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July 31, 2027
Tillson, New York
Margaret & Ryan
WHEN
Saturday, July 31st, 2027
4pm until ~whenever
WHERE
Darlings Roadhouse
838 NY-32, Tillson, NY
WHAT
A party to celebrate us making it official! There will be a cocktail hour with apps followed by dinner, dessert, and dancing. We will be saying “I do” in a private civil ceremony earlier in the week, so this event is a reception only.
We are also planning brunch Sunday morning before everyone gets on the road. Details TBD, but it will be local and low-key.
The Celebration
The ~Vibe~
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what to wear
Let's call it "summer elevated casual". Think sundresses, linen, khakis, polos, and light colors. Basically, what you'd wear to date night or out with friends at a nice restaurant in the summer! We'll be using both indoor and outdoor spaces, so optimize for comfort in the heat and on the dance floor. Suits and heels absolutely not required or expected.
dinner & drinks
The fare at Darlings is fantastic (iykyk). There will be appetizers during cocktail hour and a full dinner served family-style later in the evening. Those with dietary restrictions, we've got you covered! Darlings has great plant-based and gluten-free choices. To drink, the full bar of options: beer, wine, cocktails, mocktails, and plenty of hydrating non-alcoholic beverages.
a note about gifts
You are traveling to our little town to celebrate with us; that is absolutely gift enough! Seriously, we mean that. We appreciate your presence and support more than words can convey. If you’d like to give us a gift, we will have a small registry, a honeymoon fund, and an option donate to a cause that's meaningful to us.
Getting to Tillson
Transit
It’s possible to take the train up from NYC (MetroNorth or Amtrak), but they both stop on the other side of the river, about 40 minutes away. Unfortunately, public transit and rideshare apps (Lyft, Uber) are not a thing up here, so you really will want a car.
Flying
Your best options are to fly in and out of Albany (ALB) or Westchester (HPN), both of which are a little over an hour from us. This is much easier than trying to fly in and out of NYC, and worth a connecting flight (IMHO) if that’s what’s available.
Driving
We recommend driving since this is the type of place where you really need a car to get around. Just be aware that traffic coming up the NY Thruway on a summer weekend is no joke! Give yourself plenty of time and be safe.
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Where to Stay
We suggest staying in or near New Paltz, Rosendale, or Kingston. If you’re considering somewhere outside the list or map range below, make sure you look up how far it is to Tillson before booking. Distances here are deceiving because there are mountains everywhere and most of the roads are smaller country roads.
If you'd like to stay in a hotel, we have a limited number of rooms reserved at the Hampton Inn in New Paltz, which is the closest hotel to the venue. Use this link to book and it'll automatically populate for Friday, July 30 through Sunday, August 1 with a guaranteed rate.
short-term rentals
This is what we always recommend for accomodation in our area. There are so many local properties on Airbnb and VRBO that offer great value and more room to spread out compared to a hotel. We've saved a bunch of options on an Airbnb list to get you started.
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America’s Best Value Inn New Paltz
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Hampton Inn Kingston
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Courtyard Marriott Kingston
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Residence Inn Kingston
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Holiday Inn Express Kingston
name-brand hotels
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New Paltz Way Hotel (New Paltz)
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Hutton Brickyards Hotel (Kingston)
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Hotel Kinsley (Kingston)
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The Wiltwyck Inn (Kingston)
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Six Bells Inn (Rosendale)
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ElmRock Inn (Stone Ridge)
boutique hotels & inns
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Tillson & Beyond
We want to plug some of our favorite Hudson Valley spots for those of you who are sticking around a bit longer. This list is nowhere near exhaustive and either of us would genuinely love to chat with you about your plans and help you figure out exactly where to spend your time based on your interests.
Upper Parking Area: From here you can access Minnewaska Lake and the visitor center with a quick walk, and there are miles of both hiking trails and wider gravel carriage trails to choose your own adventure. If you have good chunk of time, Gertrude's Nose is worth the miles.
Lower Parking Area: Take a (steep, but short) carriage trail to stunning Awosting Falls or get on the Mossy Glen/Blueberry Run trail, a family favorite that runs through lush forest along a gorgeous stream. You may even be rewarded with wild blueberries at the end if they haven't been picked over by black bears!
Spring Farm Trailhead: This area has unparalleled panoramic Catskill views from both high meadows and rocky overlooks. Similar to Minnewaska, you can stick to carriage trails or try the hiking trails. We love Bonticou Crag, accessed via trail or amazingly fun rock scramble.
Coxing Kill Trailhead: Park here to access a true local gem, the Split Rock swimming hole, and walk further along the creek to escape the crowd and splash in its magical fairy pools.
Walking Paths & Rail Trails
These are flat, even paths that offer great access to nature without having to rough it too much. There are tons in the area, but we particularly recommend River to Ridge in New Paltz, Ashokan East Promenade in Kingston, Wallkill Valley Rail Trail in Rosendale (across the trestle!), Rest Plaus O&W Trail in High Falls, and Walkway Over the Hudson in Highland.
Catskills Parks
If you're heading further afield into the Catskills, we've had great experiences at Balsam Lake Wild Forest (Kelly Hollow Loop) and Hunter-West Kill Wilderness (Diamond Notch Falls), and Neversink River Unique Area (the loop with High, Mullet, and Denton Falls).
