Best of the Catskills | Blog | xoxofarmgirl

The Map.

The Map.

As far as tech goes, I love my GPS and how it gets me from here to there. Thank you, GPS. That said, while it gets me there, it doesn't give me much perspective on where I am or where I've been. In the last year, as you know, I released an online guidebook to the Catskills. Why online? Well, it's a work in progress. It currently covers some back story -- how to get to the Catskills and some Inside Scoop on why it's so cool and who makes it that way -- plus over 150 destinatio

Fish Tales.

Fish Tales.

I grew up fishing. Believe it or not, I logged more hours sitting in the bottom of an aluminum Grumman canoe than most kids do on a soccer field. "Shhh. You'll scare the fish." I would sit quietly for hours, my legs cramping, alternating between casting and daydreaming. It's not as bad as it sounds actually. I liked winding around the coves of a big lake listening to the water drip, drip, dripping from the wooden paddle that balanced across the boat. And the fishing ... it wa

Cocktail Accessories & Foodie Fun at The Proper

Cocktail Accessories & Foodie Fun at The Proper

Narrowsburg Proper 44 Main Street Narrowsburg, NY 845-252-3242 @narrowsburgproper The shelves in the front are stacked to the rafters with foodie treats good for a gift box or basket for the discerning eater. Caviar. Chocolates. French honey. Pastas and sauces. Cheeses and olives. Tidbits of all ilks. The back lures you in with proper items for the men in your life -- cocktail shakers, bitters and simple syrups, exclusive beard oil, clothes, humidors and other manly accessori

Brushed Alpaca Throws & Blankets from Buck Brook Alpaca Farm

Brushed Alpaca Throws & Blankets from Buck Brook Alpaca Farm

Buck Brook Alpacas 99 Bestenheider Road Roscoe, NY 12776 (845) 807-3104 www.buckbrookalpacas.com @buckbrookalpacas Buck Brook Alpacas is a family run farm located in Sullivan County. The farm raises 150 alpacas, along with angora rabbits. Oh my! They strive to raise these adorable animals in a warm, clean and loving environment. Buck Brook harvests the alpacas' luxury fiber once yearly to create beautiful yarn and products for the home, family and crafters, which are availab

Farm Girl's Guide: A Trailer

Farm Girl's Guide: A Trailer

I love trailers. Sometimes I watch them instead of watching the movies. So, here's a little preview of Farm Girl's Guide to get you started. XOXO Farm Girl #farmgirlsguide #farmgirl #xoxofarmgirl #catskills #gettinglostandfound #getlost #catskillsrenaissance #bestofthecatskills #visitcatskills #definitiveguide #destinationplace #guidebook #traveltips #weekendgetaway #insidescoop

Farm Girl's Guide to Getting Lost & Found in the Catskills

Farm Girl's Guide to Getting Lost & Found in the Catskills

The Definitive Guide to Experiencing the Catskills' Burgeoning Renaissance This is a love letter to the Catskills. I invite you to love it, too. For the past year or so, I have been working on a guidebook for you. Because there really isn't one. Not the kind of guide book you want. You want to find all the yummy places, right? And the secret ones too, right? Well, I love to find them and to share them with you. Here's the lay of the land. First, it's important to think about

A 101 from Farm Girl on How to Use The Guide

A 101 from Farm Girl on How to Use The Guide

Hi, Farm Girl here. Your one and only source into the best of the Catskills! (Yes, this is a "cultural" reference to Gossip Girl ...) Just in case you need to know which way is up, here's your 101. When it's all said and done, this guide will have a dozen chapters (oh, the suspense). What you will find now are the first four: Get Lost, On Your Way, The Inside Scoop and So Much Sullivan. Each one will continue to grow as new hotspots open up. Here's a quick summary of each cha

Get Lost (A How To ...)

Get Lost (A How To ...)

The Catskills Is Calling You. The New Catskills. Take off your shoes. Then your socks. Put your toes in the grass. Wiggle them a little. There. That’s better. Now, you are ready. Ready to get lost. But not too lost. Don’t worry. I will be your guide. Just to get you started. Then, the momentum, the lure of the Catskills, will take over and you will be off and running … maybe even without your shoes and socks. I have been coming to the Catskills since I was a kid. That said, a

On Your Way

On Your Way

Get in the Car No matter where you’re coming from, driving to the Catskills is the best way to go. Not only does driving get you there, but it gives you a perfect seat from which to enjoy the curves of every back road and to count all the silos once you get there. So, drive if you can. If you’re far, far away, get closer and then drive. Your car is the snorkel mask through which you see all the best fish. Ya feel? I still remember the good old days of driving while trying to

Catskills 101

Catskills 101

I feel responsible to give you a teensy bit of Catskills 101 before you hit the road. If you don’t have it, you will get halfway there and have some questions. So, here it is whenever you need it. The Catskills is a region. It is loosely made up of seven counties. The primary four — Sullivan, Ulster, Delaware and Greene — represent the heart of the region, but three just north of those — Otsego, Schoharie and Albany — also have much to see and do. I like a broader definition

