How We Tested

Best of the Year selected a couple for a multi-day stay at Mohonk Mountain House in late summer. Both were first-time visitors who had heard about the property for years but had never experienced it themselves, bringing a fresh perspective to the evaluation. The visit was arranged through Mohonk’s media relations company and coordinated by Best of the Year standards team and the resort representative. The couple traveled to the resort by car from the New York City metropolitan area.

During their stay, the testers participated in breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and focused on the wide variety of experiences included in the all-inclusive rate. They explored the property’s amenities, hikes, wellness sessions, as well as daily entertainment. While visiting, they completed individual scorecards assessing the overall guest experience, service and hospitality, value, differentiation, and whether the resort delivered on what it promised. Spa treatments and other experiences available for an additional charge were not part of this evaluation.

Other Best of the Year judges and analysts who had visited Mohonk on several previous occasions also reviewed the entry and drew on their firsthand experiences when completing their scorecards. The team reviewed the submitted materials, marketing claims and sustainability-related initiatives before finalizing the evaluation.

What Judges and Consumer Testers Said

The setting makes an impression before you’ve done much of anything. One of our judges said approaching Mohonk felt “like something out of a storybook,” and was equally impressed that a property with more than 150 years of history never felt “fragile or tired.” The buildings and grounds were beautifully maintained, while the lake, forest and trails made it remarkably easy to spend much of the day outside.

But what our judges kept coming back to was everything there is to do—and how naturally it works for different ages and interests. Hiking, kayaking, swimming, naturalist walks, kids’ activities, fitness, or simply sitting by the lake: everyone can find their own version of a good day. One judge called Mohonk “genuinely multigenerational rather than simply claiming to have something for everyone,” while another praised activities that worked for everyone from young kids to adults in their 70s.

The food and service impressed too. Our judges praised the variety for kids and adults and the resort’s handling of dietary restrictions. One was particularly touched when a dining-room staffer noticed her preference to avoid gluten and proactively offered to remake the pasta she had ordered. And a naturalist walk became another unexpected highlight because it felt less like a scripted resort activity and more like “an informal exchange of knowledge” about the landscape, wildlife, history and ecology around them.

It's worth noting that we’re hardly the first to recognize Mohonk as an award winner. Over the years, the resort has collected an almost ridiculous number of travel accolades spanning family travel, all-inclusive resorts, destination resorts, spas, fitness, dining and historic hotels. Recent honors include USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice recognition for Best Hotel Fitness Center, Destination Resort, All-Inclusive Resort and Family Resort, along with top resort recognition from Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure. There’s some history for us here too: Mohonk was previously a Good Housekeeping Family Travel Awards winner as chosen by members of our in-house team.

There are a few things to know before you book. Mohonk is a premium destination, even if it doesn't scream modern luxury. Its rooms are historic and cozy rather than minimal, spacious or overtly luxurious. One judge found her room tight once luggage was added to the mix. The main dining room can also get busy at popular times, and the spa is an additional expense. The value really comes from leaning into the experience—meals, trails, lake activities, programming and all.

Best of the Year Bottom Line

Some places are just made for making family memories, and Mohonk Mountain House is one of them. Spend the morning hiking or paddling across the lake, try something you’ve never done before, meet up for afternoon tea, then end the day around a fire with s’mores. Kids, parents and grandparents can each find their own fun here—and, even better, plenty of reasons to have fun together.

More than 150 years after the first guests arrived at Lake Mohonk, this fairy-tale castle is still working its magic. Bring the whole family. And stay long enough to try everything.

Why Trust Us?

The Best of the Year Media team comprises award-winning editors, analysts, subject-matter experts and consumer specialists who have spent their careers helping people make smarter, more confident decisions. With deep expertise across consumer lifestyle categories, our team brings decades of experience evaluating products, brands and services. Our recommendations are grounded in rigorous evaluation combined with expert judgment and consumer insights, giving readers trusted guidance on products, services, and experiences worth bringing into their lives.

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