Hi guys! 

If you've been following along on my recent adventures, you'll know I've been in the thick of all things Autumn! This is my favorite season to be back in the Northeast, particularly in my home state of New York. Our mountain communities transform in shades of red and gold, with all the best cozy activities to accompany them. 

After numerous seasons of missing the foliage in the Catskills, I made a point to see them in peak conditions this year! With that mission in mind, we made our way to beautiful Greene County, NY (home to the Great Northern Catksills) for some quintessential fall fun. 

You may remember my summer adventures from this region, full of nostalgia for lazy days at camp, sunrises and sunsets on mountain tops, and al fresco dinners galore. While Summer is all about that Go,Go,Go mentality, Autumn invites us to slowww down. To take deep breaths of crisp air, drink copious amounts of hot coffee and apple cider, wrap up in thick wool sweaters + socks, visit farm stands for everything pumpkin and apple, and bask in the beauty of the golden trees. All this (and more) awaited us in Greene County! 

My first priority on arrival was to grab pie and jack o' lantern supplies [aka all the pumpkins and apples we could find!] . There are ample farms in the region to find these, plus tons of late season fruits + veggies. My top three are Story Farms, East Durham Farms, and Boehm Farm. The latter is a little off the beaten path, but has the best apple orchards!! Along with u-pick apples, they also have a pumpkin patch and the most mouth watering apple cider donuts. 

Most visitors to Greene County in the Fall have one thing on their minds :: leaf peeping! The mountain communities and trail systems have it in abundance, and if you catch the foliage at the right time, you’ll be awed by shades of red and gold at every turn. Given the current pandemic, many popular trails are currently closed. However, this just made for the perfect excuse to get off the beaten path and explore new terrain! The Catskills are home to numerous picturesque waterfalls [not just Kaaterskill Falls!], and it was my mission to see one. We settled on Diamond Notch Falls, a waterfall that most hikers bypass without knowing! The hike to the falls is a quick .8 miles, but if you’re looking for more of a challenge, you can keep trekking up the trail to get in some summit views, as well.

For our own mountain top views, we chose Huckleberry Point, a trail along the iconic Kaaterskill Clove . At 4.5 miles roundtrip, it makes for a perfect afternoon destination for families. Plus the scenic vista at the end provides an insane backdrop for a picnic!

No trip to the Greene County would be complete without a stay at one of the beautiful lodging options. This time, we stayed at the incredibly charming Deer Mountain Inn, in Tannersville. If you’re looking for top tier levels of cozy, this place is it. With six guest rooms and ample nooks to snuggle into, the property exudes an irresistible, serene charm. If a room isn’t available, the public can still enjoy their dining experience (they often invite guest chefs on the weekend!).

During our stay, we branched out to explore other local offerings. For the ski towns, Tap House Grill and Windham Local are favorite eateries in Windham, and The Prospect (in Scribner’s Catskill Lodge) is our go-to restaurant in Hunter. In Tannersville, yummy pastries and coffee can be found at Bear and Fox Provisions. And in Catskill, newly opened Kaaterskill Market is the perfect place to grab home goods - for yourself + gifts!

There’s something so charming about visiting the local communities - especially this time of year! Many storefronts are decorated for the holidays, with pumpkins lining the sidewalks. Some spots have started opening back up for dine-in, but make sure to check beforehand, as every place is different.

Back at Deer Mountain Inn, we enjoyed sleepy mornings with coffee and breakfast sandwiches, before venturing out to tour the sweeping grounds and spacious common areas (all of which have fireplaces to snuggle up by!). I loved the upstairs “attic” that was open to guests. With so many couches and armchairs to sink into, boardgames, books, and a pool table, it’s easy to see how some guests may have no need to leave the property!

We made a point to keep an entire afternoon open to explore the inn’s network of trails. The trail system also connects with the nearby Mountain Top Arboretum, meaning you can venture out on infinite paths (all of which are super family friendly). With a thermos of hot apple cider in tow, we made our way up to the inn’s lean-to and enjoyed a sunset campfire.

If you want to stay close to the inn’s grounds, there’s several fire pits on the front lawn that staff can light for you! Our experience at Deer Mountain felt very “choose your own adventure”, as we saw guests both relaxing on property and out with full backpacks exploring the terrain.

Once again, it was bittersweet to say goodbye to Greene County. With our bodies completely rested after our stay at Deer Mountain Inn, bellies full of apple cider donuts, and car packed with pumpkins..you could say we had a full Fall experience during our trip! If you’re looking for more tips on traveling to the region, head over to the Great Northern Catskills site. As always, be mindful of other visitors, respect the trails and social distancing protocols. And above all, have fun!

Happy foliage hunting, friends :)

xo

J.