Stuff to Pack

Stuff to Pack

Before you head out, you might want to throw a few key items in a bag just in case. You might even want to leave it in your car because when you're itching to #getlostandfound you just must go. Here's Farm Girl's list: a small pair of binoculars a picnic blanket some hiking shoes or old sneakers that you can get muddy (and a bag to put them in when they are) a pocketknife a wine/beer opener Farm Girl’s Guide an extra layer (like a fleece, a flannel shirt or a light down jacke

Rockefeller Lookout

Rockefeller Lookout

Palisades Parkway North njpalisades.org/parkway.html The Palisades Interstate Parkway (PIP), a 38.25-mile highway, where commercial vehicles are prohibited, was designated as a national landmark by the National Park Service in 1998. The highway is named for the beautiful and protected cliffs that line the western side of the Hudson River. From the Rockefeller Lookout you can get an incredible view of the mighty Hudson, as well as a prime view of NYC day or night. Every time I

Balthazar Bakery

Balthazar Bakery

214 S. Dean St., Engelwood, NJ (201) 503-9717 balthazarbakery.com @balthazarbakery If you are heading north up the Thruway, stop in at Balthazar Bakery, an artisanal bakery with homemade breads and pastries, designed to feed the mighty Balthazar on Spring Street in NYC since the French brasserie opened in 1997. A dozen hard-working bakers prepare 1,000 each of plain, chocolate and almond croissants daily! Stop in on your way to grab a loaf of bread for a picnic or, if you’re

Round Up Texas BBQ

Round Up Texas BBQ

2741 Route 9, Cold Spring, NY (845) 809-5557 rounduptxbbq.com @rounduptxbbq If you are coming from Connecticut or Westchester, and you get a hankering for some BBQ en route this is the real deal. Stop at this shack-like hole in the wall with Texas-style dry-rubbed and smoked brisket, ribs and catfish, so you don’t get hungry on the road. My friend Alli swears that the ribs are “mmmm” and the cornbread is “to die for!” Sit inside or out. Dogs are encouraged to sit quietly and

The Filling Station

The Filling Station

243 Route 9 West, Palisades, NY (845) 359-9000 tfsburgerworks.com @tfsburgerworks A roadside burger joint with organic beef, delectable fries and a good selection of brewskis. If you’re hungry on the road, stop in to fill ’er up. Frequented by bikers — both kinds — and anyone with an enviable convertible. A veritable car (and hog) show awaits. This is one of those “worth it” burgers. Never too big. Hot off the grill. Just right fries. And even the ambiance adds to the flavor.

Il Portico Restaurante

Il Portico Restaurante

89 Main Street, Old Tappan, NY (845) 365-2100 ilportico.com @ilportico89 While heading up the Palisades, we decided to take a #gettinglostandfound detour to Old Tappan. Once we found Main Street, we were transported back to 1776. All of the flags bear the 13 stars of the original colonies and most of the fanfare centers on the 76 House, now a restaurant, where Major John Andre (the British Spy), who conspired with Benedict Arnold to deliver West Point to the Brits, was impri

Bear Mountain State Park

Bear Mountain State Park

99 Service Road, Bear Mountain, NY (845) 786-2701 visitbearmountain.com @bearmtninn With 5,200 acres to explore, take your pick. Summit any of three mountains: Bear, Dunderberg and West. Or just drive up Perkins Memorial Drive for a view of four states and the Manhattan Skyline. The park opened in 1913 at a time when visitors poured in by steamboat and would stay an average of eight days. The rustic Bear Mountain Inn has been welcoming guests since 1915 and recently had a spr

US Military Academy at West Point

US Military Academy at West Point

2107 New South Post Road, West Point, NY (845) 938-2638 usma.edu @westpoint_usma Founded as a military academy by Thomas Jefferson in 1802, West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in America, first recognized by General George Washington for its important location along the Hudson River during the Revolutionary War. Graduates from West Point have distinguished themselves in wars since the Mexican-American War and the US Civil War. Women were first enrolle

Storm King Art Center

Storm King Art Center

1 Museum Road, New Windsor, NY (845) 534-3115 stormking.org @stormkingartcenter Founded in 1960 and seated near its namesake mountain, Storm King is a 500-acre outdoor sculpture park featuring works from many of the best artists of the 20th century — Andy Goldsworthy, Maya Lin, Isamu Noguchi, Roy Lichtenstein, Alexander Calder and Richard Serra. Storm King is a little bit out of the way (a 15-mile detour one way), but completely unforgettable and worth it. It’s the great outd

Washington's Headquarters

Washington's Headquarters

84 Liberty Street, Newburgh, NY (845) 562-1195 To be fair, the area around the HQ is a little rough around the edges, if I am being generous. But if you’re into history, it’s a good stop. Plus Caffe Macchiato is across the street and the Newburgh Brewing Company is just down the road. Now a state historic site, Washington spent 16 months here from 1782-83 where he led our nation to reject the ideas of a monarchy and a government controlled by the military. He laid the groundw