Sullivan Catskills in the NEWS

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.

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Drive back to 1969 in New York’s Catskills
The Sullivan Catskills, just 90 minutes from Manhattan, are pretty legendary. Here, you can throw it back to the golden age of full-service resorts, the birth of American dry fly fishing, and the advent of the modern music festival — yep, this is where Woodstock took place in 1969, and you can tour the site today.

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The Sullivan Catskills have an enchanted feel that rises like the mist from the Delaware River on a cool summer morning. There are 156 sparkling lakes among its thousand acres of mountains and woodlands, and easily twice that many ways to have fun. Come explore the Sullivan Catskills, wander the backroads, take a couple of hikes, enjoy its award-winning hotels and restaurants and see why so many people return again and again to the land that birthed standup comedy and hosted the Woodstock Festival. Here are four outstanding places to visit in the Sullivan Catskills this summer.

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For a stay in New York’s Catskills where rustic and upscale design meet to create a charming hub and dreamy forest getaway. There are plenty of great stays in this large region of the state, but as Goldilocks might say after a breath of relief, this one feels just right. From stand-alone cabins to the sweetest suites, the rooms are spacious and nature-forward, with delicate frames of oak and a light palette on the painted walls. As the resort is located on the gigantic, lush, and historic Eldred Preserve, there’s serenity to be found amidst the trails and three ponds of the grounds. Consider this a cozy base to rest your head in a special region of Upstate New York.

Set the scene

Just off a winding road, bordered by tall, full trees (and no Wi-Fi—hello, off the grid lifestyle), the building structures wrap around the parking lot where guests first enter. The lobby boasts a contemporary, simple yet classy design adorned with heaps of glass, wood, and stone. Floor-to-ceiling windows can be found throughout the majority of the resort's 11 on-site structures, and the openness allows for the sweeping forest backdrop to take center stage. The vastness of the 600-acre preserve, though, remains unassuming until a meander through the property’s nature trail network, where guests will approach the serene 65-acre Sunset Lake, and perhaps soak in the outdoor ambiance of dinner at The Homestead. Dining under a tree canopy, a hue of deep red and orange complements the whimsical, dusk blue sky. Adjacent to a pond, diners enjoy a clear view of the stars with their farm-to-table meals. From day to night, the property feels like a welcoming, warm, decadent paradise in the middle of the woods.

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YO1 YOUVAN HEALTH RESORT, CATSKILLS, NY Nestled on 1,300 serene acres in the Sullivan Catskills, this lakeview, health-focused hideaway (its name means youthful in Sanskrit) starts working its antidotal magic the instant you walk through the door. But it’s the focus on in-depth programs to treat disorders like anxiety, infertility, and insomnia that take the harmonic healing up a notch. Offered year round, the resort’s four-day Insomnia Management Retreat focuses on eastern remedies and treatments to cure sleep issues. The program starts with a wellness consultation and includes daily acupuncture, dosha-balancing Ayurvedic techniques, aromatherapy, shiro-pada abhyanga (translation: head massage) meditation, cleansing, and fatigue-reducing yoga styles like trataka or nidra.

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ELDRED, NY — The Eldred Preserve recently announced that The Bradstan Boutique Hotel has won a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for the second year in a row.

Travelers’ Choice Awards are given to accommodations, attractions, and restaurants that earn consistent stellar reviews from their guests. Each award winner falls within the top 10 percent of more than eight million listings on Tripadvisor.

“We are honored to be among travelers’ favorite destinations worldwide,” said COO Scott Samuelson. “Our staff is immensely dedicated to providing a memorable guest experience, and this award is a testament to their excellent hospitality.”

To be considered for a Travelers’ Choice Award, each business must reach a review threshold and maintain or exceed a minimum bubble rating on Tripadvisor over a 12-month evaluation period. Winners are then determined based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings and an editorial review process.

“We proudly host a diverse community of travelers,” said Bradstan General Manager Edward Dudek. “We’re grateful to have their support, as demonstrated by this esteemed award, and remain dedicated to providing first-class experiences and services to our guests in the Sullivan Catskills.”

About The Eldred Preserve The Eldred Preserve describes itself as a wholly unique hospitality offering in the Sullivan County Catskills that weaves together the best of three Sullivan County legacy brands—The Eldred Preserve, The Bradstan Country Hotel and The Homestead Restaurant. The resort features an event space with a performance stage for weddings and events, 28 luxury accommodations, a custom farm-to-table experience, and on-site live entertainment. The full 35-acre property includes access to three large ponds and an adjoining 600 acres (including a 65-acre lake), hiking, and boating amenities. Visit theeldredpreserve.com or call +1 845/557-8316 for more information.

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LIBERTY — The Sullivan Catskills are about to get a whole lot more fabulous as they play host to a groundbreaking celebration to kick off summer and celebrate Pride Month this June. “Drag Me to the Catskills” is set to dazzle attendees with a weekend-long extravaganza featuring drag queens, performances, and a vibrant display of LGBTQ+ pride.

Scheduled to take place from June 14-16, this inaugural event marks a significant milestone in the Catskills’ cultural landscape, bringing together communities to embrace love, acceptance, and self-expression. Organized by Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association in collaboration with Up&Out NY, Drag Me to the Stage, The Forestburgh Playhouse, and community partners, “Drag Me to the Catskills” promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience. Attendees can look forward to a lineup of performances by some of the most talented drag queens from across the country, Mrs. Kasha Davis, Darienne Lake, Acid Betty, Thorgy Thor, Aggy Dune and Ambrosia Salad.

Throughout the weekend, participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a variety of activities, including drag shows, dance parties, brunch and more.

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We started out early on our two-hour drive from New York City bound for the Catskill Mountains region and Hemlock Neversink, the new 33-room all-inclusive wellness resort that opened in fall 2023. The hotel’s daily, one-hour goat hike begins at 10 a.m. and I was determined to make it there in time, though my husband was a bit more reticent about the adventure.

At 9:50 a.m., we made our way up the long drive to the property that sits on 230 mostly wooded acres. Taking in the intimate bucolic setting, I could literally feel my mind and body start to slow down. This sense of calm continued as we walked to the barn to meet our fellow hikers and the nine resident goats. Over the next 48 hours or so, I learned that Hemlock’s ability to encourage its guests to unplug and leave their troubles at home, if only for a short time, is its main draw (even more so than the goats). It all starts with a pre-arrival email from the Hemlock team to discover each guests’ interests and goals to create a personalized itinerary.

AN UPSCALE CAMP EXPERIENCE Our stay here felt a bit like an upscale camp experience thanks to the woodsy setting. Guest rooms boast a luxury farmhouse feel with some offering private porches. You’ll find no TVs, which encourages guests to get outside and enjoy the outdoors and to meet others. I did just that spending time on the inviting deck outside the main building — which dates back to the 1800s. It offered plenty of seating, including my pick of a rocking chair with a view of the pond and barn just beyond. The main building, home to the Bittersweet restaurant, also houses the lobby and living room where you can find board games and a stone fireplace.

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