New York’s Sullivan Catskills

If you’re among travelers looking to avoid crowded airports, delays, and flight cancellations, take a road trip to New York’s Sullivan Catskills. It’s all the rage and you can be there in two hours or less from Manhattan and the Metro New York area.

Long a vacation destination, the area is a perfect summer respite. Choose from vacation rentals, full-service resorts, camping, small inns or B&Bs.

Outdoor activity is a big draw. The views on the Delaware River are spectacular from a canoe, kayak, or raft. Or you can get your exercise on a trail bike. The river towns offer antiquing, historic sites, and dining. And a rails-to-trails system is part of the wide variety of hiking trips.

A most unique experience is touring the Sullivan Catskills Dove Trail. This vibrant outing features sixty hand-painted dove sculptures commemorating the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival. Every one of the 15 towns and villages hosts one. The remainder are perched at various businesses.

There’s a trail for adults, too. The Good Taste Craft Beverage Trail features award-winning beer, spirits, cider, and wine. Try the Yulan Hefeweizen at Shrewd Fox Brewery. Grab a bottle of Rock Valley Spirits Gin— distilled with wild foraged junipers. The Wood Duck White from Bashakill Vineyards pairs beautifully with their Spicy Tuna Tostada.

At dinnertime enjoy the inventive cuisine. New to the “Catskill-icious” food scene are Roscoe’s The Yarra and Livingston Manor’s Little North. Stacy Adimando, a James Beard award-winning author and former editor at Rachel Ray and Saveur, operates Little North. It’s a modern rotisserie and farm-focused food market with a scenic backyard for dining. The Yarra is a small inn offering accommodations and dinner. They serve 20 people a night with an eclectic mix of food that gives a nod to Melbourne Australia’s food scene. Try the Polpette Al Limone or the Aussie Meat Pie.

As you drift off, you’ll sleep like a baby and wake to summer songbirds egging you on to enjoy another glorious day. For details on all the food, lodging, and activities visit SullivanCatskills.com to book your trip now.