Accommodations and Food

Directly across from the Vanderbilt Mansion [1] is the attractive Journey Inn Bed & Breakfast (1 Sherwood Pl., off Rte. 9, 845/229-8972, www.journeyinn.com [2], $115–205 d), filled with antiques and memorabilia from the owners’ international travels. The inn offers six comfortable air-conditioned guest rooms, each done up to reflect a different destination, including Kyoto, Mombassa, and Tuscany.

Hyde Park [3] has an abundance of decent budget motels, many of which cater to families and tour groups. Among them is the family-owned, 24-room Roosevelt Inn (4360 Albany Post Rd./Rte. 9, 845/229-2443, $95–120 d), where you can choose between rooms with queen, king, double, or twin beds.

Hyde Park’s best restaurants are in the Culinary Institute of America [4] (1946 Campus Dr., off Rte. 9, 845/471-6608, www.ciachef.edu [5]), where reservations are essential. Each of the five restaurants has its own distinct style. The most casual is St. Andrew’s Café (average dinner $35), which offers everything from wood-fired pizza to beef tenderloin. The most elegant is the award-winning Escoffier Restaurant ($50–60), offering classic French cuisine. In between are Caterina de Medici ($30–45), featuring contemporary and traditional Italian specialties, and the American Bounty Restaurant ($45–50), dedicated to regional American dishes. Jackets and reservations are required in all rooms.

The one CIA restaurant that does not require a reservation is the Apple Pie Bakery Café, open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday. On the menu find tasty sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts served with flair.