EXPLORING: GROSSINGER'S RESORT

Yesterday Justin and I went on a mission for possible photo shoot locations. We drove down to Liberty, NY to check out Grossinger's Resort. Or, more specifically, the shell of what once was Grossinger's Resort. It used to be a super sweet summertime destination in the 60s and 70s (see postcard above)...but it eventually closed in 1986 and has been abandoned ever since. The years have not been kind...but there is something undeniably magical about the state of decay.

HEMLOCK HALL

In celebration of our two year anniversary, Justin and I took a 24 hour jaunt up to the Adirondacks and stayed in a little cabin on Blue Mountain Lake. In classic Darbie and Justin style, we made these plans sometime around 7 o'clock Sunday evening, packed, and left the next morning.

We stayed at Hemlock Hall...which we found after sifting through random google results and Adirondack hotel reviews on trip advisor. We knew we wanted to be in the woods...in a cabin...on a lake...with a fireplace. Hemlock Hall seemed to fit the bill. We also came across some unbelievably grand, picture-perfect places like The Point and The Lake Placid Lodge. But they were WAY out of our price range. I stress WAY.

Luckily, the budget vacation gods were shining down on us...and besides being incredibly affordable, Hemlock Hall turned out to be EXACTLY what we were looking for. The main lodge is a big old Victorian beauty built in 1890 (same year as our house!). It's got all of the rustic charm you expect from an Adirondack hotel. Beautiful old pine and cedar paneling, impressive stone fireplaces, and a wraparound porch with incredible views.

We stayed in a sweet one bedroom cabin, tucked in the pines on a hill overlooking the lake.

We went canoeing in the afternoon.

And spent the evening in the cabin listening to records, hanging by the fireplace, and toasting our anniversary.

The next morning we stopped by Buttermilk Falls on our way out of town. A perfect end to our Adirindack adventure.

FIELD TRIP: ROUND TOP, NY

At 3 o'clock on Sunday afternoon Justin and I decided it would be fun to take an impromptu overnight field trip. By 4 o'clock the car was packed and we were on our way to Round Top, NY, a forgotten oasis just 45 minutes north of Kingston. The whole town is basically a big old-school German Catskills resort area. So...you know...there is a lot of this going on...

And this...

Basically, the whole place is like a portal to some awesome 1960s vacationland.

We ended up staying at the Winter Clove Inn which looks more 1860s than 1960s...but I'm pretty sure it has the nicest accommodations in town.

The rooms have a vaguely Victorian thing going on. Vintage floral wallpaper, dark wood four post-bed, lacy curtains. A little on the granny side...but the original wide board floors are pretty amazing and so is the view out the windows.

And you don't feel like you are on the set of Vacancy. Which is nice.

But don't worry...It also has a rec hall with wood panelling, a ping pong table, a juke box...and this...

Yes, that is indeed a straight-up vintage bowling alley. Paper score cards and all. So the Winter Clove is pretty much bringing 19th and 20th century awesomeness to the table.

And it's perched right at the foot of a state forrest...

So there is a lot of sweet wilderness to explore...including a postcard-worthy swimming hole with a waterfall AND a covered bridge.

So all of this is pretty awesome...right? And I haven't even told you about the best part! The Mountain Brauhaus.

As far as I'm concerned this is Round Top's shining gem. I mean...look at it...

I LOVE it! Deer heads and paint-by-numbers hung without a hint of irony! And as if this place could get any more amazing...just wait until the regulars start showing up. Unfortunately I was too busy drinking delicious hefeweissens and getting dance lessons from little old German men to take pictures of it in full swing. But trust me. It's the beer hall of your dreams.