Catskills Weekend

Since we moved to the East Coast 2.5 years ago, we've really missed taking weekends in Tahoe and the Sierras.  So for MLK weekend we decided to explore the Catskills, just 2 hours north of the NYC. We stopped in Woodstock on the way up to get a glimpse of the town that hosted the famous 1960's music festival.  The town has stayed true to the spirit of the 60's and offers a quaint retreat from the bustle of the City. It didn't take long to see the entire 3-block Main Street but we enjoyed the friendly, earthy attitude.

...and the sense of humor :)

A trippy wax sculpture at a candle store. It's taller than us!

After lunch we took the scenic route to our destination, taking in views of lakes and driving through small river towns before checking in at Hotel Mountain Brook. 

The hotel really had that "mountain lodge" feel that we were looking for.

DVD library in the lobby. Had to show Meg some classic Keanu acting skills.

Dinner that night at a great barbecue place in town, American Glory

Meg claims the chili was on par with Uncle Steve's

And a drink back at the hotel in front of the fire. Perfection!

The next day was a beautiful, clear, 22 degree day so we decided to go outside and hike around for a few hours :). Just up the road from our hotel was Kaaterskill Falls, a short hike to a two-tiered waterfall known in the area for dramatic views.

Stunning view from the bottom but we want to see it from the top!

In the summer, this path leads to the pool at the base of the upper tier. In winter, it's an ice sheet that leads to serious injury. This was as close as we got.

                                        Going up?

Made it to the top! You can see the path from before on the lower right of the picture. Definitely not worth the risk this time of year!

Viewing platform at the top shows off more than just the falls.

This is the face Meg makes when she sees someone trying to walk out on the ice path as we head back

After the frigid hike we went over to Scribner's, a contemporary mountain lodge opposite Hunter Ski Resort for a drink and lunch at the Prospect restaurant.

Next stop for the evening was Hudson-Chatham tasting room for some of New York's finest vintages.  We soon realized just how spoiled we are drinking Caymus and other Napa wines :) but fun nonetheless!

One more drink by the fireplace to cap off a great weekend getaway.

So long, Catskills!