Labor Day weekend saw tell-tale signs of fall on the mountains with isolated trees turning to their early burgundy or deep orange colors. Cool evenings and recent rains are setting the stage for a spectacular fall foliage season. In New York State the leaves turn first up in the northern part of the Adirondack State Park, and here on the western slopes of the Catskill Park. Altitudes of 2-3000 feet and cool evenings bring on the Fall foliage season first. As the leaves turn throughout September, hikers, mountain bikers, fly-fishing fans and kayakers get their last outings during the warm days amongst the changing landscape.
Fall is resplendent the entire month of September but really pops into high gear by the last weekend, showing a gorgeous array of scarlet, burgundy and pumpkin mixing in to the mountainside greens. September 25th showcases two great agricultural festivals – Delhi’s Harvest Festival and Margaretville’s Cauliflower Festival. The Catskill Forest Association hosts a firewood management workshop – oh so important now that the Emerald Ash Borer has been found in the eastern slopes of the Park. Then, on Sunday the 26th, Stamford hosts their annual Scarecrow Festival. These events offer a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the agricultural history of our area and to purchase locally made food and crafts.
October is sure to please everyone looking to feast their eyes on the best fall colors – the first two weekends including Columbus weekend are resplendent in orange and gold. This coincides with the annual Lark in the Park – ten days of guided hikes and workshops in and around the Catskill Park. Easy hikes, difficult hikes, fire tower treks, kayaking and woodlands workshops will be occurring mid week and on the weekends, hosted by avid outdoors people sharing their skill and passion for the Catskill Mountains. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that the Catskill Park is here. There is no main gate to enter through and the Park itself is a collection of public and private lands. Spearheaded by the Catskill Center and the Catskill Mountain Club, this year’s choices range from easy to moderately difficult hikes – many to fire towers in the Park, bike rides, kayak or canoe paddles, and forestry workshops. As more volunteers create great events they’ll appear on the event website: www.catskillslark.org. This is a great opportunity to learn more about mother natures playground.
The first weekend of October, Maple Shade Farm celebrates their Generations Day and shines a light on our agricultural heritage with antique engines and tractors, wagon rides, auction, pie contest and tons of regional apples. October 2nd and 3rd will offer the final series of tours of John Burroughs’ Woodchuck Lodge in Roxbury.
This year Columbus weekend brings the new Taste of the Catskills to Delhi. A joint venture lead by Quarter Moon Café and hosted on the grounds of Maple Shade Farm – this Columbus weekend event is sure to please adults and kids alike. www.tasteofthecatskills.com is the website to find out more. There will be a bocce tournament, beverage and food tastings, farm market, workshops on topics like cheese making, Sunday pig roast and more. For the kids Maple Shade will be hosting their Little Farmers Day with farm animals and carnival games in the main barn. In Walton at the Fairgrounds you’ll find the American Cancer Society’s Fall Harvest Festival going on. If you need a little more adventure on Columbus weekend, the Eastern State Cup Series mountain biking races will be hosted at Plattekill Bike Park in Roxbury. Plattekill offers lift rides for foliage viewing all season.
Great Western Catskills Tourism
The Great Western Catskills is an easy weekend get-away destination for travelers – just 3 hours from the New York City metro area. To learn about great outdoor resources, Stay-and-Play Packages or camping in the western Catskills, log on to: www.greatwesterncatskills.com. For free brochures on kayaking, antiquing, public fishing access map and other literature, call toll-free: (866) 775-4425 or e-mail: info@greatwesterncatskills.com. For a bounty of great events in the area visit delawarecountytoday.com.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
A Roundup of What’s New in the Western Catskills.
Everyone wants to know what’s new in the mountains each year. We long for a reason to take a back road to a main street that hasn’t been visited in too long a while. Our quirky main streets continually beckon the intrepid business owners and shopkeepers to open their doors. Here is a roundup of the news we’ve heard of all around Delaware County.
Harpersfield is boasting a new horseback trail riding facility – the Circle A Ranch. Just south of that, Stamford gives rise to recreational opportunities indoors and out. Jam’s Indoor Golf lets folks with a hankerin’ practice their swing any time of the year. The Michael Kudish Nature Preserve pays homage to mother nature, featuring guided hikes, workshops, storytelling and more this summer – as well as great wild blueberry picking. Stamford is also home to miles of trails on private land that are open to the public for hiking. Access is easy from the village parking lot. Four different trail segments, many of which are suitable for beginner or novice hikers, make up the trail system. On the other side of Town, Roses Brook Road is host to new antique store Lyon Mountain Blue Barn Antiques.
