New York: Greene County, Catskills Family Vacation Ideas, Butterflies and Bears, Splash Parties, and a Farm Adventure.
Posted July 15, 2009 , trackback
Imagine a family vacation spot with golf, tennis, bowling, hay rides, fishing, stargazing, horseback riding, hiking, drive-in movies, bowling, mountain biking, mountaintop picnics, farm adventures and a waterpark. Add to that farm fresh produce markets, awesome ice cream, delicious German pastries and tasty Black Horse Farm pies. You are imagining Greene County in the family friendly Catskills.
Located between the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains two hours north of New York City, Greene County has embraced family vacationers for more than a century. It is a family vacation destination with resort options geared to families. Choices span the gamut of vacation styles filled with traditions – something old, something new. Like an heirloom cake recipe meant to be shared with those who appreciate quality, a family vacation in the Catskills offers a rich mix of traditions and a funky American style uncommon at mainstream destinations. What exactly does Greene County have to offer vacationing families? We have assembled a family vacation list making it easy to take action on your own.
Seek bears and butterflies in Cairo. Okay so everyone knows about the clever cat sculptures adorning walkways and parks in Greene County but new this year visitors will also find hand-painted statues of bears positioned to celebrate Henry Hudson. The bears have been individually painted by local artists to depict scenes relevant to Henry Hudson’s life and legacy. The bears may be found along Main Street in Cairo and in surrounding hamlets. Bonus points: The bears are part of a summer-long interactive quest complete with clues and an “Explore with Henry Hudson” treasure map. The fun and educational quest was created for families to share while learning fun facts about Henry Hudson and his journey. Using the quest map participants find each bear and look for the hidden butterflies somewhere within each bear’s design. Inside one of the butterflies on each bear there is a clue that corresponds to one of the “Quadricentennial ‘Quest”ions” about Henry Hudson. Finalists are eligible for a prize drawing, and coupons from local businesses.
Go Cat’n around Catskill. For the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration Main Street in Catskill becomes the Hudson River as the Catskill Cats help visitors celebrate Explore NY 400. The 2009 artful felines celebrate the uniqueness of the Hudson River Valley adorned to reflect the culture, art, history, agriculture, industry and landscapes of vicinity. Need to know: Wherever a cat appears you will be in the middle of the fun and if you want to take a cat home, there will be an auction in September.
Pay one price and get it all. The Hudson Valley area offers Brigadoon style resorts where the fun just happens without the support of the outside world. Many have all-inclusive vacation packages offering three meals a day, nightly entertainment, daytime activities and counselors for the kids. From country western dancing, Karaoke and campfire songs to Bocci, horse-drawn wagon rides and ping-pong, vacationing is easy. Some resorts welcome dogs and even have created dog parks onsite while other spots produce Las Vegas nights, fireworks and talent shows. Some all-inclusive resorts add a cultural twist. Think about a getaway with an Irish twist, maybe a resort with a German atmosphere or place with Italian flare - just step inside the Greene box.
Go golfing with family. If golfing is a family tradition then sharing the tradition with your youngsters is a vacation benefit. In Greene County courses offer – no they welcome - junior golfers. There are several courses within the area that have family friendly policies which allow youngsters ages 12 or older to share green space and fairways with parents or grandparents.
Splash down with your kids. Water always makes a summer vacation more fun and Greene County is the home of New York’s top ranked waterpark. The Zoom Flume makes any summer day a little crazier, more fun and definitely exciting. It is the place to zoom down giant winding water slides and careen 300 feet to a splash down pool. Travel the 10,000 gallon-a-minute “rapids” rafting a 600-foot chute and slide, twist, turn and splash in the darkness of the Thrilling Black Vortex. Splash and play in the giant sized lagoon activity pool or relax and float slowly down the Lazy River. For little tykes they have created Pelican Pond - a miniature version of the waterslide fun. Need to know: Mother Nature’s swimming spots include Dolan Lake and North and South Lakes where you will find fishing and rowboat rentals.
Remember the good old days? Not everyone remembers when drive-in movie theaters, roller rinks, and bowling nights were common place but Greene County has two drive-in movie locations and a 1950s era roller rink. So it is still possible to share a vintage night in the car at the movies or skate to the music at Purling Roller Rink and bowl a few games at Hoe Bowl Lanes. Bonus points: It’s also possible to pick your own berries, peaches or apples and ride in a horse drawn carriage at Boehn Farm. At Hull O Farms guests are encouraged to feed calves, milk cows, and collect eggs.
