 miles of hiking trails, tennis, golf, swimming in the lake, golf, horseback riding, carriage rides, spa services, children's programs and all manner of low impact winter sports.

The Mountain House itself is a marvel of wood and stone work. It's interior and exterior surfaces are the pallet for exuberant rustic Victorian details. The main stairway rises straight up in an explosion of plainness and functionality subtly overlaid with the pride of workmanship an overwhelming belief in the absolute beauty of wood. The paneled walls of the public rooms glow with rich oak and pine and in the cooler months the great fireplaces are ablaze with scented woods filling the parlors with another warm glow. On any of the 238 private balconies or any of the many public porches you must sit in one of the countless rocking chairs to have a true Mohonk experience. Sit rocking gently and people watch, enjoy the sun and the brisk clean breezes caressing you and fall into a nap only to be surprised at how relaxed you feel when you awaken.

Mohonk is that kind of place, it invites you to relax into a totally different aesthetic, to experience life in a simpler and more gracious time. Walk the trails up to the Observation Tower atop the ridge for an extraordinary view of the Shawangunks and Hudson River Valley. Scramble about in the boulders or stroll the easy carriage paths, take a paddle boat out onto the lake or join in a group ride on horses down at the barn. Take a carriage ride out to the lookout points for a leisurely journey into the landscape or wander on your own, Mohonk is about the incomparable landscape and being outdoors in regenerative nature. It encourages you to suspend your hectic life for a little while and enjoy yourself and your companions. You are lulled past your disbelief in your ability to relax and recline into a slower pace. The formal gardens lure you to sit and look and the rustic crafted "buena vista" huts out on the trails trick you into stopping and gazing out at the world. By the end of your stay the unique castle, the extraordinary grounds and the spectacular setting will win you over.

Not the least expensive place to stay and not a place you can just drive up to for a room, Mohonk Mountain House is more than worth the little effort and dent in your credit card to experience. You can go in for the day by purchasing a "Day Pass" at the gate, a real bargin for hikers!

Mohonk is the final remnant of a time and philosophy of hospitality that has all but died in our frenetic world. It's a throwback to a belief that a sense of place and differentiation are important. Mohonk is the last grand and glorious New York mountain resort that attracted Presidents and the top of society. Mohonk offers classic music concerts and afternoon teas, walks in nature and the pleasures of polite social interactions. Mohonk is the last unspoiled resort shunning commercialism, rooted in its belief of stewardship and preservation. Go to Mohonk for an afternoons hiking or a weekend stay, you'll be transformed.