The Next Great Nearby Escape: Pawling
By Richard Levy
As a travel writer, I’m always looking for new places to escape to. Since the onset of COVID-19 last year and with my wings clipped, I’ve only been taking short sojourns. Montauk, Shelter Island and I just returned from an absolutely wonderful escape to the charming Town of Pawling, a mere hour away.
We rented an incredibly charming log cabin in a state forest for 10 days on a private lake. The cabin was beautifully furnished and equipped with everything you might need. There’s even a classic wood-burning stove for cool nights. There’s a fully stocked kitchen a gourmet chef would rave about and a super comfy bed in the master bedroom, two baths, a small second bedroom and a huge deck facing the woods and lake. Down by the lake there are two new kayaks and a flat-bottom rubber boat in the garage.
Pawling is lovely in every possible way and totally off the vacation radar. An unlikely escape for most folks in Westchester for a weekend or even a week, yet it’s so close and devoid of annoying tourists, crowds and weekend traffic. The perfect place to turn off your engines.
This New England-like country town has an exceptional restaurant, McKinney & Doyle, with its inventive menu that features astoundingly delicious dishes. Start with the grilled Spanish octopus or New Zealand baby lamb chops, then try their huge honey crisp shrimp or fresh diver scallops. Every mouth-watering entree rests artfully on a delectable bed of delicious, puréed veggies. There’s an affordable wine list and a selection of decadent desserts from their bakery next door. The Sunday brunch is the uncontested best in Dutchess County. Order their Maine lobster crafted with chilaquiles corn tortillas, salsa verde lobster meat, avocado, poached eggs and chipotle hollandaise. Their corned beef hash and eggs is the best you’ve ever had and served in an iron pan. They unequivocally deserve a Michelin star.
Pawling has lovely shops including an old-fashioned bookstore you can get lost in. The Blue Olive has a large selection of gourmet olive oils and specialty vinegars. You can do an endless tasting until you find the ones you love.
There’s Vinny’s Deli with his outrageous homemade mozzarella and incredible selection of Italian meats and cheeses. Vinny has magically turned his delectable sandwiches into edible masterpieces. More delicious than in Naples, Florence or Rome. The Food Network featured Vinny’s steak margherita hero sandwich with mozzarella and thinly grilled steak on its program “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”
The Sunflour Bakery has amazing sourdough bread and gluten-free cakes. Just out of town there’s Dykeman Farm for the freshest produce and eggs laid that morning.
Nearby take a hike on the Appalachian Trail that goes all the way to Canada. You’ve heard of the musical duo Hall & Oates. Well, Daryl Hall chose Pawling to open Daryl’s House Club restaurant with delicious food and free live music on weekends. Visit the nearby colorful towns of Rhinebeck or Millbrook and their wineries.
If I’ve enticed you with the off-the-radar Town of Pawling, check out Airbnb or Home Away. Or better yet, let me know if you’d like to rent the log cabin on a lake I escaped to and I’ll connect you to Candace, it’s delightful, vivacious owner. She might consider letting you rent her precious log cabin her father built with tender-loving care 25 years ago.
After spending 10 absolutely lovely days in Pawling, I find it appalling that most folks have never considered escaping there. (Sorry, I had to use that line, my girlfriend said my columns must contain more fun.)
Hastings-on-Hudson resident Richard Levy is a former advertising “Mad Man” creative director and now a travel writer. He’s also an inventor of innovative new products and is writing and illustrating a new children’s book. You can contact him at RichardLevyTravelWriter@gmail.com.
Examiner Media – Keeping you informed with professionally-reported local news, features, and sports coverage.
