My husband and I have been traveling to the Catskills for several years. Most recently we spent a week in August for relief from the heat and to disconnect. The trip was filled with pure relaxation.
Over the years we’ve noticed the growing popularity of the area from Kingston (a town bordering the Hudson Valley and the Catskills) to the small town of Phoenicia which sits quietly near the Esopus Creek inside Catskill Park.
Being originally from the West coast, there are parts of this area of New York which remind me of my summers in Colorado; the Esopus creek is one of them. You’ll often see fly fishermen or children wading in the shallow, calmer parts of the creek. In the spring it rages due to snowmelt, in the summer on a warm day it offers a refreshing dip, in the autumn its a mirror reflecting oranges, reds, and yellows from the surrounding trees, and in the winter snow accumulates on rocks and is accompanied by the quiet sound of moving water. The Esopus is only one element of this beautiful place. For the most part, life is slower here and being only 90 miles from NYC it’s an easy escape.
We think the Catskills are enjoyable at any time of the year, but of course Fall is THE ultimate season in the mountains. Here are a few of our favorite spots if you are traveling to this part of beautiful New York State.
my ideal weekend in the catskills and kingston
- A morning hike or forest bath around North-South Lake
- Coffee and “The Upstate” breakfast sandwich at Shindig in Woodstock (I mean … I’m craving this right now)
- Lunch at Phoenicia Diner followed by a late afternoon walk around the Ashokan Reservoir
- Preparing a meal of Beef Bourguignon after stopping at Sunfrost Farms and Woodstock Meats while of course drinking a great glass of wine
- An afternoon stroll around the waterfront in Kingston including a stop at Clove and Creek for future “cabin in the woods” inspiration, perusing all of the comments on the bottles of the best collection of organic wines at Kingston Wine
Co ., and taking a break at my favorite wine bar of all time, Brunette - Doing a jigsaw puzzle by the roaring fire with a cup of cider and bourbon or in the summer a crisp Chenin Blanc with the windows open to hear the sound of the Esopus
- Going to dinner at Silvia or Hotel Kinsley
- Discovering the perfect vacation book at Rough Draft
- And, of course, sitting in the sun during the late afternoon partaking in the best beer in the world at Kingston Standard Brewing Company. (Be sure to get the oysters and hot sourdough pretzel served with butter. Your dog is welcome to join you in the garden area. What’s better than beer, hot pretzels, and dogs?)
PLACES TO STAY
rentals
We generally choose Airbnb as we want to have the option to cook. Our favorite Airbnb is the Watson House in West Shokan. Watson House is a white, modern farmhouse that is large enough to accommodate two couples with a great living area and a giant fireplace.
hotels
- Hotel Kinsley in Kingston just opened this summer and is already drawing great attention.
- Woodstock Way is also popular and is fairly central to all of the activities listed above.
- The Graham & Co. is a great option in Phoenicia and brings you close to the Esopus.
- I haven’t been to Scribners yet, but have heard great things about the property.
- Drop me a note if you decide to go and tell me what I should add to my perfect weekend. Also, if you need a Beef Bourguignon recipe click here.
