Mohonk Mountain House is one of the most dramatic Victorian resort hotels in the United States, a turreted castle-like structure built in stages between 1869 and the early 20th century by the Smiley family of Quakers. It sits on the shore of Lake Mohonk, a sky lake nestled in a cleft of the Shawangunk Ridge, with cliffs rising on both sides and the Hudson Valley spread out below.
The hotel itself is still family-operated and expensive to stay at, but day visitors can purchase a day pass to walk the grounds, hike the labyrinth of carriage roads, and enjoy the views from the Victorian summer houses and gazebos dotted around the lakeshore. The tower rooms and wraparound verandas give the building its signature silhouette. The formal gardens behind the hotel, restored to their 19th-century design, are worth exploring. It is worth planning your visit on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowds that arrive in leaf season.