Upstate New York is a different kind of living: the Catskills are vast and filled with exciting outdoor escapades to be had. All throughout upstate you'll find small town gems to explore. From locally owned boutiques and antique shops, to hearty restaraunts and breweries, you'll want to experience all that the mountaintop has to offer. To aid in the creation of your next 'adventure agenda', we've curated a list of the top ten reasons to visit Hotel Mountain Brook:
1. Hiking Trails
The heart of the Catskills is home to the most amazing hiking trails in New York State. On the drive up to Hotel Mountain Brook, you’ve already passed a few sites to explore without knowing it!
A popular destination for those who like an easy hike with incredible views is the Kaaterskill Falls Overlook. Open year round, this viewing platform overlooks a massive waterfall. The overlook connects directly to the trail you can take all the way down the mountain to view the falls from the ground up - but this is a more difficult climb to be prepared for. See parking information here. Hikers looking for a moderate trail will enjoy taking the Scutt Road Loop to Artist’s Rock. This path connects to North & South Lake, which is a state campground worth exploring. N&S Lake serves as a Forest Perserve with two small lakes, a boating house, three picnic pavilions, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and a small swimming spot. For experienced hikers looking for a challenge in the warmer months, the Devils Path is the day-hike for you (closed during the winter months).
If you’re interested in hiking, be sure to come prepared! See more on general hiking information.
2. The Mountaintop Arboretum
Less than 10 minutes from Hotel Mountain Brook is the Mountaintop Arboretum. This public garden opened in 1977, and is an active part in environmental stewardship of native species in upstate NY. Today, this property continues to protect 178 acres of Catskills forest, cultivating native & exotic plants, meadows, and wetlands. On property there are many trail to explore in addition to plenty of site seeing. The Arboretum strongly promotes environmental education for those interested in horticulture, birding, geology, and more, hosting lectures and workshops. Join in on the fun and check out their Events and Programs Calendar.
3. Shop Local
Within walking distance of our property is Downtown Tannersville. Known as the Painted Village in the Sky, this small downtown has many shops and restaurants to enjoy! Some of our favorite shops include: the excellently curated boutique Sundry, the holy grail for collectors at Tannersville Antiques, curious creations and jewelry at Bones & Stones. Bring a piece of the Catskills home with you from the Catskills Mountain Country Store, and be sure to visit our local apothecary, Wellness RX for locally made bath salts, sprays, soaps, and anything else you may need to pamper yourself.
In the town of Hunter you can find more antiquing at Rust, Diamond, & Village Antiques. Close by is Downtown Catskill, that has many of it’s own shops/eateries; if you’re in search of a great local bookstore, be sure to stop by Magpie Bookshop.
4. Home of Rip Van Winkle
In 1819, American Author Washington Irving published ‘The Tale of Rip Van Winkle’, a story that would soon become legend. This short story follows the journey of a young farmer who wanders far into the Catskill Mountains who encounters mischievous fairies. The sprites offer him a taste of a magical liquor and upon drinking it he falls into a deep slumber… only to be awoken 100 years later as an old man!
Being home to this American Folklore, Tannersville has many site commemorating Rip Van Winkle’s impact over the years. Ride horses or hike along the Sleepy Hollow Horse Trail to the Mountain House Turnpike, where the Rip Van Winkle Historic House site can be found. Take a selfie with ol’Rip at Hunter Mountain’s Rip Van Winkle Monument. Find Rip throughout Downtown Tannersville - stop by the Mountain Top Library to pick up a copy of the Mountain Top Historical Society’s https://www.mths.org Rip Van Winkle Mural Scavenger Hunt (pictured below).
5. Eat Local
From casual to fine-dining, Downtown Tannersville has a smattering of local restaurants you’ll want to try.
For ambient atmospheres and gourmet dining, reserve a seat at Tabla or Jessie’s Harvest House. At Jessie’s in the wintertime, you can eat inside a heated ‘igloo’ outdoor seating area. Pick up something hearty at Last Chance Restaurant Antiques & Cheese - if you have a sweet tooth, then you’ll love their vintage-inspired candy section.