Roxbury’s big news is that it has it’s own radio station - WROX. This spring saw the opening of a new art gallery – the Martin Lerner Gallery. This fall will see the opening of an expanded Roxbury Motel. Down the road in Margaretville, Harry and the Hippie Chic have moved down the block with their NY Rican meals. Pair this with Mi Lupita now serving prepared food in Fleischmanns and your tastebuds will never be wanting in the Catskills for ethnic flavor. The parking in the village across from Freshtown is finished and makes for a wonderful river walk with sitting benches. Most folks don’t know but this is also the kick off point for hiking with a trail running from the parking area up into the Catskill Park on the Millbrook Trail.
Andes has two new stores this summer – Andes Books and the Catskill Connection at Blink featuring jewelry. Tay Home has expanded with a Tea Bar and has been joined by Living Tree Botanical and their line of hand blended beauty products made with many local ingredients.
The Fisk Barn Antiques has expanded into Delhi and joins the Tractor Supply store at the main crossroads. Cross Roads Café is now serving dinner and soon will have a liquor license. Andes Hotel owners have their second location in Delhi. O’Neills Shire Pub is set to open early summer in the old Vastas’ location. Just down the road in Hamden is a new B&B Moonshadows and Memories in a lovely renovated, main street Victorian.
Franklin Stage Company is on hiatus this summer, but is still hosting smaller productions and music at Chapel Hall. There are new owners at the Beehive so remember to keep Franklin on the map for great food and entertainment. Stone and Thistle Farm in East Meredith has added a B&B suite so folks can stay at the farm and opt into one of their many programs, such as Farmer For a Day, or feast at their four course Saturday dinner at Fable featuring local foods.
Walton’s antique businesses now number 13 and make the main street here the place for great finds. Walton is becoming a destination for antiquing, especially with the Robinson’s Auction in town too. To entertain the shoppers and shop owners, Danny’s Restaurant has expanded with live music on Wednesday nights with their Rock the Lot events. Also stepping up to the live music plate is the Rainbow Lodge with their Rock the Dock on Friday nights. The lovely Stony Creek farm – veggies and livestock sustainably raised – is doing farm tours Saturdays at 11am.
Hancock will be home to a first ever two week long, world class, music festival at the West Branch International Music Festival and Academy. The festival begins July 18 and runs through August 1, 2010, with performances held in the main room of the West Branch Resort’s River Run Restaurant, whose 30 foot vaulted ceilings and hardwood and stone surfaces provide superb acoustics. Orchestral programs will take place at the lovely Hancock Area High School auditorium. Repertoires will include Grieg, Mozart, Sibelius and more.
With so many choices you can spend the entire summer checking them all out for yourself. Information on all these businesses and phone numbers or website links can be found on our website www.greatwesterncatskills.com, as well as a new feature - select dining location menus are now available off the website.
Great Western Catskills Tourism
The Great Western Catskills is an easy day trip from Albany or Binghamton and a great weekend getaway or vacation destination only 3 hours from the New York City metro area. To learn more about outdoor resources, equipment rentals, great dining, affordable local lodging, Stay-and-Play Packages and great events going on in the western Catskills, log on to: www.greatwesterncatskills.com. For free travel literature like our fishing map and antique and art gallery directory can be mailed out to you - call toll-free: (866) 775-4425 or e-mail: info@greatwesterncatskills.com.
Harpersfield is boasting a new horseback trail riding facility – the Circle A Ranch. Just south of that, Stamford gives rise to recreational opportunities indoors and out. Jam’s Indoor Golf lets folks with a hankerin’ practice their swing any time of the year. The Michael Kudish Nature Preserve pays homage to mother nature, featuring guided hikes, workshops, storytelling and more this summer – as well as great wild blueberry picking. Stamford is also home to miles of trails on private land that are open to the public for hiking. Access is easy from the village parking lot. Four different trail segments, many of which are suitable for beginner or novice hikers, make up the trail system. On the other side of Town, Roses Brook Road is host to new antique store Lyon Mountain Blue Barn Antiques.
