Where the sounds of nature lacks in New York City, cars, buses and ambulances fill in, so wanting to escape for the weekend is never far from mind. And after a longer than usual winter, it was time for a break!

The Caldwell House Bed and Breakfast in Salisbury Mills, NY is a place I had wanted to visit for some time, and I am glad I did. They have more guest rooms than your typical B&B thanks partly to the original buildings on the property that date back to the 19th century and have been repurposed for guests. It makes choosing the right room for you very easy with each offering their own unique features.

On this trip to the countryside, I was looking for a place where I could enjoy some outdoor space and found that the Connemara House guest rooms were perfect for that. Each with their own private entrance and outdoor sitting area, it was an inviting way to enjoy each morning after a big breakfast, and each evening after exploring the local area. Even when it rained briefly one afternoon, staying in our room was enjoyable. Our selected Fields of Athenry room has a cozy bay window with a built in sitting bench. There I caught up on some personal projects on my iPad while enjoying the warmth of our fireplace. Looking out into the gardens at moments made me feel like I was in the English countryside on a rainy afternoon. It cleared up in time to head out for dinner nearby before heading back to enjoy our private porch.

Especially nice was having breakfast in the Connemara great room which receives lots of natural light in the mornings. Innkeeper Dena left no detail unattended to while her husband John chatted with guests like a long time friend.

There are several local attractions nearby which makes the Caldwell House’s location great, but even just to get away for a weekend and do nothing makes this a great Hudson Valley home away from home.