New York Uncovered- The Catskills

 

 

Believe it or not, the month of August is the 40^th anniversary of Woodstock. The Catskill Mountains are iconic as a symbol of the ‘60’s.  Several years ago, the site of the original concert was redeveloped into Bethel Woods which is an outdoor concert venue and a museum. We were there a few weeks ago for a concert including Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. The place is beautiful! It’s a cross between a Tanglewood and Ravinia in Chicago.

 

There is a theater with seating and a huge lawn that can hold up to 15,000 people. This is not quite like the 500,000 that supposedly showed up for Woodstock, but a huge crowd nonetheless, and definitely much more organized with food, drinks and bathrooms. There is a beautiful museum with interactive exhibits, videos and photos not only of the concert but the history of the ‘60’s and the surrounding area.

 

Some upcoming concerts include BB King, the Allman Brothers and the Boston Pops with Arlo Guthrie.There are also community events including a big farmer’s market every Sunday with live music, food and other entertainment. It is a beautiful setting and a nice place to spend a few hours listening to music, visiting the museum or just wandering around the grounds.

 

 

 

About 30-40 minutes from Bethel Woods is a beautiful, simple inn that first opened in 1895 as a trout fishing lodge called the Beaver Kill Valley Inn. In 1981, the Inn was purchased by Larry Rockefeller who restored it. Mr. Rockefeller is a well-known conservationist who is passionate about protecting the land in this area.

 

The inn is in a gorgeous setting. It is small with only 20 rooms, but lots of activities. There is a clubhouse with an indoor pool, basketball court, ping pong, outdoor tennis courts and plenty of room for running around the lawn. There are also trails for hiking and mountain biking and in the winter cross-country skiing.

 

However, the big attraction seems to be trout fishing—the area is known for it. Prices range from $170-$210 during the summer for room which includes breakfast, tennis, fly fishing and use of the clubhouse. It’s more expensive if lunch and dinner are included.

 

Canine Club Getaway

If you really can’t leave your dog at home and are looking for a unique vacation—book a room for

Canine Club Getaway in September, September 10-13, 2009. This is camp for you and your dog with 3 days of activities including swimming, hiking, playing frisbee, dog sports like agility, lure coursing, fly ball, Rally Obedience and even "Yappy Hour" by the pool. There will be a vet on site with lectures about things like emergency canine first aid, dog nutrition and fitness, therapy work, behavioral issues, canine interaction and body language. They even offer to do Doggie Weddings!

 

Rooms look simple, but the good news is that your dog can sleep with you—even on the bed. Prices are all inclusive and include private baths, gourmet meals, and all the daytime events and evening entertainment.

Rates are per person, include lodging, three meals daily (beginning with dinner Thursday evening and ending with brunch on Sunday) and activities:

On-Site Single Room:                                 $825.00
On-Site Double Room (per person):        $750.00

You can also make your own housing arrangements, and just do food and activities only package.

Food & Activities Only:                        $675.00

*There’s a $25 surcharge after July 1.
Canine Club Getaway 2009
Northern Catskills, New York
September 10-13, 2009
Call: 1-888-K9-CLUBG
Email: info@CanineClubGetaway.com