Roxbury’s big news is that it has it’s own radio station - WROX. This spring saw the opening of a new art gallery – the Martin Lerner Gallery. This fall will see the opening of an expanded Roxbury Motel. Down the road in Margaretville, Harry and the Hippie Chic have moved down the block with their NY Rican meals. Pair this with Mi Lupita now serving prepared food in Fleischmanns and your tastebuds will never be wanting in the Catskills for ethnic flavor. The parking in the village across from Freshtown is finished and makes for a wonderful river walk with sitting benches. Most folks don’t know but this is also the kick off point for hiking with a trail running from the parking area up into the Catskill Park on the Millbrook Trail.
Andes has two new stores this summer – Andes Books and the Catskill Connection at Blink featuring jewelry. Tay Home has expanded with a Tea Bar and has been joined by Living Tree Botanical and their line of hand blended beauty products made with many local ingredients.
The Fisk Barn Antiques has expanded into Delhi and joins the Tractor Supply store at the main crossroads. Cross Roads Café is now serving dinner and soon will have a liquor license. Andes Hotel owners have their second location in Delhi. O’Neills Shire Pub is set to open early summer in the old Vastas’ location. Just down the road in Hamden is a new B&B Moonshadows and Memories in a lovely renovated, main street Victorian.
Franklin Stage Company is on hiatus this summer, but is still hosting smaller productions and music at Chapel Hall. There are new owners at the Beehive so remember to keep Franklin on the map for great food and entertainment. Stone and Thistle Farm in East Meredith has added a B&B suite so folks can stay at the farm and opt into one of their many programs, such as Farmer For a Day, or feast at their four course Saturday dinner at Fable featuring local foods.
Walton’s antique businesses now number 13 and make the main street here the place for great finds. Walton is becoming a destination for antiquing, especially with the Robinson’s Auction in town too. To entertain the shoppers and shop owners, Danny’s Restaurant has expanded with live music on Wednesday nights with their Rock the Lot events. Also stepping up to the live music plate is the Rainbow Lodge with their Rock the Dock on Friday nights. The lovely Stony Creek farm – veggies and livestock sustainably raised – is doing farm tours Saturdays at 11am.
Hancock will be home to a first ever two week long, world class, music festival at the West Branch International Music Festival and Academy. The festival begins July 18 and runs through August 1, 2010, with performances held in the main room of the West Branch Resort’s River Run Restaurant, whose 30 foot vaulted ceilings and hardwood and stone surfaces provide superb acoustics. Orchestral programs will take place at the lovely Hancock Area High School auditorium. Repertoires will include Grieg, Mozart, Sibelius and more.
With so many choices you can spend the entire summer checking them all out for yourself. Information on all these businesses and phone numbers or website links can be found on our website www.greatwesterncatskills.com, as well as a new feature - select dining location menus are now available off the website.
Great Western Catskills Tourism
The Great Western Catskills is an easy day trip from Albany or Binghamton and a great weekend getaway or vacation destination only 3 hours from the New York City metro area. To learn more about outdoor resources, equipment rentals, great dining, affordable local lodging, Stay-and-Play Packages and great events going on in the western Catskills, log on to: www.greatwesterncatskills.com. For free travel literature like our fishing map and antique and art gallery directory can be mailed out to you - call toll-free: (866) 775-4425 or e-mail: info@greatwesterncatskills.com.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Catskills History Takes a Powerful New Leap Forward.
Delaware and Ulster Railroad and Hanford Mills Museum have been marketing themselves together for years as a great pair of historical outings to make in the Western Catskills. Their theme – Experience the Power of History by Learning the History of Power – is being transformed into a great new website. A gander through www.powerofhistory.org will bring you on a wonderful trip through Delaware County’s industrial and agrarian past, as well as its role as a tourism destination for city dwellers.
The website is a collaboration between the Delaware and Ulster RailRoad, Hanford Mills, the Delaware County Historical Association and the Delaware County tourism efforts led by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. Kaatskill Life Magazine, whose articles on the region are highly regarded for their depth and detail, put the website team in touch with their writers for reuse of some articles for the initial launch. The archives at DCHA are continually being looked through for new content and the fantastic photographic archives that are found in their collections. The website is not a static experience that will stay the same, but is more like a blog or online magazine as new content will be continually uploaded. The website hosts articles, slideshows, videos and maps. There is a Facebook page titled Power of History that will feature even more photos and articles that may be slightly off topic or add fun background details to the stories. There is even a Twitter feed that will add information on local events with a history bent.
