In the midst of the summer of the staycation, I flee to Cold Spring, NY after Hurricane Isaias knocks out power and the internet in my home—and officials estimate it could take a week to turn back on. Closer hotels are also without power, which I know because I contact every single one. I cannot even get easily into New York City, which has plenty of vacant hotel rooms, because commuter trains to my area are also out of service, courtesy of the hurricane.
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So I head to a relatively nearby destination, Cold Spring, NY, for a working vacation. After months at home, restaurant visits that are exceedingly rare, and a season of no major travel, I am more excited about this quick getaway than I have been about anything for months. But how weird will it be? And will I feel safe?
Staying at the Hudson House Cold Spring during the Pandemic
Entering the Hudson House River Inn, an historic building that dates to 1832, I see immediate signs of a changed universe: plexiglass barriers now frame the front desk and the reception stand, arrows on the floor direct traffic, and there are no bar stools at the bar in the tavern portion of the inn (because, at the time of my visit, the bar is not open). I glimpse into the formal dining room where fewer tables now stand. The lobby is free of guests, and any workers I see are masked and keep their distance.
One casualty of the pandemic is that there is no longer un récipient contenant du liquide and a plate full of cookies greeting guests in the passageway upstairs.
We stay in a suite with a sitting room, bedroom, and a terrace that overlooks the Hudson River. We’ve booked this suite before. What’s different now? It’s sparkling clean, as if multiple spring cleanings have taken place here recently. There are no more decorative pillows everywhere, and there seems to be less furniture, generally. A coffee maker is in the room, and we quickly drink the bottled water meant to use in the machine.
We feel safe—and there’s power and internet and a charming view. Bliss.
We drag ourselves away from this little cocoon and make our way back downstairs for dinner. We choose to sit in the main dining room rather than outside and feel comfortable doing so. Few diners are present during our visit, and the doors to the patio are open. Streetside outdoor seating is also available to diners.
At breakfast every day, we typically opt to sit on the patio in the morning.
Hudson House River Inn, 2 Main Street, Cold Spring, NY 10516
Windowshopping in Cold Spring, NY
The next morning, it’s time for a stroll up Main Street and some recreational shopping at Cold Spring’s charming stores. Arrows now also direct the flow of traffic up and down the street: in theory, visitors are to walk up one side and down the other, a point that not everyone gets. Cold Spring is not crowded, though, during our visit, and I feel safe.
On our visit, stores generally are limiting the number of shoppers inside at any one time, and, of course, everyone is masked.
We do a little antiquing and general browsing and it almost feels like old times—except there are very few people here. On the upside: we talk to merchants a lot more than we used to, and everyone is very friendly.
I am comfortable indulging in some retail therapy in Cold Spring and feel safe doing so.
Lunch at Brasserie Le Bouchon
Sit on the porch at Brasserie Le Bouchon and enjoy some socially distanced people watching while indulging in wine, cheese, and all things French. The restaurant offers indoor seating (now with tables spaced far apart) and has a back garden as well. I eat here more than once on my little Cold Spring, NY vacation. I am partial to the tartelette de chèvre (goat cheese tart) and to the plat de fromage and to all of the specials.
Brasserie Le Bouchon, 76 Main Street, Cold Spring, NY 10516
A Nightly Ritual: A Visit to Moo Moo’s Creamery
Located right next door to the Hudson House Cold Spring, Moo Moo’s Creamery, featuring homemade ice cream, beckons. Here, too, markings on the sidewalk keep guests the requisite six-feet apart. Should there be a line (and there likely will be because this is a Cold Spring must-visit), use the time to plan the best possible selection of flavors available on the day of your visit. I switch off between cherry vanilla and rich chocolate with the occasional scoop of black raspberry. Try every flavor!
Servers are masked, and guests order from the outside and are not allowed into the interior. I feel safe here, too.
Moo Moo’s Creamery, 32 West Street, Cold Spring, NY 10516
Coffee and More at Rincón Argentino
For cappuccino every morning, I head across the street from the Hudson House River Inn and up a little bit and go to Rincón Argentino before too many people get there. Pastry, ice cream, and empanadas are available, too. Only one customer is allowed in the store at a time on my visit, so I like to get there early. Markers on the sidewalk outside help people stay six feet apart from one another. Masks, of course, are necessary.
Rincón Argentino, 21 Main Street, Cold Spring, NY 10516
For Bashful Adventurers
Cold Spring, NY, during the pandemic or not, is great for solo travelers—sit and watch the Hudson River flow by, cocoon in your hotel room, or just go on some great walks.
It can be a bit disconcerting to see how vacant so many places are—parks and gathering spots as well as at retail businesses—if you have been to Cold Spring, NY before.
Nevertheless, having a reservation at any restaurant you plan to visit can still be helpful since there are fewer tables at each establishment now.
—Lori Tripoli
Lori Tripoli is the editor and publisher of Bashful Adventurer. Based in the New York City vicinity, she writes about travel for a variety of publications. Contact Lori at loritripoli @ bashfuladventurer.com.
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