Buck's Homestead Bed and Breakfast - Hudson Valley, NY
Buck's Homestead Bed and Breakfast in Montgomery, NY. "Tradition Lives Here". Your escape from the stressful hustle and bustle of the city starts along a quiet stretch of country road just outside the quaint Hudson Valley town of Montgomery New York.
With wooded areas untouched by the passage of time, you will be driving along the kind of magical country back road that American icons like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger celebrated
in their timeless songs. The people who live here are resilient, hard-working and believe that a better day is just around the corner.
Goodwill Road is enveloped on one side by sprawling farmland and on the other by historic homes where tradition and good old-fashioned rural hospitality is still very much alive.
Who knows, you might even catch a glimpse of a woodchuck or deer peeking out of the bushes. And chirping birds are always making their presence felt.
Get ready to take a deep breath and gently exhale while you leave all your cares in the rear-view mirror as you venture up the driveway to your destination, Buck's Homestead, a Bed and Breakfast that is truly one of a kind.
As you walk across the lawn, the first thing that catches your eye is a gorgeous Gazebo. Like something out of a fairy-tale, the gazebo has served as a picturesque backdrop for many a bride on her wedding day.
It's also the perfect spot in which to relax and sip a cup of coffee. Somehow, mornings are just a little brighter and better when you're enjoying your first coffee of the day while gazing upon rolling acres of farmland with the sun rising in the distance.
As you walk up the steps that lead to the Bed and Breakfast, you'll be greeted by owner Joan Buck Smith. The warmth starts right here with a heartfelt greeting and a beaming smile. A genuine people person, Joan loves introducing first-time visitors to the laid-back country way of life.
Joan's goal is, not only to make her guests feel welcome but to make Buck's Homestead feel as though it is your home away from home.
Whether you are staying just for the weekend or a few days, once you have settled in, you will not want to leave.
"Our family has always loved to have company over," said Joan, talking about why she chose to transform the property into a bed and breakfast, a few years ago.
"The house was always a place where friends, family and neighbors could gather and talk over a hot cup of cocoa or a nice meal. It's just part of who we are. What I am doing with the B and B is an extension of all that. You could say that our guests are our new-found friends."
Built around 1830, this beautiful house has been in the family since 1938. Joan's father established a dairy farm on the premises, complete with a huge barn and cows that were just as cute as Borden's legendary Elsie.
Some of Joan's fondest memories are doing chores around the farm and helping her mom and grandmother in the kitchen.
Yes, the house has undergone a few renovations over the years but it is still very much the same as it was when Joan's Dad purchased the property.
If you love antiques and collectibles, then you won't be able to stop looking around the rooms in this inviting house.
The homestead is a veritable treasure trove of interesting objects, crafts, décor accents and antiques, some of which, like the crank-up wall phone, date back almost a hundred years or more. Hanging over the kitchen table is a custom-made light fixture that features miniature cows that Joan made herself.
This is a house that Joanna Gaines from HGTV's Fixer-Upper would feel very comfortable in. That's the best way to describe the visual feast that awaits you here!
One of the best things about Buck's Homestead, though, is, that the authentic country atmosphere stands side by side with some really cool modern amenities.
Thanks to a state of the art TV, you won't have to miss out on binge-watching your favorite shows, after a full day of hiking, swimming ( in Joan's backyard pool),sight-seeing or shopping.
There's also A/C throughout the house, a DVD, coffee-maker and, of course, Wi-Fi so that you can stay connected. But, please, go easy on the emails. Remember, you're here to relax and re-charge those batteries.
An important part of the whole B and B experience is the accommodations. Buck's Homestead doesn't disappoint in any way. There are three bedrooms available and each one has its' very own personality and character. And, they all have private baths.
Should you be traveling with the family, inquire about either the guest room with two twin beds or the spacious Queen Suite. There's also a Queen bedroom that is perfect for couples who want to escape the city for a romantic getaway in the country.
Really, what could be better than sitting on a soft cushioned sofa inside the screened-in front porch, while holding hands with your sweetheart as you both gaze at the star-lit sky? Or, you can sit in the rocking chair and drift away into a state of tranquility.
Memories that will last a lifetime are made out of moments like this.
The hub of the house is the sitting room. Here you can warm up on a cold Winter's day, right by the fireplace as you read a good book or go over the photos you took on your phone, of the day's activities.
All of you foodies out there have, no doubt, enjoyed dining at the various farm to table restaurants in your local borough; be it Brooklyn, Queens or Manhattan. There is nothing like having a meal that is comprised of vegetables and fruits that were picked fresh from a local farm.
However, when you book a room at Buck's Homestead, you'll be taking that farm to table experience to an entirely different level.
Every morning you can expect Joan to cook up a hearty country breakfast. You never quite know just what Joan will be up to in the kitchen, but, rest assured it will be absolute, positively delicious!