Tourism Director Patty Cullen is pleased to have created a different online experience for visitors and residents to deepen their relationship to the county. “By now we know that folks of all ages do part, if not all, of their travel research online. We are looking to provide lots of content on the website that will be found in search engines and combine that with the social media aspect to really create a stronger relationship to our visitors, generating more overnight and day trips. Our history attracts families, farm foodies, fishing and hunting fans, railroad enthusiasts, vintage baseball fans, folks who love everything historical from timber frame construction to small engines.”
The idea of heritage tourism is an appealing one for Delaware County. Even people who live here don’t really understand the quality of the experience our local historical sites offer. Hanford Mills’ executive director Liz Callahan explains, “The Power of History website offers everyone, even virtual visitors – near and far - a unique opportunity to explore many facets of Delaware County’s rich historical resources. The perspectives and themes found throughout this website create a unique and ever-expanding quilt of ideas and anecdotes that blanket the Northwest Catskills and preserve its unique and colorful culture.”
The tourism office will be looking to put together getaway packages that appeal to this customer, and offering suggestions on DIY (do-it-yourself) excursions, with of course a modern twist. “Imagine waking up at your B and B, after breakfast you get a blanket, picnic basket with lunch, copy of one or two Burroughs books, brochure about his life and a map to all the pertinent sites to visit. You hang out at Woodchuck Lodge, reading Burroughs where Burroughs was inspired. That experience has relevance today.”
The Great Western Catskills is an easy day trip from New York City metro area, Albany, or Binghamton and a great weekend getaway or vacation destination for all. To learn more about our attractions, outdoor recreation and great events going on in the Delaware County Catskills, log on to: www.greatwesterncatskills.com.
The website is a collaboration between the Delaware and Ulster RailRoad, Hanford Mills, the Delaware County Historical Association and the Delaware County tourism efforts led by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. Kaatskill Life Magazine, whose articles on the region are highly regarded for their depth and detail, put the website team in touch with their writers for reuse of some articles for the initial launch. The archives at DCHA are continually being looked through for new content and the fantastic photographic archives that are found in their collections. The website is not a static experience that will stay the same, but is more like a blog or online magazine as new content will be continually uploaded. The website hosts articles, slideshows, videos and maps. There is a Facebook page titled Power of History that will feature even more photos and articles that may be slightly off topic or add fun background details to the stories. There is even a Twitter feed that will add information on local events with a history bent.
Tourism Director Patty Cullen is pleased to have created a different online experience for visitors and residents to deepen their relationship to the county. “By now we know that folks of all ages do part, if not all, of their travel research online. We are looking to provide lots of content on the website that will be found in search engines and combine that with the social media aspect to really create a stronger relationship to our visitors, generating more overnight and day trips. Our history attracts families, farm foodies, fishing and hunting fans, railroad enthusiasts, vintage baseball fans, folks who love everything historical from timber frame construction to small engines.”
The idea of heritage tourism is an appealing one for Delaware County. Even people who live here don’t really understand the quality of the experience our local historical sites offer. Hanford Mills’ executive director Liz Callahan explains, “The Power of History website offers everyone, even virtual visitors – near and far - a unique opportunity to explore many facets of Delaware County’s rich historical resources. The perspectives and themes found throughout this website create a unique and ever-expanding quilt of ideas and anecdotes that blanket the Northwest Catskills and preserve its unique and colorful culture.”
The tourism office will be looking to put together getaway packages that appeal to this customer, and offering suggestions on DIY (do-it-yourself) excursions, with of course a modern twist. “Imagine waking up at your B and B, after breakfast you get a blanket, picnic basket with lunch, copy of one or two Burroughs books, brochure about his life and a map to all the pertinent sites to visit. You hang out at Woodchuck Lodge, reading Burroughs where Burroughs was inspired. That experience has relevance today.”
The Great Western Catskills is an easy day trip from New York City metro area, Albany, or Binghamton and a great weekend getaway or vacation destination for all. To learn more about our attractions, outdoor recreation and great events going on in the Delaware County Catskills, log on to: www.greatwesterncatskills.com.
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