Easy to spot with it’s rooftop ice cream sculpture, Mama’s Boy Burgers is a nice spot for fries & a shake. If you want something quick and that’s open everyday year round, Fortune Garden is the local Chinese Food spot. There’s also a Tops Market down the road, if you need any provisions on the go.
Fox & Bear is a local favorite for delicious coffee, select organic groceries, local heirloom eggs, and incredibly trendy gifts.
6. Drink Local
The Hudson Valley Winery offers unique wine-tasting experiences (through reservations). Drive over to Hunter and order a sampler flight of local draft beer from The Hunter Mountain Brewery, or attend an ‘Apres-Ski’ event at Scribner’s for drinks and a live DJ.
If you’re in more of a ‘party mood’, try stopping by one of the events at Hilltop Bar & Grill. By day, Hilltop is a great spot to grab a quick brew; by night, this local party spot is known to host live music, DJ’s, and dance parties.
7. Seasonal Events
If there’s one place to be to experience the changing seasons, it’s the Catskills. In the warmer months, Fromer’s Market Gardens has a local farmer’s market stand on weekends. Experience the movies through an old-school ‘drive in’ at Greenville’s Drive In 32 - there are themed cocktails, beer, live music (before the show), and lot of yummy snack to purchase before the show begins. Nearing Summer’s end is the Annual ‘Tour of the Catskills’ Pro-Am Bicycle Road Race.
In Autumn is the annual ‘Rip Van Winkle Wine, Brew & Beverage Festival’ (tickets available). Winter is Fromer’s hosts a large Holiday Market of local vendors and artisans.
Be sure to check the Annual Catskill Events & Festivals Calendar for more happenings about town.
8. Ski the Slopes
Mountain Brook is about 20 minutes away from Hunter Mountain, so it’s the perfect location for your ski-weekend getaway! There are three separate mountains for different levels of skiers at the Hunter Mountain Ski Resort. The levels range from beginner/intermediate all the way up to double black diamond trails (experts only). Mountain Trail Cross Country is the stop for skiers who like to go long distance while enjoying the scenery.
If you’re not a skier, there are many winter-friendly hikes to take part in, and if you’re in the mood for snowshoeing, be sure to plan a trip to Huckleberry Point.
9. Hunter Mountain
Hunter Mountain has more to it than skiing! Being the second highest peak in the Catskills, Hunter Mountain offers thrilling opportunities like taking the Scenic Skyride to a 3200-foot summit and zip-lining. In the Summer, explore the property’s hiking trails and fishing spots, and visit in the Winter for skiing and snowshoeing.
10. Stay at Hotel Mountain Brook
After a long day of excursions, rest for a while at Hotel Mountain Brook. Just off of Downtown Tannersville is our 1940s historic property. In 2008 this building was revived through the Hunter Foundation and has been under new ownership by {verdigreen} hotels since 2020. Since then this Adirondack style Lodge has been renovated and curated curating to have a more luxurious, ‘Modern Rustic’ aesthetic. Our Innkeepers Sandra and Ryan will welcome you with big smiles and a good story or two.
Spend a few hours exploring all Hotel Mountain Brook has to offer: off the lobby is a vintage-inspired game room, filled with book, board games, an old-school shuffle board, an Atari video game console for two, a vintage foosball table, a DVD library, and a well-curated de-Colonialized book selection. This room provides guests with complimentary snacks, tea, coffees, and cold beverages available 24 hours. In the morning, enjoy the complimentary gourmet Continental style buffet with a daily hot item by Chef Ryan. Listen to the songbirds while taking in the crisp upstate air and explore the property grounds. Play some of the yard games on property, like Corn Hole or Giant Connect Four. At the end of the day, sit back and relax by one of our two outdoor fire pits wrapped in our fireside blankets while roasting S’mores.
Escape the hustle & bustle of city life and come visit us at Hotel Mountain Brook - your next upstate destination awaits.
Thank you for reading,
The Mountain Brook Team
Looking to come back to town? Try staying at one of our sister properties upstate in East Chatham and Woodstock with {verdigreen} hotels .
Remember to follow Hotel Mountain Brook on Instagram and Facebook, and tell us about your stay over at Trip Advisor. We look forward to hosting your next upstate getaway!
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