A Summer Weekend in the Catskills

Venturing into Woodstock: great galleries, interesting shopping, good food, and an artsy feel that you would expect from the namesake of the famous concert.

Mountain biking and hiking throughout the Catskills

Fly-fishing behind our hotel

A visit to the Emerson Spa

Quick Tips:

Leave your work and your cellphones behind - cellphones don't work for several miles around where we stayed

Take advantage of all of the outdoor activities - biking, hiking, running, fishing, relaxing

Pack a picnic and enjoy a private experience next to a river, lake or isolated section of woods - we did and had a great time

Best Way To Get Around:

We used our car to drive to Woodstock, but we rode our bikes more than anything else.

If you are looking for spacious, rustic accommodations in a country setting, you will like the Lodge. The Lodge was located right next to Esopus Creek and Mt. Tremper. In fact, several trout fisherman could be seen from our terrace throughout the day and the bike ride we took was beautiful (and perfectly challenging).

The room we had was extremely large. It even had two levels (each with a king size bed). We also had a terrace that overlooked the stream and provided a breathtaking view of the stars at night. The decor was probably best appreciated by kids (for example, animals painted on the wall), but all in all a comfortable room.

The Lodge was located in the Catskill Corners complex so we had a couple of hours of amusement with the 'World's Largest Kaleidoscope' a 100 yards away.

The Spotted Dog is definitely a dining experience geared toward kids. Several authentic firetrucks were cut into pieces and used for the seating in the restaurant. The food is standard American (burgers, fries, sandwiches, etc.). Not fine dining (but perfectly fine for a quick bite) and fun for kids.

In the weekend that we were at the Lodge, we went mountain bike riding, trail running, horseback riding and trout fishing. We wanted to get out of New York City to relax and this was a nice rustic getaway.

Ask at the Lodge for directions to several places to bike and hike. A state park is about 6 miles from the Lodge and the ride to get there is pretty challenging (very hilly) but pretty.

You can find a bait and tackle shop in the Catskill Corners shops if you want to try your hand at trout fishing. We caught a couple small fish that we let go, but it was fun.

The Emerson was across the street from the Lodge and it was the exact opposite type of experience -- a very upscale spa. My girlfriend and I went to the spa for a massage after a hard day of outdoor activities. The massage was great and my girlfriend forgave me for watching a couple of hours of football while we were on our country getaway. The spa treatments were a little expensive but as well done as any I've had in a long time.