Historic lodges in New York State to visit

BEAR MOUNTAIN INN, BEAR MOUNTAIN

A member of Historic Hotels of America, this inn sits in a prime location an hour north of New York City. The resort was built in 1915, but don’t worry: It underwent an extensive, yearslong renovation starting in 2005. Sitting by Hessian Lake, Bear Mountain Inn offers a nice mix of nature and nurture: The property is near the Appalachian Trail, so you can walk some of it and be back in time for evening cocktails, while shopping fiends might perk up at the mention of the Woodbury Common outlets, 11 miles away. Accommodations are available at the Inn itself, as well as one of the four stone cottages or the nearby spartan Overlook Lodge. 
INFO Doubles from $202.33; 845-786-2731, visitbearmountain.com

MOHONK MOUNTAIN HOUSE, NEW PALTZ

Built in 1869 by twins Albert and Alfred Smiley in New Paltz, on the Shawangunk Ridge, this lodge was made a National Historic Landmark in 1986. Mohonk is a textbook example of the classic Hudson Valley resort, with a majestic main building and sprawling grounds that offer a dizzying range of activities: tennis, golf, horseback riding and mule-drawn carriage rides, 85 miles of hiking trails, a spa and indoor swimming pool — plus an old-school soda fountain to indulge after all that activity. Rooms and suites are available in the main building, but you can also book the Grove Lodge or one of the four cottages, which are secluded but still close to the amenities. 
INFO Doubles from $621.33; 855-883-3798, mohonk.com

STONE HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST, HURLEY

The B&B at the Cornelis Kool House is an early 18th century Hudson Valley Dutch estate — a heritage alluded to in room names based on famous paintings such as “The Girl With a Pearl Earring.” Comfort is subtle rather than ostentatious here: This is the kind of place where amenities include a croquet set rather than a golf course. Worldly pleasures are not far — the Stone House is a quick drive from Rhinebeck and Woodstock, where you can find boutique shopping and gourmet restaurants.
INFO Doubles from $199; 845-339-4041, hurleystonehouse.com

THE BATCHELLER MANSION INN, SARATOGA SPRINGS

The Batcheller Mansion Inn is not for fans of Scandinavian minimalism, as its opulent architectural style reflects Victorian, French Renaissance Revival and Italianate influences. The inn is in the middle of Saratoga Springs and allows easy access to the city’s many cultural options. (The racing season runs roughly from July to September.) George Sherman Batcheller had his mansion built in 1873 and called it “Kaser-el-Nouzha,” which, according to the inn, is Arabic for “palace of pleasure.” Note that you can rent the entire inn (for up to 18 overnight guests) including breakfast, taxes and housekeeping.
INFO Doubles from $169; 518-584-7012, batchellermansioninn.com

Batcheller Mansion Inn, exterior view in Winter The Batcheller Mansion Inn was built in 1873 in an opulent style reflecting Victorian, French Rennaissance Revival and Italianate influences.

OTESAGA RESORT HOTEL, COOPERSTOWN

Usually mentioned in the same breath as the Mohonk Mountain House by aficionados, this hotel offers fabulous views of Otsego Lake’s southern shore. The resort offers quirky touches like a fire bar — where you can have a drink around an open pit — and a newly expanded dining area that features a “wine wall” made up of more than 1,000 bottles. The Otesaga is a good combination of resort-y and semi-urban: You get golf at the famed Leatherstocking course but you’re also within walking distance of such Cooperstown attractions as the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Farmers’ Museum. The hotel is open through the end of October and for Thanksgiving weekend.
INFO Doubles from $403; 800-348-6222, otesaga.com

THE SAGAMORE, BOLTON LANDING

Boasting distinctive white clapboard sidings, this Victorian classic was erected in 1883 on Lake George. Named for a character in “The Last of the Mohicans,” the Sagamore has an old-fashioned air and a decidedly family-friendly vibe — there are a host of winter activities, such as s’mores at a bonfire, and there’s skiing at nearby Gore and West mountains. Besides the main lodge, you can opt to stay in the adjacent six-bedroom Wapanak Castle.
INFO Doubles from $178.33 a night with a three-night minimum; 866-384-1944, thesagamore.com

THE INN AT ERLOWEST, LAKE GEORGE

This Queen Anne-style stone estate was originally built in 1898 by Edward Morse Shepard as part of Millionaires Row in the Adirondack Park. It has since been transformed into a comfortable bed-and-breakfast. As the rooms all come with one king bed, this is a place that’s best for couples (it does not accept small children). Sitting about a mile and a half north of Lake George Village, the Inn at Erlowest is a bit more maneuverable than its neighbor the Sagamore, and makes for a lower-key introduction to the wonders of Lake George.
INFO Doubles from $270; 518-668-5928, theinnaterlowest.com

THE POINT, SARANAC LAKE

Pampering is the name of the game at this member of the luxury Relais & Châteaux network, and it starts before you even get there: The property offers complimentary pickup (and drop-off) at the Adirondack Regional Airport. The Point sits on 75 acres and is one of the Adirondacks Great Camps, which epitomized New York’s Gilded Age — it was built by one William Avery Rockefeller. The property has just 11 rooms, the most coveted of which sits above the boathouse. Note that all guests must be 18 and up, so this is not a place for families with small children. Pets, on the other hand, are welcome. 
INFO Doubles from $2,250, including taxes, activities and three meals with wine and spirits for two people; 800-255-3530; thepointsaranac.com

WINTER CLOVE INN, ROUND TOP

This Catskills inn has been owned and operated by the Whitcomb family for 200 years, so hospitality runs deep there. Besides the main building, Winter Clove includes accommodations in the Carriage House and the Oaks Lodge. The individual rooms are TV-free (screens are available in common areas) but there are plenty of activities available, especially if you have a weakness for old-school pastimes. On site you will an antique bowling alley, a shuffleboard court, a tennis court and a nine-hole course; the beautiful Kaaterskill Falls are just 30 minutes away, and the inn abuts the Catskills Wilderness Preserve. Best of all, the rates include three meals a day so you don’t have to forage too hard for food. 
INFO Prices per person per night start at $115; 518-622-3267, winterclove.com

THE MIRROR LAKE INN RESORT AND SPA, LAKE PLACID

This resort has an intimate connection with Lake Placid’s snowsports tradition: since the 1970s it has been owned by the parents of the downhill skier Andrew Weibrecht, a two-time Olympic medalist. The inn actually dates back to 1926, and is nothing if not cozy, understated luxury — the exact quality you crave as the temperatures drop. The location is ideal, too, and combines the best of both worlds: there is bucolic lake frontage, but downtown Lake Placid is within walkable distance. 
INFO Doubles from $339; 518-523-2544, mirrorlakeinn.com

THE GIDEON PUTNAM, SARATOGA SPRINGS

Famous visitors, including Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper and Nathaniel Hawthorne, have long dropped by Saratoga Springs for its mineral waters. The Gideon Putnam, which opened in 1935 and is named after the town’s founding father, has an enviable location: It’s in the 2,200-acre Saratoga Spa State Park, which features the historic Roosevelt Baths and Spa. There are plenty of options for walks and hikes, as well as two golf courses (18 and 9 holes). For those less virtuous, the hotel’s all-you-can-eat brunch draws fans from the entire area. Note that the Gideon Putnam is slated to undergo renovations this fall, so you should call ahead to make sure they won’t disturb your stay.
INFO Doubles from $175; 866-890-1171, gideonputnam.com