The Charming Catskills

The Catskills is an area in southeastern New York State about 100 miles from NYC and 40 miles from the capital Albany. Most of the Catskills are protected within Catskill Park which is a 700,000-acre forest preserve.

Slide Mountain at 4,180 feet is the highest mountain peak in the Catskills, Ulster County, and all of New York State. It is located in the small town of Shandaken. The mountain is a popular hiking destination. The summit is rounded and forms a narrow ridge which turns into a wider space on the eastern end. The mountain has many trees like maples, beech, and yellow birch. The Boreal forests at higher altitudes mostly consist of balsam fir.

The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is a museum and performing arts center in Bethel. It is at the site of the legendary 1969 Woodstock Festival. The large outdoor amphitheater seats 15,000 people and a smaller indoor Event Gallery is for 400 guests. A Conservatory is used for arts education and the museum. A 2,000-acre campus offers a variety of community and educational programs and performances like the annual Harvest Festival, concerts, lectures, and discussions.

Hunter Mountain is the place for family fun all year round. It is part of the Great Northern Catskill Mountains. Here you’ll find a scenic Skyride chair lift to the summit of the mountain at 3.200 feet. There are guided services for fly fishing, exciting off-road rides, miles of hiking through dense forests, and many more activities.

You can join in the fun and attend the festivals hosted here like the Mountain Jam, the German Alps Festival, the TAP New York Craft Beer and Food Festival, and many others. The Hudson Mountain Resort on the banks of Dolans Lake offers great accommodations with condos that feature fireplaces and kitchens. The Resort has a ski school, gym, spa, three bars, two restaurants, and a food court.

Minisink Battlefield County Park is on the National Register of Historic Places for its role in the Revolutionary War. It is the site of the Battle of Minisink. The park was built on the only Revolutionary War battlefield north of the Upper Delaware River. This 57-acre park has picnic areas, a large pavilion, and restrooms. There are scenic trails to walk. At the interpretive center, visitors can learn about the Battle of Minisink and the plant and animal life here.

Windham Mountain in the Northern Catskills is a popular family resort in the lovely town of Windham. It offers great skiing with 54 trails over two peaks, six terrain parks, and 12 lifts. There is also year-round fun with an inn, alpine spa, night skiing, a golf course, an adventure park, three restaurants, and a mountain bike park reachable by chair lift.

Falling Waters Preserve is 149 acres of undeveloped land. It has lovely scenery and peaceful places along the Hudson River. It was the former site of the Mulford Ice House. This was a massive structure holding over 10,000 tons of ice that had been harvested from the Hudson River in the wintertime. It is a popular destination for hikers, those who love to fish, and skiers. Two miles of trails offer tumbling waterfalls, vast meadows, and beautiful stretches of the Hudson River.

Plattekill Mountain in the town of Roxbury is a family resort offering skiing in winter and trails for mountain biking when spring comes. The mountain has a vertical drop of 1,100 feet and has 38 trails from beginner to challenging. Two chair lifts take you up the mountain peak. There is a snow tubing park. In the summer there are free concerts called Music on the Mountain. You can also enjoy kayaking, guided hikes, fly fishing, and overnight camping.

The Empire State Railway Museum reminds people of the times when trains traveled through high mountain passes. Back in 1899, the classic Phoenicia Junction Railroad Station connected the small upstate towns from Kingston Point on the Hudson to a shared station with the New York West Shore & Buffalo. This little station has been restored and converted into a museum. The former baggage room is now a gallery exhibiting a collection of historic photographs and railroad artifacts. The former waiting room holds regular seminars and meetings. From May to October visitors can board a train and take a short and scenic ride through the Catskill Mountains.

Fort Delaware Museum is a replica of the fort settlement called Cushetunk that was built in 1755 by the Delaware Company Pioneers who settled in the Upper Delaware Valley. It was the first settlement of white people in the Delaware River Valley. The museum includes cabins, blockhouses, and gardens creating the life of an 18th-century settler. Costumed interpreters give guided tours and tell the story of the first Europeans who settled here. The tour includes demonstrations of blacksmithing, cabin keeping, farming, candle making, musketry drills, and much more.

Hanford Mills Museum is where you can see a water-and-steam-powered historic mill. It was founded in the 1840s and includes a gristmill, feed mill, a woodworking shop, and a hardware store. It is known for its innovative way of using tools such as waterwheels, water turbines, and gas engines. Visitors can tour some buildings on their own or join a guided tour. The site includes the Will Hanford House, the John and Lizzie Hanford Farmstead, and the Walter J. Smith Hardware Store.

Zoom Flume in East Durham is a popular family water park. The most unique attraction here is the Gravity Gorge Zipline, a one-of-a-kind water park zipline that rises over 100 feet above the park grounds. There are also many exciting waterslides. The park has space for birthday parties, family reunions, corporate events, and other gatherings. The park is open from late June to early September.

Shadowland Theater is located in the lovely town of Ellenville. The town is located in a picturesque valley between the Catskill and Shawangunk Mountains. This is a renovated 1920 art-deco theater that has been home to the Shadowland Theater Company since 1984. It offers professionally produced musicals and contemporary plays. It is considered to be the leading professional non-profit theater company in the Hudson Valley.

The Forestburgh Playhouse is located about seven miles from Monticello. It is a small 292-seat theater, with a dinner Cabaret in the Forestburgh Tavern and original kid’s musicals several mornings a week. This is the oldest New York professional summer theater founded in 1947 in the old refurbished Klebs Farm and is one of the last small summer theaters left in the U.S. Every year the playhouse hires a new 50-person team from actors to directors, musicians, and other professionals. Sometimes even great names from the stages of New York City. It has presented over 250 shows.

The Belleayre Beach at Belleayre Mountain is a waterside adventure park in Pine Hill. The park has a spacious beach visitors can rent kayaks, stand-up paddle boats, row boats, and more. There are pavilions for large groups, barbecue grills, a basketball court, and a volleyball court. You can enjoy swimming, fishing, and paddling around the lake. There are biking trails around Belleayre Mountain. In the summer months, the park hosts family-friendly parties and special events.

The Esopus Bend Nature Preserve is in the town of Saugerties. It stretches along the Esopus Creek. This protected ecosystem is home to turkeys, deer, toads, dragonflies, and eagles at different times of the year. There are hiking trails and visitors can canoe or kayak.