Snow season is well underway in the Catskills in January. Conveniently located about three hours from New York City and four hours from Boston, the Catskills offer small towns, history, restaurants, and a variety of places to stay, from rustic, romantic cabins to luxurious resorts. Want to leave the driving to someone else? You can take a train or bus from Manhattan and enjoy the scenery along the way. In the Sullivan Catskills (the southern part of the range), visitors can cruise the Craft Beverage Trail for breweries, distilleries, cideries, and fun places to stop for a meal. For those that would prefer a glass of vino, you can visit wineries in the Catskills, too.
Where to Stay: The Henson, Scribner’s Catskill Lodge, and 18-room boutique Hotel Lilien are minutes from Hunter Mountain, a popular ski area.
With so many local farms and farmers’ markets, and the rise in popularity of local eating, the Catskills has become one of the top culinary escapes in the nation.
While exploring the beautiful Catskills this fall, there are a few farm-to-table restaurants not to be missed. The Heron in Narrowsburg is open for brunch and dinner and incorporates the agricultural resources of the region into its menus as much as possible. Deer Mountain Inn in Tannersville offers rustic and luxurious lodging, as well as an excellent menu with a variety of simple and small plates with locally sourced ingredients. Peekamoose Restaurant & Tap Room is the founding establishment of farm-to-table restaurants in the Catskills and has paved the way for many. The Arnold House Tavern in Livingston Manor has a cozy pub-like atmosphere and a standout menu with ingredients like trout straight from the Beaverkill River.
Plan your fall drive through the Catskill Mountains via the picturesque Upper Delaware Scenic Byway (pictured). Just 90 minutes from Manhattan, by traveling scenic Route 97, you’ll find county eateries, museums, historical sites, and antique shops, all surrounded by rolling hills and rock-cut landscapes. The Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, which largely parallels the highway, offers numerous access points for fishing and boating.
Stop for the night at The Hancock House, nestled in the quaint and charming town of Hancock. Enjoy a delicious homemade breakfast and you’re just a short walk from the river.