Located roughly 2-3 hours north of NYC, nestled west of the Hudson River and east of the PA/NY state border, the Catskill Mountains have long been an “upstate” destination for the tri-state area. It’s where the Field Mag team prefers to escape to, alongside countless others from our respective boroughs.
Besides the rich array of outdoor activities the region offers, like skiing, hiking, biking, boating, and more, the area is home to countless well-designed hotels and motels reflective of the taste of its New York City visitors (especially those from design-obsessed Brooklyn), each with their own je ne sais quoi. Take for instance, the popular Urban Cowboy Lodge, a 28-room hotel featuring blindingly upscale Americana decor, or the barebones Roscoe Motel, a perfectly lo-fi fly fishing retreat with a loyal following. You can even rent out the colorful Norsdale motel for the ultimate group trip. And while the area offers cabin rentals of the same calibur and style diversity, sometimes, you just can’t beat room-service and a jacuzzi.
Beyond the mountains, charming towns in the Western Catskills like Woodstock, New Paltz, Tannersville, and Phoenicia are popular hot spots. On the eastern flank, areas around Lumberland, Narrowsburg, Callicoon, and Livingston Manor are hotbeds of art, food, and cabin culture. Each community scattered throughout the rolling hills features its fair share of cute main streets, live music, and cozy coffee shops, all set against the backdrop of Catskill Mountains—the perfect places to hang after a long day exploring outside.