Wildlife, design, food & drink, travel, real estate, country characters, adventures, waterfalls.
If you’re looking for something to do with teens or tweens in the Catskills, Howe Caverns is hard to beat. We brought our kids for the first time when they were 3 and 6 years old, and it was a lot easier and more enjoyable when they were 10 and 13. Even if you’ve been before, I recommend revisiting these magical underground wonders.
Planting wildflowers in the Catskills? Here's everything you need to know about choosing the best seeds, picking a good spot, timing your planting, and how to prep the soil. I planted my first flower patch in some very poor soil near the side of the road, and I was shocked by the simplicity of the task and the ultra-satisfying results.
Weiss Ferments is arguably the best brewery experience in the Catskills. I'm not here to pit their beers against Suarez or West Kill, but if you're seeking the secret garden of biergartens, an idyllic, off-the-beaten-path spot with a lush snack menu served alongside beers that capture the wild-herb freshness of the mountain air and pour it into a glass, then Weiss Ferments ought to be on your radar.
At Casa Latina, a homey Mexican spot tucked into a alleyway in the Village of Catskill, margaritas are served in cactus-stemmed glasses, chili pepper lights twinkle behind the bar, and a self-serve fridge is stocked with a wide array of Jarritos flavors. Located in Brandow Alley, its patio has been transformed into a miniature tropical escape, a potted plant paradise complete with dinner-plate dahlias and spiky dracaenas.
The egg sandwich at See and Be goes above and beyond the basic BEC. Made-to-order with the freshest possible ingredients, this spectacular, fully customizable Catskills breakfast sandwich is worth a drive to Cairo, but it really should come with a warning: It may forever ruin the bacon-egg-and-cheese from your go-to corner bodega. (Side note: It can even be vegan-ized!)
What’s the best way to spend a Saturday in Saugerties? In celebration of Laura Stevenson’s upcoming show at Opus 40, we asked the Saugerties-based singer-songwriter to talk us through a perfect weekend day in this quaint Hudson River town. Laura has a 3-year-old daughter, and all her recommendations are very kid-friendly.
Inquiring Minds Bookstore and Coffee House sells new books alongside used books, has a super kids section as well as a giant grown-up selection, and pours notably delicious coffee, tea, and lemonade. When it’s too cold or too hot or too rainy to enjoy the outdoors, this Saugerties book shop can really save the day.
Levon Helm Studios, a warm, intimate music venue tucked into a barn in Woodstock, is hands-down one of the best places to see live music in New York.
Levon Helm, the drummer and one of the vocalists for The Band, designed the Barn with acoustics in mind, so there might be a scientific reason for why every song sounds so big and warm and beautiful in this landmark room. Maybe it’s the materials that were used to construct the Barn in 1975—local bluestone, hemlock, and pine—or maybe it’s the vaulted shape of the space or just a particularly excellent sound system.
I like to think that all the artists who’ve graced this stage, from David Crosby, Mavis Staples, and Emmylou Harris to My Morning Jacket, Lucinda Williams, and Steve Earle have left behind a patina of good juju. I could feel it when I walked into the room.
Left Bank Ciders in Catskill, NY makes small-batch hard apple cider from local apples, some foraged and some shared by neighbors who’ve inherited orchards of 100-year-old heritage apple trees. Their ciders are more complex and less sweet than your typical American on-tap cider—and they also serve local non-alcoholic cider, for any non-drinkers in tow.
Got trash and recycling in Greene County? Looking for a local dump in the Catskills? Here’s a guide to waste stations located in Catskill, Coxsackie, Hunter, and Windham. Follow the rules, bring cash, and mindfully dispose of your garbage and recycling when garbage trucks aren’t there to serve you.
A treasure trove of Greene County History, the Vedder Research Library is your one-stop shop for questions about local land, ancestry, and more. Historian and archivist Jonathan Palmer, a Greene County native with a passion for the area, brings local history to life with the effervescent positivity (and corny jokes and mustache) of a young, real-life Ted Lasso.
Need a rainy day activity in the Catskills? Mountain Top Library in Tannersville should be on every book-lover’s bucket list. With vaulted ceilings, giant windows, cozy seating nooks, and an excellent kids’ section, there is a lot to love about this public library nestled in the Catskill Mountains.