Get further in touch with the natural world at the Trevor Zoo, home to 80 different species, eight of them endangered. The zoo is open every day of the year (including holidays), making it the perfect destination for a family outing. There are 200 animals total—among them red pandas, wolves, and lemurs. To see how the animals behave after hours, watch the zoo's livestream of the pandas on their website.
If you're looking to carouse, hit up the Taconic Distillery (just outside town, in Stanfordville) for some barrel-aged spirits, or try Millbrook Vineyards & Winery; since last year, the winery doubled the size of its tasting room, added a space for reserve tastings, and opened up a Vineyard Tap Room with wine by the glass on draft. In the summer it hosts Food Truck Fridays, where trucks bearing tasty treats roll up to the winery and help revelers soak up all that vino. Just a hop, skip, and a jump from the winery is Wing's Castle, a strange structure straight out of a fairytale, built entirely from reclaimed materials. The castle offers several B&B options, ranging from the Dungeon Room (spooky!) to The Cottage (much cozier!)
As for shopping, there are plenty of high-end boutiques to peruse. Alicia Adams Alpacas specializes in the design and production of clothing made from alpaca wool (the alpaca herd lives in nearby Stanfordville). New in the store is the Rainbow Collection (scarves, hats, sweaters, all unisex, in every color of the rainbow); a percentage of proceeds go to an LGBT organization. Adams moved to Millbrook from Germany and says she relishes the town's "melting pot" atmosphere, with so many weekenders from New York City and large communities of Spanish speakers and international families. Partake of more retail therapy at Absolutely Wild Home, an upscale home furnishings store that opened last December, or Arrowsmith Forge, where custom metal designs like steel chandeliers and wrought-iron gates are produced. It remains one of the few ornamental and architectural forges in the Hudson Valley.
Another recent addition to Millbrook is Maura's Kitchen, a family-owned restaurant that prides itself on providing "the comfort of a mother's home cooked meal" and serving "feel good food." If you crave more sophisticated cuisine, Cafe Les Baux has eclectic French nosh and Charlotte's serves European fare in a rural setting, with outdoor garden seating in the warmer months and a cozy fireplace in winter. Slammin' Salmon serves lunch with an "old school" gourmet shop feel; specialties include hand-cut aged steaks, artisan cheese, and the freshest fish around.
Whether you're strolling down the Harlem Valley Rail Trail via Millerton, snuggling up with a sweetheart at the drive-in, or hanging with the animals at Millbrook's Trevor Zoo, you'll never be starved for amusement or culture in Northeast Dutchess County.
