Discover the Catskill Mountains
in Retirement
We’ve been fortunate enough to have traveled extensively and have seen some beautiful places on each of our journeys. Who can forget the first time you see Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon? The Eiffel Tower is amazing, and the Vatican can keep you occupied for days. The Redwoods of California are incredible, and the deserts of the southwest are dotted with cactus that seem to have their own personality. But, there’s one place that often gets overlooked that we have been fortunate enough to get to know very well and our advice to everyone is to discover the Catskill Mountains in retirement because there’s something about this area that makes it unique and feel like home whenever you come back.
If you travel along the Hudson River, the Catskill Mountains come into view as you approach the Mario Cuomo Bridge in the area known as the Tappan Zee. From there up to Albany, the scenery is spectacular with the mountains rising and falling displaying all kinds of colors in the fall, lush greenery in the summer and snow-covered hills in the winter. Discover the Catskill Mountains in retirement and you might do what we did: build your dream house for your golden years. We first came up here with our children to relive one of my childhood memories of visiting the Catskill Game Farm. Thousands of families came to these mountains before airfares became reasonable. City dwellers could escape the heat and enjoy an all-inclusive vacation at one of the resorts that became so popular during the 1950’s like Grossinger’s, the Concord or Kutsher’s and were immortalized through the Dirty Dancing movie. With great hiking trails dotted by waterfalls and beautiful views, this area became one of the most popular tourist attractions for those who wanted to escape the steaming streets of the city.
Discover the Catskill Mountains in retirement and you may not want to leave.
The area has always attracted artists. The Hudson School of Art became famous in the late 19th century, and you can visit Olana, the incredible estate of Fredrick Church, or journey across the Rip Van Winkle Bridge to see the home of his mentor Thomas Cole. This is the land of the sleeping mountaineer made famous by Washing Irving, and you can see the Ichabod Crane schoolhouse or the haunted graveyards of Sleepy Hollow patrolled by the Headless Horseman. Writers and musicians still gravitate toward this beautiful area of upstate New York, and you can visit a museum that honors one of the most famous musical events of all time: Woodstock. Although actually taking place on a farm in Bethel, the museum re-creates that weekend and does a great job of portraying what took place there. Discover the Catskill Mountains in retirement and you may never leave. That actually happened to a few Woodstock attendees – they never left, they had found everything they wanted in life in this beautiful escape from the noise and hectic pace of the city.
Two Presidents came from this area, and you can visit their homes while you’re traveling through the winding mountain roads. Martin Van Buren’s home is located in Kinderhook, and the home of Franklin D. Roosevelt is located in Hyde Park right next to one of the many Vanderbilt mansions that can still be toured. While you’re in the area, stop in at the Culinary Institute of America and walk around the beautiful campus that is right on the Hudson River. Make sure you have a meal prepared by the students. It’s a great experience and supports the work of the school in turning out some of the best graduates in this wonderful profession. You might even find yourself taking a class here or attending some of the wonderful events they hold throughout the year. It’s no surprise that some of the graduates decide to stay in the area. That's a big plus for the residents of this area because there's no shortage of top-quality restaurants. The farm-to-table movement is alive and well in this area of the country and there are some absolutely wonderful examples of fine dining all through the Hudson Valley. As I said, discover the Catskill Mountains in retirement and you may not ever leave!
The real beauty of this area is nature itself and, if you like the outdoors, you’ll never run out of things to do because this is a sportsman’s (or sportswoman’s) dream all year long. From kayaking and hiking to skiing or hunting, you can’t beat the Catskill Mountains. You can have your pick of accommodations from luxurious hotels to rustic cabins; you can stay in any of the charming towns that will have you coming back again and again. Dine or stay in the places where George Washington visited during the Revolution and find out why hard apple cider and cider donuts hold a special place in everyone’s heart. Visit some quaint little towns like Rhinebeck, Hudson or Beacon and fall in love all over aging with Main Street USA. Discover the Catskill Mountains in retirement and you just might talk yourself into being a resident. The area is truly special, and you should take a trip to find out for yourself. Go ahead. It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!
Thanks for visiting. If you like what you see here, please tell your friends. If you haven’t done so already, be sure you take The Self Discovery Challenge for Retirement! It’s designed to help you make the most of this wonderful time of your life. You’re never too old to discover something new about yourself!
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