CATSKILLS
FUN!
BREWERIES
Upward Brewing (Livingston Manor)
This is our favorite brewery in the area. If you want a great view and to work up a little sweat before your beers, there's a fun trail up "Beer Mountain" on the property. If just hanging is more your speed, there's plenty of space outside and inside for that. The kitchen also has excellent food. Our fave: The Golden Ratio (New Zealand Pale Ale)
https://www.upwardbrewing.com/
Roscoe Beer Company (Roscoe)
This is our OG hang in this neck of the woods, one of the few places that was open back in 2015 when we came up here. It's a laid back spot with a true Trout Town vibe to it. And this place puts on a mean fireworks display — so if they have one July 4 weekend, it's definitely worth checking out.
https://roscoebeercompany.com/
Catskill Brewery (Livingston Manor)
This brewery has great beers and a great food truck (and a raccoon for a mascot)!
RIVER TRIPS
Soaring Eagle Campground (Equinunk, PA)
Don't let the Pennsylvania address scare you off, it simply means it's on the PA side of the Delaware River. Soaring Eagle offers tube, canoe, and kayak trips along the Delaware River, dropping in at Long Eddy, NY and returning to Soaring Eagle in Equinunk, PA. Their route usually takes 2.5-3 hours (floating in a tube). They get bonus points for also offering floating cooler tube rentals as well. And if you want to make your trip last longer, you can pull over about halfway through at the "viaduct" where Basket Creek enters the river. There's a good spot to post up and hang/have a picnic if you want.
http://www.soaringeaglecampground.com/
Lander's River Trips (Narrowsburg)
Lander's has several locations/access points, but by far the most popular route (and the only route that offers tube rentals) is from Skinner's Falls to Narrowsburg, and that takes somewhere around 5 hours. Lander's offers tube, canoe, kayak, and raft rentals. (You need to bring your own cooler)
https://landersrivertrips.com/
G E N E R A L N O T E:
If you haven't "floated" on the river...here's what it entails. You pick a company/route, go to their office/site, sign a waiver and pay for your rental, they transport you (and the tubes you rent from them) to the drop off point, you put yourself in the river and float down with the current, back to the company's site. You want to wear sunscreen (and a hat is always a good idea), bring or rent a cooler that floats (and remember only bring cans or plastic bottles — no glass!), and you most definitely want to wear water shoes (something like this). If you need water shoes, sunscreen, tubes, etc stop by Agway in Callicoon.
If you're thinking...hey, I'd rather just hang in the river...we got you:
Viaduct/Basket Creek
One of our fave summer activities is to grab a cooler and a couple beach chairs and set up shop where Basket Creek hits the Delaware. You can access this off Rt 97 (look for Viaduct Road — between the towns of Hankins and Long Eddy). Follow Viaduct Road down and park. The path down to the creek and river is steep, so be cautious. You'll wade through the creek toward the river and find a spot on the rocks/beach or in the water to set down your chairs and chill. There's a deep enough spot for excellent swimming as well.
Skinners Falls
You can rent a tube and hang at Skinners Falls in Cochecton (this is also where Lander's will put you in the river for their float).
HIKES
There are so many hikes to do around here...AllTrails and Google are great places to find whatever suits your fancy. Below are 4 hikes that we have done and love.
Jensen's Legdes/Bouchoux Trail (Lordville, NY)
This is our favorite hike because it takes you up to Jensen's Ledges overlooking the Delaware River. The views are amazing. Parking is limited and this is a popular route, we suggest hitting it as early in the day as possible.
Frick Pond Loop (outside Livingston Manor)
This is a very easy (and relatively level) loop, one of our favorites to do with Stevie.
Tusten Mountain Trail (Narrowsburg, NY)
One of the more popular hikes around here, also most likely hike for a Mark Ruffalo sighting (if that's your thing).
Russell Brook Falls (outside Roscoe)
Not the easiest to find (if you write us we can send you directions), but the falls are pretty and the hike up to Mud Pond is nice (and you can take a dip in Mud Pond if you fancy a swim)
ALPACAS
If you want to meet some alpacas, Sullivan Catskills has you covered.
Buck Brook Alpacas (Roscoe)
Rosehaven Alpacas (Bethel)
FOOD AND DRINK
The Junction (Roscoe)
This is one of our favorite spots. Great menu and drinks. Highly recommend: the smoked trout dip (with fried saltines), the beef tartare, and the fried chicken sandwich. Rotating frozen drink specials, too!
