Find yourself in Sullivan County, the quintessential “Catskills” experience that was once home to many now-shuttered Borscht Belt-era resorts. Today, it’s undergoing a renaissance, thanks to a handful of new lodges, hotels, and restaurants.
Ah, the towns and villages of Sullivan County. Just over the Delaware River from the Pocono Mountains, tiny towns make up this part of the enchanting Catskills. This river toned paradise is home to an abundance of jewel-toned lakes, swimming holes, and of course, great food. It’s no wonder the Catskills has become a destination for weekend getaways and summer vacations. Breathe in the fresh air, eat up, and go with the flow.
Narrowsburg
Narrowsburg is your introduction to Sullivan County. It sits on the Delaware River between the Catskill Mountains and the Pocono Mountains. It’s known for its strong arts and cultural community. It is the home of the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, the Delaware Valley Opera, the Tusten Theatre, the Fort Delaware Museum.
“Sometimes even the tiniest of villages can have an active queer community, something that’s exemplified in this quiet town that abuts the Delaware River in the Sullivan Catskills. Queer visitors, locals, and vacation homeowners from New York City are drawn to Narrowsburg for the local beauty and access to nature at Tusten Mountain. There’s also plenty to keep them busy, including seasonal farmers markets, film and literary festivals, and the tasteful shops on Main Street, which range from antique and home decor stores to art galleries and specialty food shops. But many queer people find themselves in Narrowsburg simply for the peace and quiet — in fact, much of the area remains free of cell phone service even to this day.”– Travel + Leisure
It’s also home to the The Laundrette, a Catskills fabulous pizza joint, and The Heron, for New American style comfort food. Need an Airbnb or camping grocery? Stop in at Proper To Go for prepared meals a roti chicken. For groceries, go to their sister store, Narrowsburg Proper, a beer store and specialty groceries place.
As one of the best small towns to visit for a summer vacation, travelers to Narrowsburg can stay local at the rustic-chic Blue Fox Motel or The Darby, the latter of which is walkable across the town’s photo-worthy arch bridge in Beach Lake, Pennsylvania. Larger groups will want to opt for one of the area’s many handsome Airbnb properties.
Livingston Manor and Roscoe
For beers, games, and fantastic food, hit the The Kaatskeller for wood-fired pizza and craft beer in an outdoor garden with live music, the Walk In for very good breakfast and lunch, and its nighttime version, Stumble Out Bar, with a fabulous rotating dinner menu.
Roscoe is known internationally for decades as Trout Town. It’s home to five of America’s top trout streams as well as numerous pristine lakes and plentiful reservoirs, making this an angler’s paradise. Naturally, trout is on almost every menu: smoked, roasted, or fried. And the area teems with locally grown and made bounties, like fresh produce, funky cheese, maple syrup, milk, honey, and much more.
This Sullivan County hub gives off serious ’50s summer camp energy. While there’s a dizzying array of camping options in “Trout Town USA,” our vote is the unique Roscoe Campsite, where you can channel your inner pioneer person and sleep in a covered Conestoga wagon. Or, for another one-of-a-kind digs, venture to Buck Brook Alpacas, which operates an Airbnb listing on the farm where you can walk, feed, and pet the alpacas to your heart’s content. Try a crock of French onion soup and a panini at Roscoe Diner.
Either way, reward yourself for roughing it in nature aat Roscoe Beer Co with its firehouse turned brewery, tasting room, pub food, and beer garden. Next, visit Do Good Spirits for their own pretty great distillery made vodka, bourbon, whisky, and gin. Have a look at Roscoe.com!
Callicoon
Callicoon has always been about the river, and once the trains came through, it was about the tourists too. On the Delaware River, Callicoon is 15 minutes from Bethel Woods and nestled along the Delaware River. Stop into Callicoon Brewing Company for craft beer, pub fare, and to sit on the porch in this 1800s building. Callicoon Wine & Tapas serves organic wines and craft beers along with what the Jewish Journal calls “The most innovative food to hit the Borscht Belt since Mel Brooks was a headliner here.” They’ve got a wine shop and a sunny garden, too.
Have a look at Callicoon Hills, an informal century-old “vacation resort” for those who wish to retreat to nature but still value personable hospitality and the comfort of thoughtful design, and you an Bring Fido!
Check out the Sunday Callicoon Farmer’s Market and the bounty at Sullivan County’s largest year-round farmers’ market.
Bethel
Yep, this is the home of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, home to the 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Fair, today home to comedy shows, live music, food and craft beer festivals, wine festivals, and more. Kenoza Lake is just 6 miles from Bethel, and you’ll find lovely Kenoza Hall, the Travel + Leisure featured 1880s lakefront hotel. Kenoza Lake is also home to The Old Foundation, whipping up bistro fare inspired by New American, Italian, and French cuisine with a homemade vibe. It’s serious cooking.
Come nightfall, book Red Cottage’s The Homestead on picturesque Kauneonga Lake (also known as White Lake), a 14-bedroom lakefront compound with a fireplace, kayak and water toys, fire pit, and a modern chef’s kitchen.
