22 November 14

A Weekend in the Catskills
The Graham & Co., Kaaterskills Falls and The Diner in Phoenicia

I had been looking forward to this weekend for a long time as my parents were coming to visit us from Copenhagen. It’s their third visit since we moved here so this time we decided to go on a road trip and explore something outside the city. We were interested in showing them the Catskills as they are just a couple of hours outside Manhattan and it is some of the most beautiful country in the US. 

The Graham & Co. in Phoenicia is a very special place we in which we love to stay. It was designed by four creatives who have long advocated the area as a laid-back weekend alternative to the Hamptons. This hotel is about two and half hours away for Manhattan, depending on the traffic. 

This was our third visit to the Graham & Co., and all of the times we’ve been there have been during the winter. It’s very cozy in the cold season, with fires in the stove and s’mores roasting above the bonfires. You can hike or bike all year round, ski at nearby Bellayre or Hunter Mountain in the winter and relax by the pool during the summer.

Kaaterskill Falls is the highest two-tiered waterfall in New York state. It is a very popular spot — especially in the warmer summer months. We enjoy it when it is frozen in the winter as the ice on the fall is a beautiful sight. To go to the trail you need a car as you do for most of the hikes in the area. 

When visiting the Catskills you need to eat at The Diner! It was built in 1962 and moved to the Catskills in the early 80s but has recently changed owners and is now owned by Mike Cioffi. They serve local fresh food sources from Catskills and Hudson Valley farms when available. The menu offers traditional American diner favorites but with a modern and very delicious twist. 

The Diner is open from Thursday – Sunday from 7am till 5pm. For dinner I can recommend Peekamoose which is owned by a couple that used to work at the Gramercy Tavern in New York City. My other recommendation, if you want to stay local, is pick up a sesame seed crust pizza from Brios Restaurant and Pizza and bring it back to the hotel.

A stroll through town and a stop for coffee and maybe some chocolate-covered bacon are required activities. Stepping into the shops along Main Street is like walking into a time machine. I especially like the very dark Morne Imports on Main Street, frozen in time for 30 years.

The Graham & Co., 80 Route 214, Phoenicia, NY, 12464
thegrahamandco.com

Bellayre Ski Resort, Belleayre Mountain, PO Box 313, Highmount, NY 12441
belleayre.com

Hunter Mountain, 64 Klein Avenue, Hunter, NY 12442
huntermtn.com

The Diner in Phoenicia, 5681 Route 28, Phoenicia, NY 12464
phoeniciadiner.com

Peekamoose Resturant, 8373 Route 28, Big Indian, NY 12410
peekamooserestaurant.com

Brios Resturant and Pizza, 68 Main Street, Phoenicia, NY, 12464
brios.net