© J.N. Urbanski – Usage prohibited without consent
When you have frequent summer guests to your rural home, who come from far and wide, Exit 19 in Kingston on Route 87 is a good pit stop for travelers who are hungry, tired or cranky from the long drive. Stylish, comfortable B&Bs are popping up all over this city, which offers some excellent attractions.
I popped into The Forsyth, a charming and elegant B&B in the historic Rondout area of Kingston, for a look around with owner Tamara. Her friend Allison cooked me a crispy-bottomed, fried, runny, local egg, which I mopped up with a date scone and washed down with a cup of Earl Grey. Local eggs are vividly yellow, sweet and creamy. Rondout, in the city’s waterfront area, has a sophisticated vibe and is walkable with historic landmarks, public art, antique stores and restaurants. The Stockade District, just a brief taxi-ride away from the waterfront, has bars and clubs that will suit your house guests from NYC who need their noisy friday night before they settle in for a country weekend.
The Forsyth has achieved the impossible with a dreamy mixture of subtle lighting and natural light: it’s spacious yet cozy. It’s modern yet homely with luxurious bathrooms, gorgeous accent rugs, faux fur throws and soft pillows. It’s also perfect for families with each room having been appointed a day bed, cot or sofa bed in addition to the main bed. Each room has a theme. One room is dog-friendly.
It took seven months for the warm and welcoming Tamara and her husband Charles to renovate the building, a 1830s federal style house with timber beams and a long, front verandah on which to have your breakfast and watch the world go by. The house is beautifully decorated with the family’s eclectic collection of art, books and treasures. There’s a large backyard with a barn that is currently being renovated to hold parties of fifty for weddings and other celebrations. The common area downstairs has individual nooks for reading, working, eating and relaxing.
Picnics or dinner are available to order. A gem in the heart of the historic first capital of New York.
The Forsyth, 85 Abeel Street, Kingston, NY 12401.
© J.N. Urbanski – Usage prohibited without consent
© J.N. Urbanski – Usage prohibited without consent
© J.N. Urbanski – Usage prohibited without consent
© J.N. Urbanski – Usage prohibited without consent
© J.N. Urbanski – Usage prohibited without consent
© J.N. Urbanski – Usage prohibited without consent
© J.N. Urbanski – Usage prohibited without consent