Three days of fresh air, slow mornings, farm-to-table feasts and the kind of deep exhale you didn’t know you needed.
You know the group chat. The one that’s been saying “we need a girls’ trip” for approximately two years. The one full of heart-eye emojis, five-star saves, and zero follow-through. Consider this your sign to finally make it happen and to make it count.
Just 90 minutes from Manhattan and a full world away from it, the Sullivan Catskills does something sneaky the moment you arrive: it slows you down without you even noticing. One minute you’re running on fumes and a full calendar. The next minute, you’re barefoot on a porch listening to a river, wondering why you don’t live like this always.
A girls’ spa weekend here isn’t a package you book; it’s a whole vibe you fall into. Massage tables and morning hikes. Locally crafted cider on a sun-soaked patio as the hills burnish gold. Long dinners that turn into late nights, and slow mornings that feel like a gift you gave yourself. Spa treatments that actually know what your body needs, in a place that never rushes you toward the next thing. The kind of reset that doesn’t need a hashtag.
Send the link to the group chat. Here’s your three-day spa & wellness itinerary in the Sullivan Catskills, done exactly right.
Day 1: Check In & Let It All Go
What day you arrive doesn’t matter. What does matter is this: don’t schedule a thing. Checking in to the Sullivan Catskills is about checking out of the mental noise — the overflowing inbox, the to-do list, the relentless pace of city life.
“Most people arrive from the city at a mental pace of 90 miles an hour. But it doesn’t take long before this place helps them slow down, breathe, and soak it all in. Fresh air will do that. It’s free medication.” — Ryan Shulman, Director of Spa & Fitness, Hemlock Neversink
Local Tip: Many lodging properties and wellness centers offer midweek specials. It’s a perfect excuse to sneak away for a girls’ trip without the weekend crowds.
Where to Stay in the Catskills
The Sullivan Catskills has options for every vibe — from full-service wellness resorts to cozy countryside cottages:
- Hemlock Neversink (Neversink) — 230-acre wellness resort with spa, sauna, pool, and guided goat hikes (yes, really)
- Kenoza Hall (Kenoza Lake) — a restored historic inn with farm-to-table dining and serene grounds
- YO1 Longevity and Health Resort (Monticello) — immersive Ayurvedic and naturopathic wellness programs
- Kadampa Meditation Center (Glen Spey) — peaceful retreat for groups seeking something more contemplative
- Local B&Bs and country inns — charming, affordable, and always within reach of great experiences
Ease Into the Evening
Once the luggage is in the room and shoes have been kicked off, transition into the evening slowly. Start with a golden hour cocktail or something local if you can manage it and let the conversation find its own rhythm.
Dinner Pick: Threshold, Livingston Manor
Korean fusion with an atmosphere that makes you forget where you are. Threshold is the ideal spot for kicking off the weekend.
“It’s a Korean fusion kind of place where you get lost in the atmosphere, food and conversation.” — Susie Bowers, Licensed Esthetician & Holistic Skincare Specialist, River Family Wellness
Fully sated and a little lighter, it’s time to float into a fluffy bed and the particular silence that only exists when there are trees outside your window.
Day 2: Pace, Pleasure & Pure Catskills Air
A Morning That Belongs Only to You
Slow mornings are non-negotiable here. These are some of great Sullivan Catskills spots to ease into the day:
- Tusten Cup (Narrowsburg) — coffee, tea, and wellness-forward bites to go
- Herbal Scoop (Narrowsburg) — herbalist-inspired drinks and snacks with wellness at the core
- The Kitchen Table Café (Callicoon) — farm-to-table fare, cozy corners and a vibe that actively discourages rushing
“If I’m in the mood for a coffee or tea and something to go, I’ll head to the Tusten Cup or Herbal Scoop. Both are so special and have wellness at the heart of everything they serve. From there, I’ll often go for a walk along the river. If it’s warm, I’ll dip my feet in, listen to the birds and enjoy the morning.” — Susie Bowers
Late Morning: Move at Your Own Pace
Pick your adventure level; the Catskills have a trail (or a tube) for everyone:
- Tusten Mountain Trail — a mellow, conversation-friendly walk. Perfect during spring blooms or autumn color.
- Delaware River tubing — Susie’s summer prescription. Rent a tube or grab one from Delaware Valley Agway in Callicoon and let the river do the rest.
Afternoons Are for Healing
No matter where you land for spa time, the Sullivan Catskills won’t presume to know what you need. It listens.
Spa & Wellness Experiences to Book
- Hemlock Neversink Spa (Neversink) — full-service treatments, sauna, steam, and pool; guided goat hikes for groups
- Crystal Connection (Wurtsboro) — spiritual shop and wellness center with the area’s only salt cave
- YO1 Longevity and Health Resort (Monticello) — Ayurvedic treatments, naturopathy, and yoga
- River Family Wellness (Callicoon) — holistic skincare and esthetics with a deeply personal approach
- Kadampa Meditation Center (Glen Spey) — meditation sessions and mindfulness programs
“We meet people where they are. Most of the things we offer are very new to most people, so it’s important visitors take their time, explore, ask questions, and try things out.” — Travis Ogden, Co-Owner, Crystal Connection, Wurtsboro
Local Tip: Most wellness centers offer packages (ideal for groups), but also day passes and à la carte services. Perfect for mixing and matching based on what each person in your crew is craving.
Melt Into the Evening: Cider, Wine & Alpenglow
Once your body has gone full noodle and the light turns golden over the hills, it’s time to raise a glass.
- Seminary Hill Orchard and Cidery (Callicoon) — locally crafted cider on a stunning patio at golden hour. One of the most beautiful sunset spots in the region.
- Bashakill Vineyards (Wurtsboro) — crisp pours on the patio with valley views. A wellness experience unto itself.
Cap the night at the Stumble Out Bar or Sunshine Colony — the latter a self-described ‘Communal Catskills Bar’ pouring natural wine, craft beer and cocktails. Both feature live music most nights. Dance a little. You deserve it.
Day 3: Sleep In, Brunch & Bring the Catskills Home
No Alarms. No Agenda. Just Brunch.
Today is a no-alarm kind of morning — the best kind. Give yourself enough runway to shower, lazily pack and wander out in search of something involving a Bloody Mary or a Mimosa bar. Ask the front desk; they’ll know exactly where to send you.
Wander the Main Streets
Sullivan Catskills towns are made for slow, curious mornings. Here’s what’s waiting:
- Sunday Farmers Markets (late spring through fall) — local honey, wildflower bouquets and things pickled in ways you’ve never considered.
- The Callicoon Marketplace — a community hub with two bakeries, a bookstore with vintage antiques, a homemade goods pantry, and a re-fillery for bulk items.
- Boutique shops throughout Livingston Manor, Narrowsburg and Callicoon — the kind that open just as you finish your late morning matcha
Before You Go: One Last Taste of Slow
The Catskills don’t rush things. Take the cue. Before you load the car, take one more walk. Have a late lunch at the place your bartender mentioned the night before. Let traffic wait a little longer.
The Sullivan Catskills will be here — rooted, real, and radiant — whenever you’re ready to return.