The Catskills region in New York
was once a premier resort area known as the Borscht Belt. The
hey-day of the Borscht Belt may be over, but the Catskills lovely
little towns and gorgeous countryside still make for an excellent
rustic get-away. There are still accommodations for visitors ranging
from resorts to ranches, and year round outdoor adventure in the
form of skiing, hiking, hunting and more.
Numerous well-stocked rivers, lakes and streams await anglers
in the Catskills. The fly-fishing in the Catskills region is especially
fantastic. Fly-fishermen can try their luck in Beverskill, Neversink
River or Willowemoc Creek, for example.
There are lots of good hiking opportunities in the Catskill Mountains.
Trails like the Peekamoose or Escarpment Trails or the Devil’s
Path to Overlook Mountain offer a range of difficulty levels and
scenic overlooks. Hikers should get detailed maps from the New
York Department of Environmental Conservation.
Camping sites are numerous along Rte. 28 and near Woodstock. For
a quite and secluded campground those at Mongaup Pond are hard
to beat. There are no motorboats allowed on the Pond and the wildlife
viewing opportunities are excellent. The Saugerties Lighthouse
is a fascinating little B&B with some enchanting views of
the water, but there are only 3 rooms, so make your reservations
well in advance.
Climbing enthusiasts will want to check out the Shawangunks (the
“Gunks” for short), especially if they’re just
starting out in the sport. These shear quartz cliffs aren’t
as difficult as they look and there are lots of instructors to
guide beginners.
The origin of the name “Catskills” is mostly guesswork,
but kill means “creek” in Dutch.
