Ways to Enjoy Fall in the Great Western Catskills
Fall is one the best seasons to get out and experience all that the Great Western Catskills has to offer. From taking scenic drives to view the beautiful fall foliage, visiting you-pick pumpkin farms, enjoying craft beverage producer taprooms, or attending one of our fall festivals. you’ll discover that the Great Western Catskills has everything you need to help you celebrate the fall season!
-Leaf Peeping-
The Great Western Catskills is the perfect location to observe the stunning color changes of the fall foliage. A great way to figure out the best time to explore our scenic byways this fall, is to check the I Love NY Fall Foliage Report Website. This website documents and forecasts all the fall foliage color changes that occur throughout New York State, so you can be up to date when planning your fall vacation to the Great Western Catskills.
The Catskill Scenic Route 30
The Catskill Scenic Route 30 stretches from Hancock to Grand Gorge, NY, and in totality, passes through 5 towns and many villages and hamlets that rest along the way. This stretch of road also passes through forever wild forest preserves hugs close to the famous fishing waters of East Branch of the Delaware River, as well as the shorelines of the Pepacton Reservoir.
The Upper Delaware Scenic Byway
New York State Route 97, is consistently lauded as one of the most breathtaking drives in regional and national publications. It traverses the western borders of Orange, Sullivan and Delaware Counties along a 70 mile stretch of the Delaware River with rock cut landscapes and long valley vistas along the way.
The Catskill Mountain Scenic Byway
Carved deeply through the highest peeks of the Catskill Mountains rests the stunningly beautiful Catskill Mountain Scenic Byway. This 52-mile road passes through the heart of the Catskill Park’s highest peaks, from the Ulster County town of Olive to the Delaware County town of Andes, NY. You’ll pass through many of our wonderful villages that are home to renowned restaurants, cideries, art galleries and so much more.
Wayside Cider
Alex Wilson & Irene Hussey started Wayside Cider in 2014 after meeting at the Catskill Amateur Cider Making Contest at Table on Ten. Irene won the competition. Alex came second, but maintains to this day he “was robbed.” Forged in a shared love of the wild and abandoned homestead apple trees, the pair made 3,500 bottles of “methode champenoise,” unfiltered mountain cider in their first year or production. Wayside has since built an absolutely beautiful taproom that features their handcrafted ciders, local spirits and a delicious menu that focuses on sourcing ingredients from local producers. Visit their website for more information.
-Hit the Fall Festivals & Enjoy Local Products-
The Great Western Catskills is home to several fall-themed festivals that feature the bounty of goods and products that are made here. Vendors include farmers, value-added food producers, restaurants and farm-to-fork business owners who showcase the tremendously valuable resources we are so lucky to have here in the Great Western Catskills.
-Get a Jump on Holiday Shopping now-
You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the unique shopping in the hamlets, towns and villages of the Great Western Catskills. Main Streets and off-the-beaten-path locations offer great finds to check off your holiday shopping list: antique shops, sporting goods specialty stores, beautifully curated gift shops, handmade local products, artisan goods, old-fashioned general stores, and so much more.
Axtell Antiques and the Rookery Bookery
In 1968 the House of Axtell Antiques, also known as The Rookery, was born. This lovingly restored inn now houses some of the best examples of early Americana with emphasis on scarcity, unusual form, and superlative, untouched condition of museum-quality offerings: baskets, stoneware, treenware, redware, folk art, iron hearth accessories, country furniture, textiles, art work, glassware, and early lighting devices.
Barbara Alyn Artwear Luxury & Mercantile
Barbara Alyn’s colorful fantasy art is available as artwear (wearable art), on canvas, or in a slew of whimsical jewelry, pocketbooks, household essentials and non-essentials must haves. Fabulous fabric, textiles, beads, all odds and ends remade into original one-of-a-kind pieces that stand out in a crowd. Learn more about her wonderful store by visiting her Facebook page!
A full list of businesses and shops that are located in the Great Western Catskills can be found here.