Cedar Lakes Estate, located in the heart of the Hudson Valley, is the perfect upstate luxury estate to explore not only during the summer, but also during winter season!
We are always looking for and exploring unique properties in upstate New York to share with you. Cedar Lakes Estate is certainly on the top of our list.
We also know that many people aren’t really sure where to go or what to do during the harsh New York winter, so we decided to help out!
This past weekend, we packed our bags and headed upstate to stay at a place called Cedar Lakes Estate. We’ve been following closely experiences they’ve been creating for guests and couldn’t wait anymore to go and explore!
Located in the heart of our gorgeous Hudson Valley, Cedar Lakes Estate’s story is quite special.
To start, the property is family owned. A few years back, the sisters Stephanie and Lisa Karvellas, that have countless unforgettable childhood memories at the Estate, decided to share the property not only with friends, but with outside guests.
They started working and organizing everything, building new rooms and cabins and renovating what needed a fresh look. In no time, they got so much organic press that not only people started reaching out, but also super young companies like Uber and Google decided to host team gatherings and activities during the year.
Below a short video of our experience:
The property is really something! You’ll be able to indulge in their 500 acres with 2 lakes, 2 pools, miles of hiking trails, boats, tennis, basketball courts, football fields, ziplines, and the BLOB.
Let’s talk about their accommodations!
They have rooms for every style, pocket and need!
The Bluebird Cottage and the Lakeside Cottage are great for a complete experience. These cottages boast with spacious formats, king-size beds and private patios. Plus, each one has its own cool amenities like full modern kitchen, heated stone floors, fireplace, living room and/or dining area.
In addition, the 10 Sleepy Pine Cottages are under a beautiful cluster of pine trees! It offers one queen or two full size beds, rain shower, Nespresso machine and mini bar. Perfect in size.
Furthermore, the Poolside Cabana is fully equipped with a fireplace, washer/dryer, with access to pool area, patio, outdoor wet bar and refrigerator, gazebo (extra bathroom in gazebo) and it’s also pet-friendly!
The Garden Suite is perfect for families, or for the more demanding couples. It has a fully equipped din-in kitchen, a fireplace with sitting area and a beautiful, large bathroom.
And, their option for Glamping (glamour camping), is called Campstyle. This communal house can host up to 43 people common room seating areas and a kitchen. Don’t worry, the bathrooms are just as nice as the other options above, and also offer complimentary toiletries (shampoo, conditioner and body wash).
Finally, the Rustic Cabins are for people that really have camp roots with bunk beds, ceiling fans and a communal bathhouse. But, they offer fresh linens and towels!
Now, not many people know or can even imagine how many activities are available at properties upstate.
Cedar Lakes Estate is perfect not only in the summer time, but also during winter.
As they explain:
“Guests have full access to all that the grounds has to offer, including the use of the lakes, pools, hiking and biking trails, bonfire pits, tennis and basketball courts. With outdoor activities like The Blob, “drive in” movies under the stars, and guided yoga classes, we have everything needed for a memorable and refreshing getaway.”
Super cool right?
So if you’re the adventurer type, sporty-type or lets-chill-type, they have it all. Swimming, fishing, countless sports and games – basketball, tennis, volleyball, kickball, softball and football; plus, everyone’s favorite lawn games, like bocce, horseshoes, cornhole and ladder toss. Phiuf! What a list!
Close by the property, you can take some time to explore too. The region offers restaurants, breweries, farms, antiquing, markets, distilleries, artisan shops, ski mountains, and breathtaking hikes.
You might be asking…but what about the food and drinks!?
Where do we begin? We had a delicious, tasty experience and loved it all.
They have a garden where, not only they grow their own produce, but they also host summer outdoor dining experiences.
“Walk into our expansive Chef’s Garden and see where it all begins. The garden charms with its white picket fence and twinkling lights as we bring out the season’s best, harvested right beyond your feet. A 50-person farm table sits on a reclaimed brick patio in the center of the garden for a truly farm-to-table experience under the stars inside this expansive 4,000 square foot wonderland.”
“This Chef’s garden is a testament to our farm-to-table values, as we tailor our crops each season to grow produce specifically for the menus chosen by our clients. Whatever we cannot grow or make ourselves is sourced from our small-town farmer neighbors. We believe that cultivating a network of local purveyors ensures the most outstanding seasonal fare for your event.”
During winter, they put together a Après CLE Party and some really private Pop Up Dinners that gathers the coolest crowd from NYC and neighbor towns! The menu is to-die-for!
The Après CLE party is every Saturday, from 12pm – 6pm.
You can expect the grooviest tunes, a group of happy campers, old school toboggans, giant jenga, hot hot hot crackling fires paired with some yummy spiked hot cocoa!
We all know how cold upstate New York can get, but this party will certainly keep you pretty warm! From entertaining conversations, gorgeous folks and a bonfire pit that will be roaring all day long, you won’t want to leave!
You can also hop inside the Canteen every now and then, for some melty grilled cheeses, fig and brie hot sandwiches and some boozy hot beverages!
If you enjoy it, and still want to hang around for more, don’t forget about their multi-course Pop Up Dinners that happens 1 Saturday every month!
Just so you can get an idea of what these dinners look like, see the menu from our dinner:
- Amouse Bouche: Roasted breakfast radish, sorrel butter, crispy white anchovy
- First Dish: Diver scallop carpaccio, cured olive labneh, preserved winter citrus, charred fennel and toasted red millet. For Vegetarians, they substituted the scallops for potatoes.
- Second Dish: Handmade braised wild boar tortellini, tomato rosemary sugo and fontina fonduta. For Vegetarians, they substituted the wild boar for ricotta.
- Third Dish: Citrus seared Hudson Valley duck breast salsify 2 ways, braised endives, blood orange and brown butter roasted hazelnuts. For Vegetarians, they substituted the duck for Japanese fingerling sweet potatoes.
- Grand Finale: Cinnamon panna cotta cardamom roasted persimmon, dark chocolate espresso bean crumble and anise shortbread.
How much better can this get, right? Super creative, innovative, entertaining, in a breathtaking place with the coolest crowd.
In addition, if you’re looking for a fantastic spot to organize your destination wedding, Cedar Lakes hosts luxury destination weddings and corporate retreats year round! Stephanie Karavellas actually organized her own wedding at the property, and it was nothing less than perfection.
So, after experiencing it all, we can only say that Stephanie and Lisa have really done an outstanding work. It’s surely all done from the heart and it reflects on every single detail around the property!
Contact us for any Corporate request for your team. They host throughout the year amazing getaways and company retreats!
Be sure to book your experience and have fun!
Location: 1 Team Usa Way, Port Jervis
Photo Credits: ©Behind the Scenes NYC
*Last Update on March/2020.*
