The venue has marked this date as FULLY BOOKED

Somewhere along the way, hosting got overwhelming. Maybe it was social media, maybe it was the endless folder of saved recipe reels, maybe it was the slow creep of dinner parties starting to look like something a professional event designer produced. Suddenly there were too many courses, too many expectations, and too many moments spent plating instead of actually sitting down. Our 🌿Field & Country🏸  collection proposes a much simpler dinner format. Enter: Soft Hosting, the art of doing less, but doing it better. It’s the meal you can make the day before, or pick up the day of. It’s the linen napkins, slightly wrinkled on purpose, the table set early, the candles already lit, and the very firm commitment to sitting down while the pasta is still hot. On group trips, it becomes the night in: no restaurant reservation, no pressure to get everyone dressed and out the door, no long table where half the group can barely hear each other. That is where soft hosting really shines. Family vacations, birthdays, bachelorettes, reunion weekends, and house takeovers are all built around the same hope: actual time together. You want the dinner that turns into cards, the BBQ that becomes a second bottle opened on the porch, the meal everyone remembers because nobody was rushing. You also do not want to spend your vacation cooking, cleaning, and managing the evening like a catering captain. Soft hosting meets in the middle. It gives the night enough structure to feel special, and enough ease to still feel like vacation. The vibe is less, “Hurry, the reservation is at 7,” and more, “We’ll eat when it feels right.”

While the bright lights of New York City may steal the state’s spotlight most of the time, we’re no stranger to the mesmerizing beauty of New York state. From grand estates to peaceful campsites in the mountains, the Empire State is home to cozy getaways and spectacular views you’ll want to experience for yourself. And when you’ve got the whole family in tow, we know your accommodations need to be just right. Scroll down, we’ve found the best places to getaway and gather all across New York (yes, city stays included, too!) for every kind of vacationer in your group. Reporter: Erica Nichols

We’re not sure what it is about fall, but as soon as it hits, this escapism mechanism in our brains just starts screaming, “get me to a cozy cabin!” And as soon as that little alarm goes off, we’re off the races exploring tiny houses, log cabins, cozy cottages and A-frame getaways of every location, size and style. But don’t worry. We won’t keep all the goods to ourselves. Here’s a round-up of all the cushy, comfy, cozy spots we love this year, many that were suggested directly by you, our readers. Some have been around a while, others are brand new to the scene or just about to open. Mixed among the options are Adirondack cabins in the mountains, cottages along the lakeshore, hot spring havens and summer camps that are open for fall and winter too. Reporter: Alyssa Brown

It could be because we all get sucked into reno shows on HGTV, or it could be because there’s a ton of property out there with big-time potential that’s yet to be realized, but we’ve all found ourselves scouring the real estate listings of some quaint country town looking for the perfect fixer-upper. Well, this couple not only scoured, but also scored, and they scored big time with this cabin in upstate New York. Following a two-year renovation project they completed entirely on their own, The Hunter Greenhouse is officially open for overnight stays. Located just a couple hours north of NYC in Tannersville, this gorgeous glass-faced cabin has been refitted from top to bottom and is hitting all our design requirements. There’s an indoor hammock, a living wall, a cozy living space with a hanging swing, and so much more. We recently caught up with the couple behind the design and reno, and got the full scoop on what it takes to pull off such a massive project. Read on for all the dirty details from Danielle and Ely in the jump below.