Mimi O'Gara
May 17, 20193 min
Whether you are driving along Route 20 for an autumn visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame or bringing your kid to college, here are 10 great things to do in Sharon Springs, New York.
Whether you are driving along Route 20 for an autumn visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame or bringing your kid to college, be sure to stop by Dairyland. Bound to satiate every ice cream lover’s appetite, Dairyland offers vintage American fare and the largest ice cream sundae this side of the Hudson River. The roadside relic also hosts summer antique car shows. A visit to Sharon Springs is not complete without a trip to Dairyland.
We’re not talking about a starry night in the cow fields. We’re talking celebrities. You may know Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Dr. Brent Ridge from their reality show The Fabulous Beekman Boys, or as winners of the 21st season of The Amazing Race. The two New York City transplants bought the historic Beekman mansion just off of Route 20 as an experiment in living the country life. The duo sells handcrafted artisanal farm products at the Beekman 1802 Mercantile store located in historic downtown Sharon Springs. Community favorites include their signature goat cheese and beer jelly. And, you never know when Martha Stewart may be visiting them.
Next door to the Beekman 1802 store is Maureen Lodes’ eclectic shop. She has 12 distinctive rooms displaying a potpourri of gifts, antiques, and one-of-a-kind novelties. Amongst the themed rooms are the Children’s Room, the Back Hallway and the Christmas Room, which offers holiday shopping 365 days a year.
Sharon Springs rarely has two of anything, except when it comes to orchards.
Apple picking is a fall tradition at Sharon Orchards, located just over a mile from Dairyland. Fresh sweet apple cider and donuts are made there every weekend.
Sunnycrest Orchards, located five miles from Dairyland has greenhouses and farm market selling a variety of apples, gifts, and seasonal harvest. Take your pick.
Did you know that it is a German Tradition to make keepsake fragrance pillows out of your Christmas tree? The Sharon Springs Natural Soaps Co. offers this service. Owners Gerri and Jack Dunne also make handmade soaps from fresh New York products and spices.
George Washington didn’t sleep here, but Rachel Ray did. She loved the American Hotel so much that she featured the historic landmark on her show. Owners Doug Plummer and Garth Roberts will take good care of you.
The headquarters for the oldest seedhouse in America is located a cornfield away from Dairyland. Primarily a catalog order business, D. Landreth Seed Company has a storefront business that is only known locals.
A restful and restorative modern day spa with old world charm, The Spring House Spa offers a luxury spa experience like no other. Drawing from the healing mineral springs of downtown Sharon, you can enjoy a spa experience that put the ‘ahhhh’ in Sharon. Licensed massage therapist Cheryl Rosen developed the signature four-handed massage—two massage therapists and one blissful you.
On the outskirts of Sharon sits a roadside treasure that has delighted travelers for over half a century. Built in the 1950’s, The Tepee hosts a panoramic view of the Mohawk Valley. Buffy, the big plastic Buffalo, is just past the scenic viewfinders. The souvenir shop offers a selection of fine Native American crafts and instruments, vintage Americana relics, and a variety of local-made candy sticks.
Sharon Springs is the capital of natural white sulphur springs. Visitors can drink, touch and smell the natural sulphur spring located in a gazebo across from the Historic Society building. You may also notice some development – Sharon Springs Resorts (opening 2020) is refurbishing the infamous Imperial Baths, and creating a world-class luxury spa.
If there is anything we missed, please let us know.