A Trip to the Catskills
My dogs had a very fun weekend up in the Catskills. I did too, of course, but the dogs really had fun. Like, they woke up the instant the sun rose and begged to go outside to play. It was very cute. I am very sleepy. But it was very cute.
Me, Can, Rich and Dan rented a little farmhouse in Athens and hiked/grilled all weekend. We also spent a lot of time playing online Mad Libs... Clearly, we're a wild and crazy bunch.
The hikes were the best part. One led us up to a huge waterfall called Kaaterskill which is just gorgeous. Jelly got to play in the swimming hole there and I think it was the highlight of his little life. The second hike was up Overlook Mountain which was positively picturesque, but more importantly WE SAW A REAL LIFE RATTLESNAKE. The hike was a little tricky for lil Beej so Dan and Richie took turns carrying my corgi up a mountain, lol.
All in all a fun Labor Day weekend. Now onto important things... is anybody else PSYCHED for fall? Birthday countdown -- 7 days! Who wants to come over for some cake!?
Thinking about a Hudson Valley getaway? They're super fun and such a simple way to inject your city life with some much-needed nature. I've planned a few of these trips; here are some tips:
Get an airbnb! With so many cool Brooklynites buying part-time homes along the river, you should definitely consider airbnb for your stay. This was my fourth time using airbnb and I freakin love it. You can find such gems that are totally affordable. Our house this time was redecorated with a bunch of reclaimed furniture and refurbished antiques. So cool! Plus, the airbnb homeowners are usually more lax than hotels about things like dogs and check-out times.
Visit local breweries/wineries/distilleries. This weekend we paid many visits to Crossroads Brewing Co., a great little brew pub in the town of Athens that lets you taste whatever you want before you commit to a growler (cha-ching!). I started to do some research so I could recommend other breweries/wineries/distilleries, but there's really just so many! Find one in your local area when you head up; I've never been disappointed.
Farmstands! So much of the stuff we get at NYC farmer's markets comes from this area, so you might as well take advantage while you're there and get some fresh produce straight from the source. We stopped at one that sold fifty cent zucchinis, huuuuge bunches of kale for a dollar and super-ripe cantaloupes that couldn't be beat.
Hiking, hiking, hiking. Can we all agree that there's nothing like standing on top of a mountain? Hiking is the best and Can and Rich found some awesome stuff to see in this area of the state. I especially liked the old, abandoned hotel on Overlook Mountain (but forreal, look out for rattlesnakes). And Kaaterskill Falls is absolutely worth a visit, though the falls were a bit dried up this time of year. Both were very dog friendly!
