See Who's Talking

Roscoe, self-dubbed as “Trout Town,” has a history as a haven for fly-fishing enthusiasts due to its prime location at the Beaver Kill and Willowemoc Creek confluence, shaping much of its character and charm. This reputation not only attracts anglers from around the globe but also enhances its rustic appeal, showcased by the community’s dedication to preserving its natural beauty and recreational draw. 

The Upper Delaware Scenic Byway travels along the New York side of the Delaware River, and you will see the river bend and widen through forested valleys and small towns with covered bridges. The byway length sits at about 70 miles long, but think of this byway in terms of a leisurely day drive rather than a long highway marathon. 

The Catskills? A dream. Trails, lakes, cider tasting, candlelit dinners — perfect for sapphic getaways where you want nature and good queer-adjacent culture. Cabins range from retro A-frames to modern glass-front hideaways filled with paperbacks and wood stoves. It’s no surprise Travel + Leisure keeps name-dropping the region for romantic escapes. Callicoon Hills – Callicoon: Chic lodge-style resort with A-frame energy and poolside lounging. Queer-friendly vibes and loads of other NYC lesbians quietly escaping the city.

Narrowsburg, a charming hamlet in the foothills of the Catskills and along the scenic Delaware River, remains one of New York’s best-kept secrets. It has a population of just 379, contributing to its quiet, unassuming nature that may lead many to bypass it on their travels. However, those who do venture into Narrowsburg are rewarded with a rich tapestry of natural beauty and a strong sense of community that radiates from every corner. 

With new areas and expanded displays, Peace, Love & Lights at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts has expanded its popular holiday attraction. The 1.7-mile drive-thru experience features themed areas such as Holidays Around the World, Candy Cane Lane, Snowflake Alley and Groovy Way (a nod to the Woodstock festival). Once your drive is over, head to one of the holiday pop-up markets where you and your family can indulge in comfort food, holiday drinks, s’mores by the fire and much more. The drive-thru takes about 35 minutes and is open every night except for Monday, which are walk-through only.

Located in the Catskills on the site of the former New Age Health Spa, Hemlock Neversink is a wellness resort boasting body treatments, art workshops, and a network of hiking trails. A schedule of daily activities can include everything from guided forest hikes and mosaic-making to happy hours and shamanic drum circles. Notable facilities include the indoor swimming pool, brightened by rays of light beaming through a sideline of archways, and the movement building, a high-vaulted, wood-paneled marvel of a yoga studio. Resident goats, rescues from the Frederick Farm Goat Sanctuary, accompany guests on daily hikes. The on-site restaurant, Bittersweet, boasts a plant-forward menu, while the spa draws inspiration from the surrounding nature, offering everything from facials to reiki energy work. Although the focus is certainly on health at Hemlock, the approach is far from all-or-nothing, encouraging guests to shape each day however they see fit. 

Turn off your headlights and follow the glow through 1.7 miles of the Bethel Woods campus to see illuminated and themed areas around the Catskills’ brightest holiday tradition. Tickets for standard vehicles cost $27. Enjoy the holiday magic from the comfort of your car!

The Catskills’ patchwork of mountains, forests, and lakes has provided a rural respite for generations of East Coast residents, including my own family. This summer, my husband and I vacationed at an adults-only hotel and spa, Hemlock Neversink. We were surrounded by serenity at the swimming pools and enjoyed calming activities such as yoga classes and forest bathing. At night, the sky filled with stars, the perfect chance to gaze up in peaceful wonder.

A short drive into Roscoe brings easy access to local favorites like Grizzly Bagels or Sullivan Sundries in Jeffersonville for breakfast – or The Junction and The Yarra for dinner. Nearby, Buck Brook Alpacas offers an unforgettable farm visit/tour with alpacas, while Russell Brook Falls and Frick Pond invite long walks through the snow-dusted forest.

