Plenty of people are discovering Kingston through word of mouth and on the Internet. So say the owners of two of the city’s bed-and-breakfasts, the Rondout Inn, located at 79 Broadway, and Schwartz’s Inn, at 70 North Front. Both places have hosted visitors from as far away as Europe and the Mideast—and after spending a few days in Kingston, the newcomers love it here.
Two weeks ago, for example, the Rondout Inn hosted a couple from London, lured by Kingston’s history. The visitors had already traveled in New England and wanted to experience the Hudson Valley, said co-owner Larry Zalinsky. Being so central—the couple visited Hyde Park, Woodstock and Cooperstown–Kinston was the ideal base. A couple from Turkey stayed a month visiting their daughter, who was attending the Culinary Institute of America. Zalinsky said he and his wife and co-owner B.C. Gee recommend nearby restaurants to their guests and even volunteer to make the reservations.
Zalinsky said the inn, which consists of two charming one-bedroom apartments, also attracts a lot of weekenders from New York City. Four out of five are young couples from Brooklyn, who heard that Kingston was a cool place to visit, he said. “A lot are interested because Kingston is a city. They like the funkiness and the fact they can walk around and find stuff to do.” The Rondout Inn also puts up people attending the workshops at R&F Handmade Paints, which cross-promotes the lodging. Other guests have included the parents of Bard students, UPAC theater goers, antiquers from Vermont, an intern at Fleisher’s Grass-fed and Organic Meats, and the captain of the Coast Guard ice breaker (he invited Zalinsky and Gee out for a ride).
Schwartz’s Inn has also attracted numerous visitors from England. “They like this area because of the history. We’ve had people who stayed a week or town,” said co-owner Barbara Cohen. “They love the architecture, museums, waterfront and the restaurants. They always say the people here are very warm.” Other guests are in Kingston to attend a wedding, first communion, or funeral, she said. A special niche is Jewish visitors who can walk to the orthodox and conservative synagogues on Lucas Avenue, which meets their religious requirement not to have to drive.
Schwartz’s Inn is unusual in that has a direct, personal link to the city’s past. It’s located above the optometry practice of Barbara’s husband, Joe, in a building that was once occupied by his grandparents (they ran a tailor shop and café and lived upstairs). The inn has two units, although only one party at a time books the space. Guests can choose from a wonderful assortment of cafés and restaurants within walking distance in which to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, noted Barbara.
On occasion Schwartz’s will accommodate visitors in the summer who want to escape the heat of NYC and hop on the bus. Other guests have docked their boat in Kingston and don’t want to spend the night onboard. Schwartz said she and Zalinsky and Gee are very supportive of each other, referring guests to each other’s lodgings. Schwartz’s Inn is listed on the websites for the city and Ulster County Tourism and belongs to the regional B&B association.
