Fall Drive as seen by VisitVortex
VisitVortex Hudson Valley highlights a fantastic drive through the Great Western Catskills in an article published on August 7, 2024. Read a sample of the article below:
IN DELAWARE’S CENTER
Continuing northeast on 10, you’ll arrive in the charming college town of Delhi, the geographic center of Delaware County. If you happen to be touring between September 21-29, consider checking out the masterworks of “Delaware County Town and Country Quilters” at the Delaware County Historical Association here, and if you’re ready for refreshments, peep the gourmet goodies at Blue Bee Cafe and/or Tay Tea.
Continuing northeast, you’ll pass through Bloomville and South Kortright. Bloomville is a great place to plan to park, stretch your legs, and get immersed — just east of the hamlet is an entrance to the Catskill Scenic Trail, 26 miles of stunning terrain originally carved out for the Ulster and Delaware Railroad.
View from SUNY Delhi
Blenheim Books, Hobart, NY.
BOOK LOVER’S PARADISE
Your next major village is Hobart, the Book Village of the Catskills. Book lovers should not and must not resist stopping to browse the eight distinctive bookstores that give it its name, open on weekends and holiday Mondays. Then comes Stamford, a destination spot since 1870, rich in good eats, nifty retail, art and fun. There’s a farm winery, Blue Sky, and a gallery, Headwaters Arts Center, You’ll find nifty antique shops and the justly renowned Mount Utsayantha Fire Tower. Follow signs on 23 East to find signs that will guide you to the summit with superb 360-degree views. You can also rent bikes at Big Lug Bicycle Outfitter to check out more of that delicious rail trail.
View from Mount Utsayantha Fire Tower. Photo by Andy Arthur.
John Burroughs Memorial State Historic Site.
Leaving Stamford, take Route 23 East, which crosses the West Branch of the Delaware just one mile south of its beginning. You’ll wind around two 3,000-foot peaks on your way into the justly named, peaceful hamlet of Grand Gorge, which is part of the town of Roxbury; there’s a nifty army/navy surplus shop here, Military Collection.
FUN, FUNKY ROXBURY
Turn south onto Route 30 to head into the town’s central hamlet. The Roxbury Arts Group has been keeping it lively around here for decades; in the town’s central hamlet, you’ll find groovy local crafts at the Roxbury General Store. The John Burroughs Memorial State Historic Site (aka Woodchuck Lodge) is undergoing interior renovations this year, but there are trails and picnic spots there, and Burroughs spent more time outdoors than in anyway.
Continue south on Route 30 and it will lead you over to Margaretville, worth exploring in its own right, with lots of quirky retail (check out Home Goods, Species by the Thousands, and the Happy Giraffe) and good food.
Route 30 runs into Route 28 here; head east for a very pretty hour’s drive to Kingston. If it’s dinnertime, lucky you, you’ll soon arrive at the Hickory BBQ. Of course, you’ll have to stop back up here at some point to visit Andes and maybe Bovina; check out the good folks at greatwesterncatskills.com for a whole host of other good things.
Read the full article by VisitVortex here!