Page 34 - SHARP Winter 2022
P. 34

 TRAVEL
  Nature Calls
A new hotel in Upstate New York is the perfect modern-day getaway
BY WILL KITCHENS
N OW THAT THE U.S.–CANADA LAND BORDER HAS REOPENED FOR ROAD-TRIPPERS, you can finally head to one of the buzziest destinations on the continent: Hudson Valley. And while plenty of new hotels have cropped up in the region in recent years, Piaule
Catskill is the place to stay.
The hotel, which officially opened earlier this year, comes with all the requisite ele-
ments of a trendy getaway destination: 24 cozy individual cabins (designed by sustainable prefab specialists Garrison Architects), an all-day seasonal restaurant, and an extensive spa that includes a steam room, sauna, sound baths, tea rooms, and pools (both tempera- ture-regulated and an icy cold plunge).
The spaces are all serene and luxurious, inspired by Japanese and Scandinavian interiors and filled with untreated light wood flooring and local bluestones. But where Piaule Catskill really stands out is the way it fades into the background — something it does often. Set on a swath of protected wetlands and mossy, maple tree−filled forests that front the Catskill Mountains, Piaule smartly frames its surroundings at every turn. For instance, each individual cabin has floor-to-ceiling windows that peer into the forest. The pool offers a breathtaking view of the Catskill Mountains. Even the property’s nighttime illumination has been carefully considered to minimize light pollution, making for better stargazing come sundown.
In all, founders Nolan McHugh and Trevor Briggs trod lightly, touching only two of the property’s 20 hectares to make way for the hotel and letting nature do its thing on the remaining 18. For Piaule Catskill, less really is more.
34 GUIDE • WINTER 2022
SHARPMAGAZINE.COM
WHAT TO DO: Three of New York’s best ski spots— Hunter, Windham, and Plattekill — are an easy drive away. There’s plenty of mountain biking, fly fishing, rock climbing, and hiking once the weather improves.
WHAT TO SEE: Home to a world-class sculpture collection, the Storm King Art Center is worth the hour drive, boasting pieces from the likes of Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, and Isamu Noguchi.
WHERE TO EAT: Silvia, in Woodstock, is one of the area’s best restaurants, with a menu that relies heavily on local farmers and seasonal ingredients.
WHERE TO SHOP: Somehow, one of the U.S.’s coolest mens- wear shops, Meridian Vision, is in Hudson, a town of 6,000. Look for brands like hard-wearing Aus- tralian label MAN-TLE and cotton sweats expert Lady White Co.
PIAULE CATSKILL IMAGES BY SEAN DAVIDSON


















































































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