Directly across from the Vanderbilt Mansion is the attractive Journey Inn Bed & Breakfast (1 Sherwood Pl., off Rte. 9, 845/229-8972, www.journeyinn.com, $115–205 d), filled with antiques and memorabilia from the owners’ international travels. The inn offers six comfortable air-conditioned guest rooms, each done up to reflect a different destination, including Kyoto, Mombassa, and Tuscany.

Hyde Park has an abundance of decent budget motels, many of which cater to families and tour groups. Among them is the family-owned, 24-room Roosevelt Inn (4360 Albany Post Rd./Rte. 9, 845/229-2443, $95–120 d), where you can choose between rooms with queen, king, double, or twin beds.

Hyde Park’s best restaurants are in the Culinary Institute of America (1946 Campus Dr., off Rte. 9, 845/471-6608, www.ciachef.edu), where reservations are essential. Each of the five restaurants has its own distinct style. The most casual is St. Andrew’s Café (average dinner $35), which offers everything from wood-fired pizza to beef tenderloin. The most elegant is the award-winning Escoffier Restaurant ($50–60), offering classic French cuisine. In between are Caterina de Medici ($30–45), featuring contemporary and traditional Italian specialties, and the American Bounty Restaurant ($45–50), dedicated to regional American dishes. Jackets and reservations are required in all rooms.

The one CIA restaurant that does not require a reservation is the Apple Pie Bakery Café, open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday. On the menu find tasty sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts served with flair.