A Valentine's Day Trip to Tarrytown

Hey friends,

Chris and I just arrived back from our Valentine’s Day trip to Tarrytown, a quaint little town about 45 minutes north of the city, and I have to say–I loved everything about it. Since it’s winter it was obviously a bit freezing outside, and some of the stores in the town and some of the historical sites were closed for the winter months, but still, we managed to have an awesome time just the same.

Here’s what we got up to.

So after missing the first train we wanted to take, we had about 45 minutes to kill before the next one came. We decided to hit up the Grand Central Market to pick up some snacks for our journey …

After picking up some wine and cheese and crackers, we headed over to the exhibition of Grand Central’s 100th birthday:

An old-fashioned train sign, which just happened to be the line we would be taking to Tarrytown

The train ride from Grand Central to Tarrytown only takes about 45 minutes, and cab rides within the town only cost between $4 and $7, for the most part, so it’s pretty easy to get around once you get there.

Tarrytown is full of history, a lot of which is literary, which of course I love. The town originally got its name from the soil, which was light and ideal for growing wheat. This led to the area being known as “Terve Town”, which was later mispronounced as Tarrytown. Of course Tarrytown really became famous as being the home of Washington Irving, American’s first recognized author, famous for writing “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle.”

Tarrytown has a lot of attractions, and the Tarrytown Estate, where we stayed, has been in use for over 165 years. You can read more about the history of the estate here.

After relaxing for a while when we first arrived, we were excited to head over to Cellar 49 for our Valentine’s Day dinner. Each course came with a specifically selected wine to go with it, and I kid not when I say this was one of the best dinners I’ve ever had in my life.

My handsome husband, who got dressed up in his handsome tux, during our pre-dinner drinks

Pickled beets and goat cheese aperitifs with lambrusco before our first course

First Course: Diver Scallops with candied lemon, winter melon carpaccio, red chili and basil, served with Ravines wine, a Finger Lakes dry riesling

Second Course: Butter lettuce salad with maytag bleu cheese, poached pears, candied walnuts and a cabernet vinaigrette. It was served with Cascina Delle Rose wine.

For our third course, I picked the sweet potato gnocchi, while Chris got the filet mignon. It was served with a Michel-Schlumberger Chardonnay or a Chateau Fombrauga Bordeaux.

For dessert, Chris picked the chocolate lava cake with honey gelato raspberry chantilly and almond toffee. (I mean, are you kidding?!)

I picked the soup and grilled cheese, which was made of dark chocolate soup and a brioche creme cheese sandwich, huckleberry port reduction and basil mint ice cream. The desserts were served with Moscato.

You guys–honestly … is that not the most delicious looking ever? I swear they had to roll us out of the restaurant, we were so full on delicious food and wine.

But it was okay, because the next morning we decided to take the 2 1/2 mile walk into town. It was brisk, for sure, but really beautiful:

Once we were in the town, we stopped for a Mexican lunch (complete with margaritas) at the Santa Fe Restaurant, went to a couple of art galleries, bought a latte and I picked up “Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories” from Bella’s Boutique. (You know how I love to pick up books by authors in the towns they’re from or where they wrote about. I talked about that here, too.)

Back at the hotel we ate our wine and cheese

Took some more photos of the beautiful grounds

We ordered in dinner from Capri Pizza & Pasta, and we even wandered over to the Kings Mansion, which, they say, is haunted. As the story goes (No. 22 on this list), Sybil Harris King was the daughter of Benjamin Newton Duke, co-founder of the American Tobacco Company. She died in 1955, and it’s rumored she has been heard pacing up and down the second-floor hallways of the Kings Mansion, and has been seen by guests at night, rocking away in a rocking chair next to the bed.

And seriously guys, after having been there, I believe it. The doors were open. All the lights were on. And everything was set up like there should be people milling about–in the library, the conference room, the entryway. Somewhere. But it was completely empty. And the gusty wind outside didn’t make it any better.

Is this not the creepiest library you’ve ever seen?

So friends, that’s about the gist of our trip. Beautiful views. Delicious food and wine. Haunted mansions. You know … just the typical Valentine’s Day trip.

Bis bald, friends! Hope you all had a fabulous weekend, as well!