Wildlife, design, food & drink, travel, real estate, country characters, adventures, waterfalls.
All in Destinations
The Martin Van Buren National Historic Site in Kinderhook, NY offers year-round nature trails and free tours of the 8th President's mansion in the spring, summer, and fall.
Wanna go lavish this holiday? How about pairing some cozy Icelandic House Socks with a fully customized trip to Iceland, complete with off-the-beaten-path locales and locals-only experiences?
For the seasoned camper who has it all — OR the person who likes the idea of camping more than, you know, hiking/getting dirty/roughing it — this aesthetically pleasing, campfire-ready espresso maker is the perfect gift.
Howe Caverns, part natural wonder and part tourist attraction, has been one of my favorite spots in the Catskills since I was a little kid. Going back as a grown-up, the dark, chilly, yet very family-friendly cave tour was just as fascinating and delightfully cheesy as I remembered.
A magical village of books tucked into a tiny town in the Catskill Mountains? Yes, please.
HiLo in Catskill serves superlative coffee, pitch-perfect cocktails, and glorious snacks, and boasts a gallery and performance space featuring well-curated roster of artists and musicians.
City folks always flock to Hudson, Phoenecia, and the surrounding areas. But if you have access to a car and can sneak away for a couple of days, go to the hamlet of Oak Hill in the Great Northern Catskills.
Tannersville's Mountain Top Arboretum plunges you into the enchantment of nature. This beautiful public garden is a must-visit if you're planning a side-trip from Kaaterskill Falls or staying at the nearby Deer Mountain Inn.
The Windham Path is a strikingly beautiful, family-friendly spot for novice hikers in the Catskills. Its 4-season, 1.5-mile loop can be traveled by foot, bicycle, cross-country ski, or snowshoe -- and it's even stroller-friendly.
Hiking Kaaterskill Falls with kids just got easier, but the new overlook platform filled me with a mix of joy and terror. Here's everything you need to know about taking your kids on the trail.
WARNING: The Coxsackie Farmers Market will ruin you for city greenmarkets forever.
CATSKILLS BARGAIN ALERT: Pick the freshest flowers on a the most beautiful farm and take home a gorgeous bouquet for only $8!
Part plant nursery, part antique shop, part handmade home goods supplier, Hort & Pott's highly curated barn feels a bit like stepping into Ernest Hemingway's Key West yard sale.
You want to experience the fun parts of farm life (Adirondack chairs around a campfire), not the gross parts (shoveling livestock poo). You want to leave NYC after lunch and be stepping into a leafy wilderness before dinner. Time to book at room at Honey Hollow Farm Stay.
On second Sundays this summer from noon to 2pm at Heather Ridge Farm, you'll find a circle of musicians playing gentle, lilting Irish reels between the lavender picnic tables -- and you may spot Chef Rob Handel popping out the kitchen window to join in with his tin flute.
At Hop Barn Brewing, Tom Vance is likely to strike up a conversation as you sip a beer in his tiny taproom, built off the side of his home. His daughter may pour your pint, you get introduced to his neighbor's cow, and there's a slim chance you could end up booking an aromatherapy massage with his wife, Irene, before the night is through.
East Durham Farms is one of the main reasons I started writing about the Catskills. Whether you're a local or a weekender, it's totally worth seeking out this little farm stand at 175 Brown Road in East Durham. In the past year, I've written about their glorious sun-sweetened peas, their kid-friendly farm animals, their impossibly delicious tomatoes, and their pumpkins and Thanksgiving turkeys. I love this place.
At IU Tripp in Oak Hill, antique shopping just got a little sweeter. The colorful shop now sells 10-cent classic candies, like Necco Wafers, Kits, B-B-Bats, and Squirrel Nut Zippers, plus hand-made barley sugar hard candy and spicy-sweet cinnamon cube pops.
