keeler adventures // northeastern road trip!

Back in October I was longingly staring out an office window at the still-90+ degree desert and felt a sudden, desperate need for some fall. Next thing I knew - a flight to DC had been booked, the sister had been alerted, and we had planned a four day Northeastern road trip. It was the perfect escape from the heat, and even though we missed peak leaf-peeping season, we had the best time. From a modern hideaway in the woods of NY to a sleepy town in Vermont to an overnight in a Pennsylvania oasis perfect for your grandmother - every stop was just the right mix of charming, weird and new. Here are some highlights! 

Stop 1: Catskill, NY 

We had heard about Getaway before - and had been dying to check one out. Their idea is setting up sleek, modern tiny homes in beautiful wooded areas just outside of big cities - perfect for an unplugged escape from real life. Just a few hours from New York City, each cabin has exactly what you need - no more, no less - and is PERFECTION. We only wished we could have stayed longer! 

Naturally this leg also included the best breakfast at Phoenicia Diner, a quick stroll around Phoenicia itself for some fresh air and coffee at Bread Alone. My sister has also stayed at The Graham & Co., which is a real cute hidden gem worth visiting. 

Stop 2: Mad River Valley, VT

The Mad River Valley area of Vermont had been on my wish-list for a long time, and after Lindsey's solo road trip there last year, I knew we had to get there together. We spent two nights at The Warren Lodge, a great little family run hotel that has been recently renovated. It's right on the river with walking trails and picnic spots. Instructions were left for a self-guided driving tour of Warren's covered bridges - and it's an afternoon well spent! The hotel was is the perfect spot, nestled between the towns of Warren and Waitsfield, and was a great jumping off point for wandering around the valley. 

Drinks! 

The Pitcher Inn (for drinks in their moody basement bar - or as a place to stay if you're feeling fancy) 

Mad River Distillers (for your whiskey fix)

Hill Farmstead Brewery

Snacks! 

Mad River Barn  

Peasant 

Cold Hollow Cider Mill

Warren Store

Stop 3: Poconos, PA

We weren't sure where to spend our final night, and waited so long that our options were slim. We took a shot in the dark and ended up in Cresco, PA at the Crescent Lodge and Country Inn tucked into the heard of the Pocono Mountains. It was nothing fancy (and our cabin resembled something my grandmother would love), but the rooms are HUGE and cozy (ours came with a fireplace). Plan ahead and either bring food or expect a long drive - the hotel's restaurant leaves much to be desired and there's so few choices that we ended up magcyver-ing dinner out of treasures from CVS. To get the Cresco we drove through Promised Land State Park, which was one of the most beautiful portions of our drive. Had we known better, it looked like there were little cabins for rent inside the park - next time! 

Side Adventure! If you can swing it, take a side trip to Beacon, NY to visit Dia:Beacon, a perfect art gallery on the banks of the Hudson River in a former Nabisco box printing factory. Full to the brim with vibrant and large-scale art, it's absolutely worth it! 

things I love (apple picking)!

last weekend we celebrated my dad's birthday, and I decided it was going to be fall, mother nature be damned!

one of the great things about my family is that it typically takes about 30 seconds to convince them to participate in just about any of my crazy ideas. when I proposed a three and a half hour drive to southeastern az to check out some apple orchards - they were in (after a quick look that confirmed they think I'm out of my mind). 

so off we went down to willcox, az (a little more than three hours south of phoenix), where there's something growing out of just about every inch of available land. we ended up at apple annie's orchard. outfitted with everything from a country store to a donut stand and burger shack, it was the perfect place to spend a few hours. upon entry you're handed a map and a bucket, and sent off to venture through rows and rows of different apple varieties. we centered on fuji's and granny smith's, but there's something for everyone. 

when our arms got tired from hauling our bucket around, we hopped on farmer john's tractor and headed back to the front...where we promptly set up court at a picnic table amongst the trees with some cold apple cider and the epic apple cider donut. 

if you've got an afternoon, I definitely recommend taking a trip south. beyond apples, they've got all kinds of other seasonal fruit, a pumpkin patch AND (allegedly) the state's largest corn maze. if that doesn't sell you, I don't know what will.