Go for the ice cream. Every family vacation should include at least one, if not two stops for ice cream and the town of Catskill has two promising spots. Cone E Island by Catskill Creek has more than a dozen tempting soft-serve ice cream cone choices, plus soda floats, banana splits, egg creams and simple fast food in a Coney Island atmosphere. The funkiest ice cream flavor is Blue Goo soft-serve which tastes like cotton candy. About a dozen coin-operated mechanical animal rides add to the retro atmosphere. Also in Catskill on route 32 is Kaatskill Cider Mill with a 1950s-style ice cream counter serving burgers and dogs and featuring more than 20 flavors of hard packed ice cream. Try dark chocolate cappuccino crunch or maybe a scoop of cotton candy.
Remember Rip Van Winkle? This is the region that inspired the legends about Rip. The tales of Washington Irving reflect the mid-Hudson Valley, the sleepy home of Rip Van Winkle. Irving’s tales include localized German and Dutch lore and uniquely American tales and legends. His timeless stories create a sense of place. Stories like ‘‘Rip Van Winkle’’ and ‘‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’’ remain timeless signatures of the area which is definitely not a sleepy place. 
Ride up and hike down. Not just for snow skiing anymore Hunter Mountain operates its SkyRide - four-passenger chairlift during the summer months. It is the longest and highest in the Catskill region moving riders to an altitude of 3,200 feet above sea level. Imagine gliding effortlessly to the top – seeing plenty of green, feet kicking in the wind. From the drop-off point there are miles of state-maintained hiking trails criss-crossing the area, offering terrain for short scenic hikes of varying difficulty. While it is always an option to ride back down from the crest, there are several trails leading back to the mountain’s base or for the energetic on Hunter’s 4,040-foot summit and the fire tower. Bonus points: During weekends in the warm weather months the spirit of Rip Van Winkle pervades. In homage to the tale of the man who fell asleep in Greene County a giant sculpture of Rip and his faithful dog is being carved on the mountain. Just take the chairlift to the top and watch the sculptor at work.
Bike in the mountains. Any family with young teens knows that energetic days sustain family vacation harmony and that mountain biking is loads of fun and takes oodles of energy. The best bet in the area is Hunter Mountain with miles of mountain bike trails and to make it easy to enjoy a mountain bike adventure they rent IronHorse mountain bikes at the Sports and Expeditions Center. Hunter Mountain’s lift-serviced mountain biking program is flexible providing easy scenic routes for beginners and for expert riders challenging downhill trails and single tracks spread throughout 200 plus acres. Bonus points: For skills practice and mastery Hunter One Skills Center features a learning park with scaled down features and guided tours with staff in a safe and controlled environment. Families with hard-to-please teenagers should make a beeline to the Adventure Park at Windham Mountain to see why paintball is one of America’s fastest growing sports or to try the bungee trampoline, rock climbing wall and skateboard park.
Time travel in Cairo. Each August the annual Catskill Mountains Renaissance Faire in Cairo makes it easy to escape to another century. Visit the make believe land of Cantonshire and spend a day with knights, maidens, beggars and fools. Listen to a psaltery played by a lady in waiting and watch a festive joust. Hear stories and listen to court music. Shop for a costume or acquire the perfect accessory. Need to know: Those who approach the gate wearing Renaissance garb will receive $2 off per ticket.
Arrange family spa time. Sharing spa time with a teen has its rewards and spa staff can often provide information without it sounding like a lecture. The Spa at Kaatskill Mountain Club in Hunter offers several appropriate spa experiences including an essential facial geared to teen skin. At Friar Tuck Resort & Spa in Catskill a skin care professional will consult and educate your teen on skin care. During this visit the aesthetician will do a deep cleanse, extract if necessary, and treat teen skin to a therapeutic masque. Bonus points: For expectant moms Friar Tuck offers a special massage to ease back tension, relive water retention and basically calm the body, mind and spirit.
Make it happen. Take a summer vacation in the Northern Catskills of Greene County and make memories with your children. All inclusive seven-day family vacation packages range from $1500 to $3700 for a family of four or for shorter stays, rates start at $150 per person for weekend two-night stay including meals. No two resorts are alike but all offer family fun made easy. Knowing the cost of your family vacation makes it much easier to unwind, relax and enjoy yourself and your kids – no surprises. Greene County Tourism Catskill, NY. Toll-free 1-800-355-CATS (2287), (518)943-3223 or log on to Greene Tourism and make your family vacation happen.
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