A Quickie Jaunt to a Spectacular Location
Taking a day trip from the city and exploring the vast and varied “backyard” of New York is one of my favorite things to do. One area that consistently captivates me is the glorious Hudson Valley. The mighty Hudson River stretches 315 miles, beginning at a location called Lake Tear of the Clouds and ending in NYC near the Atlantic Ocean. The river and the valley are underrated gems. Every view of the Hudson is breathtaking and I have a special place in my heart for this, my favorite body of water.
You can enjoy a gorgeous view of the Hudson from a unique property I recently learned about:
The Abbey Inn and Spa in historic Peekskill in Westchester County, a mere one-hour drive from New York City.
Named one of the top 10 best new hotels in America by USA Today, the Abbey has a grand history.
Located in Fort Hill, the property was a lookout post for George Washington and his army during the Revolutionary war. At the beginning of the 20th century, it became a convent and chapel for the Episcopal Sisters of Saint Mary. When that order moved to another spot, the awe-inspiring structure was converted into the Abbey Inn and Spa, a luxury hotel with 42 rooms, a farm to table restaurant, a wine cellar, spa, chapel, and gorgeous grounds.
You can go for the day to enjoy the restaurant on premises or use the spa. Better yet, take a break and stay in their modern sleek rooms, nestled within the historic structure.
The Abbey instantly sets the scene with a sense of calm, while providing the opportunity to be pampered with spa treatments and delighted by their gourmet offerings, all set against the backdrop of the magnificent Hudson. Get all the details.
Valerie Smaldone is a 5-time Billboard Magazine Award winner and is well known for her unprecedented success holding the #1 on-air position in the New York radio market on 106.7 Life-FM, an iHeart station. She has hosted, produced, and created several award-winning nationally syndicated programs featuring in-depth interviews with stars like Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Mariah Carey among others. Her radio talk show "Bagels and Broadway" highlighted theatre and food personalities. She is an accomplished interviewer and voice artist heard on commercials, narrations, promos and audiobooks, as well as a sought after live announcer.
Most recently, Valerie produced and directed a film, The Thursday Night Club, featuring pop diva Gloria Gaynor in her movie acting debut. She is one of the creators and producers of a docu-series, Divine Renovation, starring Erik Estrada, on streaming networks soon.