Spring in the Catskills
A couple weeks ago, V and I packed our bags and made our way to a part of New York that's still relatively new to me : the Catskill Mountains. In true Northeast fashion, we experienced a true rollercoaster of weather during our week in the woods, snowing on arrival at our first location, 70s and sunshine on our way out. All in all, you can't be mad at when you have a cozy place (or in our case, places) to call home for a few nights! First up:
Scribner's Catskills Lodge
After our first visit here during the holiday season, I was so excited to be heading back! This place has become a Catskills staple for me, from its cozy interiors, s'mores happy hour, and quintessential views of nearby Hunter Mountain. This time around, we stayed in one of the Bungalow King rooms. It was heaven! I will never get over how comfy their beds are. We did manage to drag ourselves away during the afternoon to check out the nearby towns and hikes (more on that below!). After a second visit here, I can safely say that this is now my go-to place to recharge my batteries.
The Hunter Greenhouse
About ten minutes down the road from Hunter, lies this perfect little Catskills getaway. And bonus : it's on the same road that will bring you to the upper viewpoint of the infamous Kaaterskill Falls! The owners, Danielle and Ely, left the perfect welcome package of s'mores fixins (seriously, I ate A LOT of them on this trip!), and were easily reachable the entire stay. And I can't speak about this space without mentioning the design. The attention to detail and combination of modern renovations with the nostalgic cabin feel seriously had me gushing! Not convinced? Four words : hammock in the bedroom. It was such a cool touch!! We also loved how the cabin felt so off the beaten path, but still only a five minute drive to the nearby town (i.e. groceries, coffee, etc.). If you're looking for a quiet, cozy escape from the city : THIS is for you.
Milk Barn
About two hours southwest of Hunter, through the interior of the mountains, was the third and final stop during our week upstate. Located just a few miles from the Delaware River, this sprawling 15 acres is home to a renovated dairy barn. Favorite aspects? A loft-like living room, rolling barn doors, cozy guest houses, and A TREEHOUSE! It was so fun exploring this property, and with room for up to 12 guests, I can only imagine how cool it would be to have a group here during the summer months. Big thank you to the owner, Gabe, for showing me around the property! Head over here if you're interested in booking a stay!
Everything Else
Where to Eat :
-Phoenicia Diner- We are obsessed! We ended up there twice for brunch, because we didn't get enough the first time around. Best pancakes and coffee for miles around!
-The Prospect- This one was a no-brainer, as it was only steps from our room at Scribner's. Last time we were here, we were only able to try breakfast. I can now vouch that the dinner menu is just as tasty! While it's not exactly vegetarian friendly, I was able to fill up on their small plates. P.S. definitely save room for dessert!
-Oak Pizzeria Napoletana- We decided to explore around Hudson one afternoon, and this was one of our stops! Perfect for a quick bite.
Where to Hike:
-There's hundreds of trails in the Catskills, so we barely chipped the tip of the iceberg on this trip. But I did manage to sneak a couple in, like Kaaterskill Falls and Balsam Lake Mountain! If you head up this way, I recommend doing a little research to see what trails are nearby.
Hope you guys enjoyed this mini guide to the Catskills! We had such a fun week exploring this part of my home state, and I'm so excited for the next excuse to get up there.
xo
J.