As good a cook as Joan is, however, don't expect to see her competing with other home cooks on Master Chef, anytime soon. Joan loves what she does too much to allow any distractions to get in the way.
Sit around the kitchen table and enjoy dishes such as scrambled eggs with sausage or bacon, yogurt and granola, stuffed French Toast with raspberry sauce as well as a variety of baked goods that are certain to tantalize your palate.
Oh, by the way, one of the farms that Joan gets her ingredients from just happens to be located directly across the road from the homestead. You cannot get any more farm-to-table than that!
And, as to that hot cup of java that we talked about earlier in the article; well, let's just say that Joan makes one of the best cups of coffee in the Hudson Valley.
It's rich, smooth and flavorful. We dare you to have just a single cup of this brew!
Everyone who stays with Joan receives a biography she wrote entitled "We Grew Up on a Farm" that will acquaint you with the Buck family's interesting history. The touching anecdotes about Joan's large family add even more meaning to your stay.
You'll also be gifted with a pamphlet that contains some treasured family recipes for delights like sausage and cheddar souffle, sugar plum bacon, baked custard and Zucchini bread.
When you stay with Joan, you'll have the opportunity to discover the hidden gem that is the Town of Montgomery.
Super knowledgeable about her neighborhood, Joan will be only too happy to impart some pro tips on what to do and what to see when you are visiting Buck's Homestead.
Day-trippers and vacationers from the city, Northern New Jersey and Connecticut are just now beginning to discover everything that Montgomery and the surrounding Orange County area has to offer.
There's a terrific foodie scene burgeoning in town that is spearheaded by talented chefs who blend fresh as can be ingredients with innovative techniques.
When it's time for lunch or dinner, be sure to check out Montgomery's finer restaurants like the Ward's Bridge Inn, 88 Charles Street and the Borland Inn, which has one of the best brunches in the entire Hudson Valley.
If you have a craving for a nice slice of pizza, then you're in luck. Mike's Deli is only a five-minute drive from Buck's. Owners Maryanne and Neil use an old family recipe to make their pizza, which is, far and away, the best slice you can get outside of NYC!
Mike's also has a full line-up of hearty sandwiches, (they do NOT skimp on the meats and cheeses), and daily specials including their famous mac and cheese and Rigatoni a la vodka.
Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, there's plenty to do in the neighborhood. Thomas Bull Park is ten minutes away from the Homestead.
Spanning over 700 acres, the park offers a wide range of fun things to do, from tennis and boating to horseback riding and golf at the Stony Ford Golf course.
During the Winter, you can go snowboarding, skiing and ice-skating here. When your day is done head over to the lodge and warm up with a hot meal.
Within easy driving distance is the spectacular Galleria Mall at Crystal Run. With almost one hundred shops and restaurants plus a multiplex cinema to choose from you'll never run out of entertaining options to while away the time.
Shop till you drop with brands such as Victoria's Secret, Jimmy Jazz, Macy's. Target, Bath and Body Works and American Eagle.
Get your game on at Round One, one of the Mall's most popular attractions. With old-school and contemporary arcade games galore, Round One also offers bowling, hoops and various table games.
Buck's Homestead is truly a house for all seasons. Inside, you can always count on Joan's steady hand in the kitchen and her knack for hospitality as well as the positive energy that flows throughout the house.
Outside, however, the grounds seem to take on the distinctive traits of whatever the time of year maybe.
During the Summer, expect to enjoy the lush, shimmering green grass and colorful flower beds that Joan and her family take such good care of. When Fall blows in, you'll marvel at the gorgeous trees as their leaves change from green to a bevy of rustic colors.
When the weather's nice, pack your bikes and tour the scenic back roads that wind their way all around the B and B and the town of Montgomery.
And, really, what could be more Norman Rockwell Americana than the sight of snow blanketing the grounds at Buck's Homestead while Christmas decorations glow in the night and a beautifully-decorated tree occupies center-stage in Joan's marvelous sitting room?
During the course of well over 170 years, this house has seen a lot of living. When the Buck family home was first built Andrew Jackson was our president and the industrial age that transformed America was still a few decades away.
Now, we live in a world that is so fast-paced, all too often, we forget to slow down and savor the moment.
Buck's Homestead and hamlets such as Montgomery, though, stand as a pleasant reminder of an America that, despite all of the political upheaval and Star Trek-like technology we cannot live without, has never really gone away.
Just ninety minutes from the city, Buck's Homestead is so very convenient for your next escape from New York.
And, if you are a lover of great wine or a craft beer and cider fanatic, you've found your new base of operations when it's time to plan a tour of Orange County's wonderful wineries and breweries.
There's no time like the present. All it takes is a quick email or phone call to Joan and you're well on your way.
Location and Contact Info
364 Goodwill Road
Montgomery, N.Y.12549
www.buckshomestead.com
(845) 457-3457
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