CATSKILLS
Continued from Page 15
Breweries, wineries and vineyards abound.

(There’s a reason Condé Nast Traveler called
the Catskills “New York’s new culinary retreat.”)
festivals and agricultural fairs to a funky street parade where people
dress in costumes and flank handmade floats. There are scenic
drives beneath covered bridges that’ll take you to arts collectives
or farmers markets. There’s even a picturesque bike race called
Tour of the Catskills, which may not be the Tour de France, but
does feature a frighteningly challenging climb called Devil’s
Kitchen. The more adventurous can go whitewater
rafting or give ziplining a go. Be as active or inactive as
you please.

In a way, the decline of the resorts-studded Catskills broadens
the aperture: People who went and stayed in one place likely knew
little of the area’s breadth and depth.

These days, the New York State Department of Economic De-
velopment divides Catskills vacation packages by region (Great
Western Catskills, Great Northern Catskills, Sullivan County, Ulster
County), but it seems like each and every county and town offers
its own promotions and events. Different towns have different iden-
tities, too: Saugerties does not equal Bethel does not equal Phoenicia.

All-inclusive resorts do still exist, which is particularly nice if
you like to golf, but you can just as easily get a cottage in the woods,
stay in a luxury hotel, go “glamping” or stay at a working farm (note:
you’ll be put to work, so dust off those Wellies).

A new generation of innkeepers has gotten quite creative: The
Roxbury Hotel fulfills childhood fantasies with rooms inspired by
popular culture, including one designed like the inside of the bottle
from I Dream of Jeannie. There’s also a hotel with a Bob Dylan
theme. Though none of these especially evoke the Grossinger’s ex-
perience, it may be time to create a new tradition of Jewish
Catskills tourism.

Who knows? Perhaps one day, decades from now, dog-eared
maps and hotel swipe keys from today’s Catskills will grace a mu-
seum case somewhere. I’ll try not to get too misty-eyed when I
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