I just completed a two-night stay at the Inn at Twaalfskill with my fiancée and my parents. On our trip upstate, we toured Vassar College, the Walkway Over the Hudson, FDR's home and Presidential Library, Eleanor's Val-Kill Cottage, West Point Military Academy, and the Culinary Institute of America.
At the end of our trip, we polled each other for "favorite part of the trip." One of us picked the Walkway, an ingenious public space developed on an historic, defunct bridge. The park space sits adjacent to the Inn's property and was made infinitely more fun by the free beachcomber-style bikes provided by the Inn. A second member of our party was torn between the Roosevelt sites and... the Walkway near the Inn. And the remaining two of us chose the Inn itself outright — instead of the world-renowned attractions. Between being chosen outright and the access it provided for our lovely experience on the Walkway, the Inn at Twaalfskill itself became the signature memory of our trip.
What makes the Inn so special? To start with, there's an intangible sense of welcoming from the moment you enter the grounds. The sound of a babbling brook lends to the illusion that you're far out in the country, instead of being tucked into the small town of Highland. The owners have immaculately designed (curated?) the house with lovely antiques and Provencal color tones.
The breakfasts are fresh, attractively presented, and very filling. The gracious host, Nancy, provides take-away bags for any of her home-baked goods that you weren't able to finish (zucchini bread and pumpkin muffins on our stay). The rooms are warm and inviting, with an old-time feel but with pure luxury throughout. My fiancée would have been happy to spend much more time luxuriating among the fluffy down comforter and pillows.
All in all, an unbeatable option in the Hudson River Valley. I recommend the Inn at Twaalfskill unreservedly, and so do my fiancée and parents. Kudos to the owners for their thorough attention to detail. It definitely pays off for the guests.
Room Tip: Room Number 1 has an enormous and inviting whirlpool tub.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC