Meet the Alternative to Camping in Herkimer, New York

Visitors to southern Herkimer County in New York State will find pleasure in boating along the Erie Canal, visiting historical sites, cultural festivities and fairs, unique shopping opportunities, dining at a wide variety of restaurants, hiking, biking, and rock climbing.  If that’s not enough, there’s also prospecting for world-famous Herkimer Diamonds – the quartz crystals unique to this area.

Expanding nationally known campgrounds has generally been a good thing for travelers.  Booking campsites might have even become your default option when planning a trip.  However, there are reasons to avoid them – expense, overcrowding, noise, and the lack of home comforts- are just a few that come to mind.  If you’re planning a trip to the Herkimer area and are considering staying at a campsite or campground, this might be a good time to step back and consider something more unique and more like home.  We want to offer you an alternative to elevate your experience – a stay at Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast in Herkimer, New York!

Welcome to Grand Colonial- a distinguished four-season bed and breakfast located in one of the most historic and scenic regions of New York State.  Built as a private residence in the 1890s, our house reflects a pledge to quality that has stood the test of generations.  Now more than a century later, we make that same pledge to you!

We have four en suite guestrooms.  Each one offers rich colors and patterns, upscale furnishings, premium bedding, lovingly restored original features, private bathrooms, and modern amenities, including free Wi-Fi and cable TV.  With all the comforts of home, we deliver a level of personalized service and exceptional hospitality you won’t find at chain hotels or campgrounds.

Pancakes dripping with real, locally-sourced maple syrup, bacon, farm-fresh eggs, and homemade pastries are just a few items on our breakfast menu.  Every breakfast item is made to order in our kitchen, using our very own signature recipes.  Breakfast is complimentary, and you’re welcome to order whatever you want.  We guarantee that you won’t leave hungry, and with so much homemade goodness, you’ll probably be full for a good part of the day!

We take great pride in curating a unique and authentic experience for our guests, and it all starts with our special relationships with other local businesses.  Because the real stuff makes a difference, we proudly serve Kraeger’s pure New York Maple Syrup and Heartsease Hill Honey with every breakfast and provide a full line of Beekman 1802 amenities for your personal use while you are our guest.

We know that family memories last a lifetime, so we invite families with children of all ages to make new traditions at Grand Colonial.

Your dog deserves a vacation, too!  We recognize that your dog is a valued part of your family, so Grand Colonial is delighted to welcome well-mannered dogs and offer creature comforts to make their stay as comfortable as yours.

Parking is free in our off-street parking lot.

The typical camping experience doesn’t compare to a stay at Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast.  When you stay as our guest, you’ll relax in timeless comfort and connect with the local area’s history in ways staying at a campground can’t match.  You won’t be far from nature either- read on to discover more about our connection to the great outdoors.

Discover even more room to enjoy a premium outdoor experience at Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast, where we always encourage you to make yourself at home.  During the mild-weathered seasons, guests may relax in our three outdoor seating areas.

Imagine sipping a glass of wine while the sun goes down or drinking a cup of freshly-brewed coffee as the sun comes up in a rocking chair that produces feelings of nostalgia and calm.  The side porch with rocking chairs is perfect for relaxing and enjoying the moment.  Our private outdoor deck with comfortably cushioned high-back chairs and a fire table is the ideal place to gather with family and friends for an alfresco breakfast in the morning or stargazing at night.  For our guests who explore the Central New York Cheese Trail or Cooperstown Beverage Trail during the day, our outdoor deck is the perfect place to gather and enjoy your local cheeses and craft beverages around the fire table later in the evening.  Did we mention we have a huge backyard?  And a wooden glider loveseat overlooking the backyard?  When it’s time to be together as a couple or take a moment to get lost in your thoughts- this is the spot!

Herkimer Diamonds are beautiful double-terminated quartz crystals formed in Dolostone rocks close to five hundred million years ago!  Found in the Herkimer, New York region, these phenomenal gemstones have a diamond-like shape, thus the name “Herkimer Diamonds.”

The prospects are endless when you stay at Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast and visit any of Central New York’s three most popular Herkimer Diamond mines and campgrounds.  After a full day of mining, there’s nothing like coming “home” to Grand Colonial, especially knowing a comfortable guestroom with premium bedding, a great night of sleep, and a homemade breakfast in the morning all await you.

Herkimer Diamond Mines KOA Resort

The Herkimer Diamond Mines welcomes over 150,000 visitors of all ages each year, including vacationing families, hobbyists, and rockhounds alike.  Your first stop will be “Village Hall,” where you will register your family for mining and receive your equipment.  Then you can stop by the “Rockhound Academy” Education Center and Museum before walking into the open rock quarry, where you can mine for your very own Herkimer Diamonds.  Sift through the dirt, search on the ground, or use your hammer to break open rocks!  Everything you find is yours to keep.  The campground here offers tent sites, glamping cabins, and a variety of RV sites.  Herkimer Diamond Mines KOA Resort is an 8-minute drive from Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast.

Ace of Diamonds Mine and Campground

Family-owned for over 50 years, Ace of Diamonds is an independent mine and campground offering visitors of all ages an opportunity to mine for Herkimer Diamonds in their plateauing open rock quarry.  This site is less commercialized but still offers an international gift shop (Rock Shop) with an impressive display of Herkimer Diamonds and prospector’s tools for sale or rent.  The mine is within walking distance of convenience stores and eateries in the Village of Middleville and has picnic areas on site.  Campsites with water, electricity, restrooms, and hot showers are available onsite.  Ace of Diamonds Mine and Campground is an 8-minute drive from Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast.

Crystal Grove Diamond Mine and Campground

Crystal Grove offers camping, mining, and tool rentals to its visitors in St. Johnsville, NY.  Try your luck at mining Herkimer Diamonds here until sunset daily, and keep what you find.  Tool rentals are first come, first served, and you are encouraged to bring any non-power tools you’d like.  A short walk from the mine, the campground offers cabins, RV/camper sites, and tent sites with and without electricity.  Crystal Grove Diamond Mine and Campground is a 30-minute drive from Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast.

Adventure awaits when you visit Central New York, and you won’t miss a moment when you stay at Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast.  Within a few miles of our B&B, you can take an iconic Erie Canal Cruise, cycle or walk the Erie Canalway Trail, hike amidst incredible rock formations at the Moss Island National Natural Landmark, and fish for brown trout on the West Canada Creek.  Take a closer look at some of the great options for active outdoor recreation around Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast:

Erie Canal Cruises

Join Captain Jerry and his crew on an incredibly fun, narrated, 90-minute sightseeing cruise, and learn a bit of history about the Erie Canal along the way.  The thrill of the voyage is being raised and lowered over 20 feet in Lock 18 at Jacksonburg, one of the last remaining locks operating with original 100+-year-old equipment.  Evening and specialty cruises are also offered.  Daily cruises depart from the Gems Along the Mohawk complex, a 4-minute drive from Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast.  Erie Canal Cruises operates seasonally from May through October.

Paddle the Erie Canal

You can find the New York State Canalway Water Trail Guidebook and other paddling resources at eriecanalway.org/watertrail.  We suggest renting a canoe or kayak or launching your own at Little Falls Canal Harbor/Rotary Park.  The park offers a full range of boater services, including a boat launch, overnight docking, electricity, water, showers, bathrooms, and pump-outs.  The Harbor is located on Southern Avenue in Little Falls, about 13 minutes from Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast.

Cycle or Walk the Erie Canalway Trail

Pick up the trail at the historic Fort Herkimer Church, where parking is also available.  Walk a comfortable distance or cycle along the trail toward Little Falls to the Herkimer Home State Historic Site, a 1764 Georgian-style mansion that was home to Revolutionary War hero General Nicholas Herkimer.  The Empire State Trail website provides quick and easy access to trail information, including segment descriptions, access points, trail distances, parking areas, restrooms, and nearby amenities and attractions.  Visitors can even access interactive maps from mobile devices, zoom in to a specific location of interest, and download/print maps of trail segments.

Rock Climb at Moss Island National Natural Landmark

Accessible by foot from Lock 17, off Route 169, from Canal Place and Benton’s Landing via Access Road in Little Falls, this remarkable island is part of an uplifted fault block of ancient igneous rock.  Moss Island contains the best exposure in the eastern United States to potholes eroded 13,000 years ago by melting glaciers.  Prized by rock climbers and geologists alike, the island’s cliffs and 40-foot-deep glacial potholes are well worth a visit.  The main trail is easy to hike and takes about an hour, suitable for children with supervision.

Fishing the West Canada Creek

West Canada Creek is one of the most distinguished trout streams in Central New York, providing anglers with excellent opportunities for Brown Trout and Brook Trout.  New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation maintains an aggressive annual stocking program contributing to a healthy trout population. You can access West Canada Creek along Route 28, which offers plenty of parking and direct river access in various sections of the Creek near Herkimer.

Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast’s bicycle rental program offers rental bicycles at a reasonable price – just $10 per bicycle for a half day (up to 4 hours) or $20 for a full day (8 hours), including a lock and helmet.  You can reserve bicycles in advance of your stay using our booking engine or once you arrive (subject to availability).

Our hybrid bicycles offer comfort and versatility for multi-riding surfaces – on the trail or street.

Our proximity to local restaurants and the Erie Canalway Trail (about 2 miles) makes our hotel extremely appealing to outdoor-loving guests who want to experience their destination in a much more personal way.

Cycling around Herkimer is a great way to become acquainted with our village and trails, and it will surely be a memorable adventure!

If you have a bicycle and are traveling by automobile, Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast offers free bicycle storage for our guests.

Starting and ending your journey with us makes transporting your bicycle extremely easy.  If you plan to cycle a long distance (one way) and have the option of using two vehicles, a simple option is to drop one vehicle at your intended destination (or the next day’s endpoint).  Then, you can drive with your bicycle and luggage in the other car to your starting point.  As a New York Bike Friendly Certified Business, we offer our guests complimentary secured storage for their bicycles and access to our onsite bicycle repair station for repairs and tune-ups.

We’re focused on ensuring your guest experience reflects our commitment to environmental conservation. These are the efforts Grand Colonial takes to lessen our environmental impact:

Compost certain food waste, Donate used amenity bottles to charity, Offer linen and towel reuse options to multiple night guests, Purchase locally sourced food, when possible, Purchase supplies in bulk to reduce packaging waste, Recycle aluminum, glass, plastic, mixed paper, and cardboard, Replaced all our toilets to 1.6 gpf, Use a programmable thermostat, Use energy efficient LED light bulbs and dimmer controls, Use newly installed energy efficient appliances, Use organic cleaners in sink and bath drains