Summer issue of USA Today Go Escape – The Catskill Mountains have long been known for their beauty and ideal location within 150 miles of New York City. Once the home to all-inclusive resorts that reached their height in the 1950s and began to shutter in the 1970s, the Catskills are cool once more. Boutique properties welcome guests seeking to enjoy the great outdoors as well as interesting attractions, activities and farm-to-table cuisine in Upstate New York.



PLACES TO STAY
An all-inclusive option for today’s travelers with a bonus wellness focus is the new 33-room Hemlock Neversink. The property, which opened in October 2023 on 230 acres in Neversink, promises to leave you “restored, re-energized and reinvigorated.” You can accomplish all three at the spa, indoor pool, movement space and even a creative studio, the site for pottery classes, pine needle weaving, quilting and more. Included in the rate are primarily plant-based meals and snacks and all activities, with spa treatments available at an extra charge. Expect days full of dance, fitness and cooking classes, guided meditation, mindful- ness workshops and such unexpected fun as hiking with goats, stargazing and fireside drumming circles. There are Family Weeks for you to bring your little ones so they too can discover their Zen.



Get a feel for the bungalow colony life that once dotted the Catskills but with a more luxurious feel with a stay in one of the 10 new bungalows that opened in summer 2022 at Kenoza Hall.
The individual cottages sit together overlooking Kenoza Lake, separate from the 22 existing guest rooms within the main inn. You can relax on your private porch and enjoy complimentary local snacks, coffee and teas, and a la carte offerings that include caviar, cheese, tea and dessert services. A Tummler, part activity director and concierge, can book in-bungalow spa treatments, dinners



in the fields or within your bungalow. They can also organize such throwback activities as card tricks and “Simon says” daily during cocktail hour. Yoga at sister property Hemlock Neversink is available to all Kenoza Hall guests.



Farther north, the 20-acre Scribner’s Catskill Lodge in Hunter added 11 luxury cabins called The Rounds in fall 2023 steps from its existing 38-room lodge. Each cabin has 12 sides, creating a “rounded” shape, featuring decks for views of the nature that surrounds them. At the apex of the vaulted ceiling, you will find an oculus for stargazing and private outdoor Japanese soaking tubs and showers. Beyond your private space, dine at the on-site restaurant, swim in the seasonal outdoor pool, relax in the outdoor sauna, take a yoga class, roast s’mores and stroll the garden.



THINGS TO DO, SEE AND TASTE



Ever hear of a little event called Woodstock that took place in the summer of 1969? The 1,000-acre Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel is where it all happened and is a National Register Historic Site. Visit The Museum to discover more on the era and the famed festival. Or re-create your own musical moment during a current-day concert at the 16,000-seat pavilion amphitheater or the 400-seat indoor Event Gallery.



Head to the Outside Institute in Callicoon to focus on calming activities in nature, such as guided walks, foraging or botanical mixology. Hunter Mountain in Hunter transforms from winter ski area to summer mountain mecca with hiking, biking and more.



At the Catskill Brewery in Livingston Manor, pair beer made on-site in a Gold LEED Certified Building with quick bites from the Catskill Food Truck, featuring local ingredients. The Homestead Restaurant + Lounge in Eldred is a steakhouse with farm-to-table dining.