Stay in a lighthouse or in a tree house or at a farm
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Why stay at a ho-hum hotel when you could get away to a unique lodging Upstate? These lodgings are like none other and provide guests with an unforgettable experience.
• Salmon River Lighthouse in Oswego County is a landmark on the National Register of Historic Places and a fully operational lighthouse available for rent. Guests can select either the first or second floor or use the entire structure—perfect for a reunion or shared vacation with another family. In addition to the circa 1838 lighthouse, the grounds include a marina with fishing boats for charter. Lodgers can also canoe or kayak on the river and relax on an adjacent private beach.
www.salmonriverlighthousemarina.com
• Your Nest in the Woods Treehouse. Enjoy a treetop stay at Your Nest in the Woods Treehouse in Oneida County. In addition to bird’s-eye views, the Nest includes front and back decks, fireplace and room for up to four guests. At ground level, cozy up to the fire pit, dine at the picnic table, and stroll by the nearby Fish Creek—or enjoy a swim.
• The Chez Tree Rest Treehouse in Lafayette also provides treetop lodging. Guests can enjoy 20 tranquil, wooded acres. The property includes a firepit, swing, balcony and a fully equipped kitchen. The two-story treehouse is 35 feet above the forest floor, supported by two mature maple trees and connected to a 60-foot cable bridge.
www.facebook.com/thecheztreeresttreehouse
• The Houses at Beak & Skiff in Lafayette offer guests a stay near the farm’s picturesque campus. Modern esthetics are melded with farmhouse chic and amenities such as pools, hot tubs, Peloton bikes, and fully outfitted kitchens. The farm includes a sizable farm store, tasting room, and seasonal farm activities in fall, including apple picking.
https://thehouses.beakandskiff.com
• Adirondack Adventure Base provides a two-person treehouse experience with breathtaking views among its lodgings. The treehouse is open spring through fall and includes a camp stove, firepit, screened picnic table, and outfitted kitchen. A private bathroom is 20 feet from the treehouse. Nearby are miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Adirondack Adventure Base also offers a lean-to camping shelter, eight-person lodge, and RV and tent camping.
https://adirondackadventurebase.com
• Firelight Camps. If you like camping but want convenience and comfort, try Firelight Camps in Ithaca where luxury meets nature. The “glamping” facilities include spacious safari tents fully appointed with king- or queen-sized beds and premium bedding, hardwood floors, furnishings, electricity (in some tents) and private balcony. The lobby tent serves breakfast, afternoon tea, and includes a full bar.
• Hull-O Farms. Getting back to your roots on the farm is what it’s all about at Hull-O Farms in Durham, near Albany. Hull-O hosts guests for a farm vacation on its 300 acres. As a working farm, Hull-O allows guests to join in “helping” with farm chores, explore the Catskills or just enjoy the bucolic farm serenity. Farm chores can include the entire family doing things such as gathering eggs, feeding and handling animals and more. The lodgings are two private, fully outfitted cottages of two and four bedrooms on the farm, perfect for larger families.
• Becker Farms in Gasport, near Lockport, offers an 1830’s farmhouse for farm stays. The home boasts clawfoot soaking tubs, firepit, porches swings, and a grand piano. Ten eco-friendly cabins are also available. Visit 35 farm animals from cows to pigs. Guests can also harvest seasonal produce, picnic, cozy up to the firepit, peruse the farm market and try craft brews from Becker Brewing Co.