Catskills

For Alan's first Father's Day we wanted to hit the road and check out some places that we haven't yet been to in the Catskills.  Our first night we decided to try out the Starlite Motel in Big Indian, NY.  We love a good (and clean!) motor lodge from yesteryear.  A couple things that we liked about this place: it's been renovated so it felt nice and clean, each unit has a small kitchen which was helpful to store milk that I was pumping at the time (TMI?), and each unit also has a back door that opens up onto a lawn with a picnic table and individual BBQ.  It does not have the hip design-y aesthetic that the next place we stayed at does, but it gets the job done and the kitchen and outdoor BBQ certainly add to the stay!

Speaking of the next place, The Arnold House is quite a beauty inside with a significant amount of attention paid to every detail.  I just about died for the mid-century interior of this hang out zone.  The wood walls and that fireplace?!  Swoon!  They also have a very nice restaurant that's gorgeous on the inside and also has a nice outdoor patio for the warmer months.  The breakfast area in the morning was equally as charming with cute checkered floors and a tasty breakfast spread!  There are a variety of rooms (different size beds, views, etc.), which are simple, but thoughtfully appointed.  I really, really want to check out their Lake House sometime with another couple (it has 2 bedrooms).  It looks insanely beautiful.  Lastly, there is a spa there, but with a baby, we don't have tons of time or money to luxuriate, so we skipped that.  I'm sure it's nice though!

During the days we visited Kingston and took a hike to a swimming hole.  Kingston is super cute.  I really love this cafe/antique store, Outdated Cafe. They have breakfast and lunch offering a vegetarian menu with vegan options.  While you wait for you food you can cruise around checking out antiques!  I love food and antiques, so this place is a big DUH for me.  On this little strip there is also an adorable candy shop, Kingston Candy Bar, which is less for Sally and more for me!  Walking around there are more and more shops popping up including vintage stores, bookshops, bars, etc.  I also got some shoes at a cute women's shop, Oak42. Kingston is a great stop on your way to and from the mountains! 

On Father's Day, we wanted to do a short hike with Sally.  I'd heard there are all sorts of swimming holes in the Catskills, but I never actually knew where they were.  I've always felt like I'm not in the know on these things.  A little research later I found a perfect little hike to a great swimming hole!  Apparently the parking lot can fill up quickly, but we happened to luck out and get a spot.  We parked at the Coxing Trailheadand took about a 20-minute easy hike through the woods to get to Split Rock where you can sunbathe on the rocks or take a dip.  There is a closer parking lot that is right there, but it's up to you if you'd prefer to take a stroll through the woods along the way. 

For other Catskills tips, check out our trip from October 2017!