Other Nearby Parks
Within a stone's throw of Tillson, visit John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary (and the adjacent Black Creek State Forest) or Shaupeneak Ridge Park. These parks are beautiful, free, and you'll probably have the place to yourselves!
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Rosendale is right down the road from Tillson and looks like it's straight out of a Hallmark movie or Stardew Valley. We lived on Main Street when we first moved upstate, and once you've walked down it you've pretty much seen the whole town. 😄 It's worth making the trek up to see the view from the trestle.
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New Paltz is a hippie college town and the gateway to the Shawangunk Ridge, which is where you'll find Minnewaska State Park and Mohonk Preserve . It has everything you'd expect in a college town, from cheap burgers to boutiques selling tie-dye shirts, handmade gifts, and everything in between.
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Kingston, fun fact, was the first capital of New York. It has two districts we especially recommend, Uptown and the Rondout waterfront. Uptown boasts upscale shops and beautiful colonial architecture, whereas Rondout is tied to the industrial maritime history of the area.
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Woodstock, is not where the music festival was, but it is a quaint village with deep roots in music and the arts, originally founded as a full-time artist colony. It's got quirky local shops (and locals), a few museums, and a beautiful brook running through it.
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Phoenicia is a bit farther, but its adorable little town nestled in the Catskills. It's on the gorgeous Esopus River, which is renowned both for fly fishing (Ryan's thing) and being an ideal place to dip your toes and drink beer (Margaret's). Don't miss the Emerson Kaleidoscope on your way through the area!
Honorable mentions further into the Catskills or across the Hudson: Margaretville 💗, Roxbury, Rhinebeck, Poughkeepsie (the waterfront, Union Street District, or Vassar College), Beacon
This pocket of the Hudson Valley has fascinating roots from pre-colonial times through the Industrial Revolution and beyond. Here are some things worth seeing if that's your vibe, roughly in chronologically appropriate order.
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Historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz, which dates back to the town's founding in the 1600s, offers well-preserved colonial architecture and an exploration of the dynamics between the white settlers, their African slaves, and the local Lenape people.
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Four Corners in Kingston is the only intersection in America where 18th century stone houses still stand at all four corners. In the area, you can also see the Old Dutch Church and the original Ulster County Courthouse.
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Sojourner Truth State Park in Kingston and the Sojourner Truth Trail at Shaupeneak Ridge both detail the history of the famous abolitionist, who escaped slavery in Ulster County and successfully sued for her freedom.
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The Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston and the D&H Canal Historical Society in High Falls explore the industrial significance of the region, specifically the Hudson and the canals that led to it from New York and beyond.
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Widow Jane Mine and the Snyder Estate in Rosendale are remnants of Rosendale's heyday as a center of hydraulic cement production. Rosendale cement was carried to the Hudson via the D&H canal then brought down river to NYC and beyond. It was actually used in the footers of the Brooklyn Bridge, the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty, and the west wing of the US Capitol Building.
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Although its not local, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that you can visit the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, along with a museum and monument to it, all maintained by a wonderful nonprofit called Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. It's about 90 minutes away in Bethel, NY, but worth the trip if you're a music lover and you have the time!
Carbs & Sweets
Kingston: Sweet Maresa's, Pinkertons, Kingston Bread, Deising's Bakery, Mickey's Igloo
New Paltz/Gardiner area: Little Loaf Bakeshop, Lagusta's Luscious
High Falls/Stone Ridge/Accord area: Cherries Ice Cream, Brooklyn Sour
Woodstock/Phoenicia area: Bread Alone, Fruition Chocolate, Peace Love & Cupcakes
Libations
Kingston: West Kill Supply, Kingston Standard Brewing, Wiltwyck Spirits, Keegan Ales
New Paltz/Gardiner area: Twin Star Orchard, Rough Cut Brewing, Tuthilltown Distillery
High Falls/Stone Ridge/Accord area: Westwind Orchard, Arrowood Farms
Woodstock/Phoenicia area: Woodstock Brewing, The Clubhouse, Small Talk
Quality Eats
Rosendale/Tillson area: Darlings (duh), Truss & Trestle
Kingston: Mirador, Sorry Charlie, Eliza, Brickmen, Graziano's, Dolce
New Paltz/Gardiner area: Apizza, Mountain Brauhaus, Garvan's, Main Course, Sideshow Kitchen & Bar, Hokkaido, Pickled Pig Deli
High Falls/Stone Ridge/Accord area: Ollie's Pizza, Momiji, Helena's Pierogies
Woodstock/Phoenicia area: Silvia, Phoenicia Diner, The Pines, Good Night, Nirvana, Shelter
Spend your $:
Rosendale/Tillson area: Postmark Books, Clubhouse Vintage
Kingston: Rough Draft Books & Bar, Everywhere Shop, Exit Nineteen, Red Owl Collective, Kingston Consignments, Hamilton & Adams, Clove & Creek, Bluecashew
New Paltz/Gardiner area: Handmade and More, Cocoon, Inquiring Minds Bookstore, Crust and Magic, The Gardiner Collective
Woodstock/Phoenicia area: Candlestock, Mirabai, Woodstock Leisure Syndicate, Beck Home + Goods, Golden Notebook, the Shops at Emerson