Upstate New York's Catskill Mountains boast a number of skiing and hiking areas. There are also several small towns which offer lodging, shopping and restaurants. The area is a three-season destination, with summer and winter being the most popular to engage in outdoor recreational activities. Fall is another favorite time of year in the Catskills due to the change of foliage color throughout the region.
Located in the northern Catskills near Hunter Mountain, this regional town is one of the largest of the area. The town of Hunter is actually home to a number of smaller villages also like Haines Falls, Twilight Park and Edgewood. Hunter Mountain is the second-largest peak in the Catskills, with its highest point reaching 4,050 feet. Other mountain peaks near Hunter include Westkill Mountain, Indian Head and Sugarloaf which are part of the Catskills' Devil's Path Range. Nearby attractions to consider visiting include Kaaterskill Falls, North-South Lakes, the Hunter Mountain ski area and the Devil's Tombstone scenic campground. The town of Hunter is easily reached as it's only two hours from New York City, approximately 45 minutes from Albany and about three hours from Boston.
A small-scale village located in the center of the Catskills, Phoenicia is one of the best locations to stay while visiting this area. Nearly all of the Catskills attractions are about the same distance away from the town of Phoenicia. This village is also an interesting location to explore by itself. Phoenicia provides hotel lodging if you're traveling during winter or fall. There are also several campgrounds in the area if you're visiting during summer. Most restaurants are located on Phoenicia's main street, as are a variety of boutiques and shops. Phoenicia features a company called Town Tinker, which rents out tubes and life jackets so visitors can tube down the nearby Esopus River.
Another town found in the heart of the Catskills, Tannersville is located just south of the Blackhead Mountain Range. Tannersville features the Catskills' zipline adventure tour. Ziplining is an outdoor recreational sport where you're secured by gear to cabling above the area's tree canopy. You then travel along the cable with your ziplining gear, all the while taking in the views around you. It's a popular activity in mountain and cliff regions throughout various parts of the world. Tannersville is a short drive away from Woodstock, the upstate New York town which held a three-day music and arts festival in the late 1960s. Tannersville lodging features quaint bed and breakfasts, a boutique-style inn, timeshares and campgrounds. Dining establishments range from rustic, family-friendly inns to romantic, candlelit dining next to a large fireplace.