Hours: Thursday-Monday 4p-midnight
https://www.thejunctionroscoe.com/
Pelkey's Tavern (Fremont Center)
The one and only anything in Fremont Center! Pelkey's is a laid back bar that also serves food. If you're lucky, the owner's black lab CeCe will come say hi. Plenty of outdoor space in the backyard.
Hours: Mon 4-10p, Wed 4-10p, Thurs & Fri 12-10p, Sat 12-11p, Sun 11:30-6p
The Walk In/Stumble Out Bar (Livingston Manor)
The biscuit sandwiches at The Walk In are to die for. They also have sandwiches, soup, and salads. Plus coffee, mimosas, and Bloody Marys.
By night, the spot becomes Stumble Out with a full bar and evening fare.
Walk In Hours: Thurs-Sun 8-4
Stumble Out Hours: Thurs-Sun 5-11
(directly across the street is the bakery they own: The Neon Croissant)
Sunshine Colony (Livingston Manor)
Super cute wine bar with some small bites. (Owned and operated by the folks behind Drinking Upstream wine store down the street)
Hours: Tues & Thurs 5-9
Fri 5-10
Sat 2-9
Sun 1-7
(closed Mon & Wed)
Rease's Cup (North Branch)
Damn good breakfast and lunch sandwiches (within walking distance of the North Branch Inn)
Hours: 6-2 (closed Tuesdays)
2 Queens Coffee (Narrowsburg)
Trust us, this is where you are going to want to grab your cold brew. And a few bags of beans to bring home with you. They've also got your sweet tooth covered with all sorts of baked goodies.
Hours:
Wed-Sat 8-4
Sun 9-3
(closed Mon & Tues)
Grizzly Bagels (Callicoon)
We finally got some damn good bagels up here.
Hours: Fri-Sun 9a-2p
The Laundrette (Narrowsburg)
Yummy brick oven pizza overlooking the Delaware River (excellent cocktails, too)
Hours: Thurs 1-8
Fri 1-9
Sat 1-9
Sun 1-8
The Heron (Narrowsburg)
This spot has been a mainstay in Narrowsburg. They do lunch, dinner, and brunch.
Hours: Thurs 12-3 & 5-8
Fri 12-3 & 5-8
Sat 12-3 & 5-8
Sun 11-4
(please call for reservations 845-252-3333)
Ba & Me
Vietnamese fare with two locations: Callicoon and Livingston Manor
The Restaurant at Kenoza Hall (Kenoza Lake)
Full disclosure we have not treated ourselves to this yet...but every person we know who has gone has raved about this menu. It's pricey and fancy and perfect for a special night out. Reservations highly recommended.
Conover Club (Callicoon Center)
The restaurant and bar at Callicoon Hills comes highly recommended.
Cochecton Pumphouse (Cochecton)
Perfect summer hang — food and drinks in the remains of the old pumphouse in Cochecton.
https://thecochectonpumphouse.com
Cochecton Fire Station (Cochecton)
Former fire station turned into a great restaurant and bar.
Hours: Sat & Sun 12-8
Mon & Tues 3-8
https://cochectonfirestation.com
Little North (Livingston Manor)
Modern rotisserie and market with farm-fresh sides, coffee, and pastries.
Hours: Fri-Sun 9-6
https://littlenorthcatskills.com
Do Good Spirits (Roscoe)
Distillery with a nice outside bar in the summer
Catskill Provisions (Callicoon)
NYS craft-gastro distillery
GROCERIES
Pecks
The local grocery store here is Pecks and they have three locations:
Callicoon, Livingston Manor, and Jeffersonville
Main Street Farm (Livingston Manor)
Specialty grocery store (that also has sandwiches etc for breakfast and lunch)
Van Smokey (Livingston Manor)
Hit up Van Smokey if you're looking for something fun to grill, or a particularly spicy Bloody Mary mix. They are also have tacos now, too!
Narrowsburg Proper (Narrowsburg)
Specialty grocery store (Proper To Go coming this summer)
Drinking Upstream (Livingston Manor)
If you need to stock up on wine or spirits, Drinking Upstream is your spot. (They have a wonderfully curated selection of wines, offer great recommendations, and have bottles at all price points)