Things to Do in the Catskills

Northwest of New York City and southwest of Albany, the Catskills region includes mountains, scenic lakes and plenty of wilderness. Separate from the immense span of the Appalachian Mountains, the Catskills has it own interesting features and natural landscape. Famous as a retreat area for New Yorkers and also as the home of Rip Van Winkle, there is a great deal of history and culture in the Catskills. Here are a few places worth checking out.

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

This museum is built on the location of the famous 1969 Woodstock music festival. The site is now host to a center designed to propagate the arts and music. An informational museum describes the acts and events that took place there during the historic concert. the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts even plays host to a number of musical acts, such as the New York Philharmonic and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
200 Hurd Road
Bethel, NY 12720
(866) 781-2922

Holiday Mountain

For those visiting the Catskills in winter, Holiday Mountain provides some of the best skiing in the eastern United States. With dozens of downhill courses, ranging from long, rambling trails for beginners to black diamonds. The resort also has a number of other attractions for families, such as go-karts, mini-golf and a climbing wall.

Holiday Mountain
99 Holiday Mountain Road
Monticello, NY 12701
(845) 796-3161

Kaaterskill Falls

The tallest waterfall in New York state is located in the Catskills. Kaaterskill Falls is divided into two segments, totaling 260 feet. The falls are not just an impressive natural sight, but also an important figure in the region's history. It was a popular subject for painters of the Hudson River School, while William Cullens Bryant wrote a poem about it. The falls can be found about a half mile down a yellow-blazed path on NY 23A, just outside of Palenville.

Resources

Article Written By Louie Doverspike

Based in Seattle, Louie Doverspike has been a professional writer since 2004. His work has appeared in various publications, including "AntiqueWeek" magazine, the "Prague Post" and "Seattle Represent!" Doverspike holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Hamilton College.

Editor's Pick

5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...
More National Parks...
Popular Article

National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...
More National Parks...
Featured Destination

Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...
More Camping Basics...