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Since the 19th-century, people have flocked to the natural environment of New York’s Sullivan Catskills. Often called America’s first vacationland—visitors came first by train, then by car to escape the everyday stress of urban environments and recharge physically and emotionally. The landscape here is celebrated for its crystal-clear rivers and streams, wide open meadows, fresh mountain air, and rolling hills dotted with farmland. Located just 90 miles from Manhattan, hundreds of hotels and resorts grew here beginning in 1846, forming a legendary reputation for hospitality and launching the careers of major entertainers like Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, and Joan Rivers, to name a few. In 1969, half a million visitors came to Bethel for three days of peace, love, and music at the Woodstock Music and Art Festival. Today, those traditions continue anew. The environment is still pure; accessible and chic destination resorts have been joined by charming inns, B&Bs, and vacation rentals. A new generation of city dwellers now makes the two-hour trek to unwind in the quaint small towns of Mountaindale, Livingston Manor, Callicoon, Narrowsburg, and others. Dotted with restaurants, bakeries, breweries, distilleries, and cocktail and wine bars and surrounded by a stunning rural landscape, travelers indulge in local cuisine dubbed “Catskill-icious.” The food is as sumptuous as it is inventive. Try the Pecan-Encrusted Local Beaverkill Trout topped with a five-spice compound butter at the Eldred Preserve. Peconic Escargot is on the menu at The Debruce, and at BHR share the Chorizo Stuffed Artichoke. The hand-crafted beverages on the Good Taste Beverage Trail are original and award-winning (Catskill Provisions, Pollinator Gin; Do Good Spirits, Bootlegger Vodka; Roscoe Beer Company, Trout Town Brown Ale). Sullivan Catskills did eco-tourism long before there was a name for it. American fly fishing was born in the waters of The Beaverkill and Willowemoc and drew anglers from all over the world. Today, young anglers can learn to fly fish and learn about the sport’s storied history at the Catskills Fly Fishing Center and Museum. Camp along the shorelines of the Upper Delaware Scenic River after a day of tubing, rafting, canoeing, or kayaking. To the south, the 3,107-acre Bashakill Wildlife Management Area contains the largest freshwater wetland in southeastern New York and is a state-designated Bird Conservation Area. This is a birdwatcher’s dream, where, among others, birders delight in seeing the spring warbler migration and spring and fall waterfowl migrations. Both bald eagles and ospreys are common sights, too. Hiking, hunting, and fishing are also popular pastimes in the Bashakill area. The area is home to some of the world’s most unique attractions. Topping the list is Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and the Museum at Bethel Woods. Located in Bethel, at the site of the Woodstock festival, the center features an outdoor music pavilion with a seating and lawn capacity of 16,000. The Museum is dedicated to the ‘60s and the Woodstock festival, and the Education Program envelops families, children, and adults in programs that celebrate the past and help inspire positive impact for the future. Another local program that serves to educate children and feed local families is A Single Bite. The non-profit organization is a project of the co-founders of Foster Supply Hospitality (FSH)—operators of a small group of independent hotels and restaurants. With a lofty, long-term vision to solve the food insecurity and hunger problem in this county of 75,000 residents, the group serves 500 meals a week and runs an education program in local schools. Visitors to FSH properties can donate through purchases at each venue. Accommodations here range from full-service resorts and vacation rentals to campgrounds, charming inns and B&Bs. Three recent additions include the Eldred Preserve, Callicoon Hills and Chatwal Lodge (opening next spring). Mindful of visitor health, the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association spearheads Catskills Confidence, a county-wide pledge by tourism-related businesses to follow federal, state, and local mitigation measures and protocols for guest health and safety. A good time, and a good night’s sleep, is waiting. The Sullivan Catskills is close, always open, and always ready to welcome you. To learn more and plan your close-to-home getaway call (800) 882-2287 or visit sullivancatskills.com