For serious car lovers, it doesn’t get much better than this distinctive contemporary residence tucked inside the Monticello Motor Club’s gated Motor Club Estates enclave. The new-to-market property offers something rare for even the most high-octane auto enthusiasts—direct access to a four-mile racetrack, where owners can drive straight from their personal garage to the circuit—no trailers, no public roads, just pure adrenaline.

If you still want the fine fare of the city without actually staying inside the limits, you should set your sights on The DeBruce. Housed inside a 150-year-old inn in the Catskills, The DeBruce’s fine dining creed is committed to all things seasonal and local. Chef Eric Leveillee’s coursed Thanksgiving tasting follows suit with grilled little gem salads and butternut squash bisque. Whether you choose from the rosemary-crusted turkey or dry-aged duck, just know it all comes with a plethora of sides, including mushroom bread pudding, turnips and carrots, potato purée, salad of confit duck leg, and cranberry sauce. Even more so, it’s all backdropped by the vibrant mountainous range thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows.  

In the southern Hudson Valley, Glen Spey is a peaceful escape framed by lakes, waterfalls, and wooded hills. Take a gentle nature walk at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, where quiet trails lead to scenic overlooks. Spend an afternoon browsing the Barryville farmers’ market or Narrowsburg’s art galleries. End the day with a meal at the Homestead Restaurant, an elegant and upscale establishment serving farm-to-table cuisine with a beautiful lakeside setting.

Seminary Hill sits just outside the historic hamlet of Callicoon. The walkable town center along the Delaware River offers galleries, shops, and restaurants that feel inviting on cooler days.

Perched right by the Delaware River (and the Pennsylvania state line) is Narrowsburg, a tiny hamlet full of amazing Appalachian adventures. Meanwhile, to the south is the Tusten Mountain Trail, offering a three-mile journey full of great mountain views. And a little farther south, Minisink Battleground Park is the place to walk the field where a key Revolutionary War was fought in 1779, and to appreciate the natural woodlands that make this such a pleasantly tranquil place today. Between the Minisink Battlefield and the central village is where one will find the Blue Fox Motel, a delightfully rustic retreat with cozy guest rooms and entire private homes available to rent.

[Callicoon Hills] embodies glamping in all the best ways: There are rooms outfitted in rustic-chic decor and stocked with Malin + Goetz products, or go the minimalist route in one of their A-frame cabins. 

Perhaps this is cheating since I spend about half my time upstate anyway, and my partner lives in Roscoe, but I’m a huge fan of the small towns Roscoe and Livingston Manor, NY. Both are about a 3-hour drive from NYC (or a 4-hour bus ride, which is what I usually do), making it easy to access for a quick weekend trip.

 At what is projected to be a pillar of economic development for Sullivan County, members of its legislature and other county officials joined state leaders for a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday inside the newly constructed terminal at Sullivan County International Airport.

On the banks of the Delaware River in the Catskills, you’ll find Callicoon, New York. The very small town is easy to miss if you don’t have a reason to stop, but there’s a culinary destination hiding out here that makes it worth staying for a night or two: Seminary Hill Orchard & Cidery. 

If you’re pining for an upscale A-frame experience, book into Callicoon Hills, a loose assortment of guest rooms that take shape as the aforementioned cabins or a boarding house and deck house that fall somewhere closer to a traditional hotel experience. Choose your own adventure between the king-size pool or on-site pond located on the property’s 23 acres or breathe in some fresh mountain air along the tangle of trails that are situated just a stone’s throw away.

Set high above the Delaware River Valley, Seminary Hill is both a Michelin Key–awarded inn and a working orchard and cidery. The property’s centerpiece is its on-site restaurant, The Tasting Room, where cider pressed from on-site orchards is poured alongside a menu that draws from the region’s farms.

Jeffrey Christensen, Bonnie Rychlak and Heidi Schlatter: Catskill Art Space, 48 Main Street, Livingston Manor, New York, Through October 25.

Avani Patel: Rhythmic Allure: Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, 37 Main Street, Narrowsburg, New York, Through October 26.