Drive two hours north of New York City and find yourself nestled in the idyllic Catskill mountains.
Vogue wrote a piece on this region last year, and I was intrigued by how a ski/summer getaway destination turned notorious hippie haunt, has transitioned into more modern times.
From the peculiar billboards dotting Rt. 28, it seems the bohemian generation, for the most part, has stuck around, but with the influx of a younger, more urban population, it could also be described as a more mountainous and green Williamsburg.
While there are several small towns throughout the Catskills with plenty to offer, with just an overnight stay Walter and I chose to anchor our exploring in Phoenicia, NY, but traveled within an hour to explore different points of interest.
Stay:
The Graham & Co. is a former motel turned boutique hotel with a minimalist design. It's set at the foot of Hunter Mountain (fun fact: where my high school ski team practiced), just two blocks from Phoenicia's downtown.
The tiny (cozy?) rooms offer complimentary Wi-Fi, but encourage unplugging by eliminating TVs. Free Irving Farm coffee and fruit is available in the lobby, and in the warmer months, it's converted to an open air room with a few picnic tables.
Some rooms offer kitchenettes, and for the budget conscious, there are a few bunk bed rooms with shared bathrooms.
Upon check in, we were offered two cans of beer on the house, explored the outdoor pool, lawn game area, fire pit (where movies are shown on select weekend days, but you can find s'mores nightly), and the three walled common room stocked with board games, seating areas, and a fireplace. Parking, bike rentals, and all outdoor activities are free for guests.
As I will explain later, we were so wiped out (literally, well, at least I was) from tubing that we, unfortunately, missed the community experience of the hotel, so I highly suggest pacing yourself throughout the day.
My one big complaint about the hotel is the style of doors and windows in the deluxe rooms. As high maintenance as it is, I require pitch black sleeping conditions, and even with my trusty eye mask that I never leave home without, a strange ambient orange glow penetrated through the frosted panels that were charming earlier in the day, and quite a nuisance at night.
Eat:
From our room, it was about 40 paces (really) to Tavern 214, an independently owned farm to table bistro. The tavern-esque dining room (open for dinner only) has a more upscale feel, while the relaxed seating on the porch was a perfect choice for our mellow holiday.
On the menu is new American cuisine classics like burgers, lobster mac and cheese, and - my favorite dish of the night - the filet mignon Philly cheesesteak. The beer and wine list features many local varieties, and the atmosphere and service made us feel calm and well taken care of. The menu prices are a bit high, but consider the fact that if you stay at The Graham & Co. you will not spend a dime on getting there.
For breakfast, we traveled a few miles down the road to the highly recommended Phoenicia Diner. The atmosphere is a nod to vintage diners, with a brighter, cleaner appearance, full bar at night, and a more creative/New Yorker friendly menu.
Hearty breakfast options are served all day, most in mini cast iron skillets. Walter and I both chose a local smoked trout variety (his an egg and cheese scramble, mine an upstate version of lox and cream cheese).
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the trout, and after noticing the supplier listed on the menu board, I proposed stopping there to take some home, but sadly, the shop is closed on Mondays.
American Glory specializes in wood smoked BBQ and classic, stick-to-your-ribs, American comfort foods. However, for the health conscious diners, there are plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options on the menu. Whether you choose to dine alfresco (like we did) on the cozy, enclosed porch overlooking a babbling brook, or venture inside to hear local music acts, American Glory is a great choice for a weekend out, as long as you don't skip dessert.
Adventure:
My suggestion is to bring nothing with you. There are strange open air "lockers" available (basically a trailer with one person handling the distribution of items), so leave your keys, wallet, and sunnies (unless you don't care if they don't return with you), and wear a bathing suit with some breathable clothes over (the water is rather cold).
I had a lot of fun, but it seems the rocks had it in for me and I was thrown from my raft two times, and was wedged between a few large boulders for what seemed like a long time until a kind gentlemen behind me helped get my tube back into the flowing rapids.
It took about an hour and half to finish, and along the way I noticed I wasn't the only one ejected over a few steep spots, and several people had to stand up to clear the shallow areas.
We arrived right where we began (no bus necessary this time), and after a very short walk back to our hotel, we proceeded to sleep for a few hours. Who knew tubing was such a workout?
Our last athletic endeavor was a hike on one of the several trails located 30 minutes or less from downtown Phoenicia.
The menus at the Phoenician Diner detailed a few of the best ones, and given our exhaustion and time constraint (we wanted to arrive home at a reasonable hour) we chose to hike at Giant Ledge. It’s a steep climb, but one of the most amazing views I've seen in a very long time.
Our hike took about two and half hours roundtrip (including our gazing time at the ledge), but if you're looking for a bigger challenge, you can continue on to Panther Mountain and bump up the hike time to four hours.
Arts:
Set on 500 acres of rolling green hills, you'd be remiss to skip the Storm King Art Center. Known worldwide for being one of the best sculpture parks, Storm King has been in operation for over 50 years. Pack a picnic, and plan to spend several hours here exploring the vast landscape and indoor art center.