I have loved visiting the Catskills for almost two decades. An easy – and beautiful – drive from NYC, I rarely feel at ease the way I do when I’m surrounded by so much natural beauty and the calm pace of life there.
Before kids, my husband and I would rent a car and head to the Catskills for a cozy weekend getaway every year. In an effort to get outside as much as possible with our young kids during the first COVID-cautious summer of 2020, we rented a house in Smallwood, NY, for our first stay in the Sullivan County area of the Catskills. The area is jaw-droppingly beautiful and our favorite parts of the nature-filled stay were daily wildlife sightings, nature trail hikes, and swimming hole finds. Our favorite was the White Lake Brook falls next to the Forest Reserve in Smallwood, NY. The kids happily splashed in the natural tiers of water, climbed on rocks, and investigated their moss-covered forest finds.
 Macaroni Kid Brooklyn NW |
This past week, I was fortunate enough to return to the Sullivan Catskills, without kids! – and with renewed peace of mind after recently getting and overcoming COVID! – to join a fabulous group of Macaroni KID publishers and fellow moms to discover family-friendly destinations I had never before visited, despite their close proximity. I am SO excited to return with my family!
Here are my top 5 favorite Sullivan Catskills discoveries from the trip:
I was hosted for the purposes of this written review, but as always, the opinions are 100% my own.
1. The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark
 Macaroni KID Brooklyn NW |
Opened as recently as 2019, The Kartrite still has that new resort "smell;" I noticed right away how modern and pristine it is as I settled into my comfortable hotel room.
As the largest indoor waterpark in the state, kept year-round at a balmy 84 degrees, it's great for any day – rain, shine, or snow – and boasts water features for absolutely any age from Puddle Ducks for the littles to thrills on The Krakken for big kids and grownups.
The restaurant options are numerous and the food is delish. Besides their family-friendly menus, the Kartrite transforms into s'mores heaven as the sun sets with giant fire pits surrounding play areas. For groggy mornings, I recommend coffee at The Highline cafe – the latte was perfection.
And they have countless additional activities: arcade, bowling, ropes course & zipline, rock climbing, goat yoga, shopping, arts & crafts, nightly movie screenings, and a full calendar of activities and entertainment. They have Kids Night Out babysitting on weekends, and if you're short on time, they have day passes, too! Read more here.
 Villa Roma Resort |
Having watched Borscht-Belt-era Dirty Dancing and Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, I have often fantasized about staying at a nostalgia-inducing Catskills resort steeped in history and chock full of activities for the the whole family. FOUND!!
Established almost 80 years ago and turned into a world class year-round resort by the ‘80s, Villa Roma has hosted countless families – primarily from NYC – for decades. As I enjoyed an absolutely delicious 5-course feast in their spacious Main Dining Room surrounded by impeccable service, I felt transported to another time.
The enormous property features year-round activities too numerous to list, but I’m most excited about the indoor/outdoor heated pools, bounce houses, go-karts, bumper boats, zip-line, bowling alley, arcade, ping pong, nightly entertainment, horseback riding, fishing, 18-hole PGA golf course, babysitting services, Bethel Woods packages with concert transportation included, and – in winter – its own ski hill and tubing slopes! Both all-inclusive and à la carte packages are available. Check out their current promotions here. Click here for a 10% discount exclusively for Macaroni Kid readers. Read more here.
3. Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
 Macaroni KID Brooklyn NW |
A trip to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the site of the 1969 Woodstock Music & Arts Fair, is nothing short of unforgettable. The natural amphitheater, which hosted 450,000 fans to see the most prolific 3-day festival in history, is preserved and takes you back in time. The adjacent museum and its fascinating docents fill in the details of the legendary story, and they have a terrific interactive booklet giveaway for kids to engage with and learn about the history.
AND you can still experience live music there! The Pavilion at Bethel Woods hosts a full calendar of concerts at their spacious outdoor amphitheater! Upcoming iconic performances include Phish, Santana, and The Beach Boys. And they also have kid-focused concerts like Harry Potter in Concert and a Singalong Encanto Film Concert! Kids under 2 are free to sit on the lawn and some performances have additional discounts for kids. More: they have incredible teen and kids arts programs which would pair perfectly with a family summer getaway, and don't miss their Peace, Love & Pumpkins Halloween experience during leaf-peeping season in October. Read more here and here and here.
4. Lander’s River Trips
 Lander's River Trips |
I had the good fortune to spend a fun day rafting the beautiful Delaware River with the Macaroni KID moms during our trip. Family-owned since 1955, Lander's River Trips facilitated a great day so we could enjoy the beauty of the Sullivan Catskills by water. I so enjoyed the calm of life slowing down as I floated down river. The warm water invited us in for a swim and we got to see several soaring bald eagles along the journey. The area is a haven for nesting eagles.
Lander's offers raft, kayak, canoe, and tubing options. Want to camp? They offer 3 riverfront campgrounds! Have a dog? Dogs are welcome at the campgrounds and in the river crafts! Read more here.
5. The Sullivan Catskills Dove Trail©
 Macaroni KID |
What kid doesn't love a scavenger hunt? How about trying a scavenger hunt challenge across an entire county?
The Sullivan Catskills Dove Trail© commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Woodstock festival and features 50 dove sculptures hand-painted by local artists and perched in towns and local businesses across the Sullivan Catskills.
Only 90 minutes from NYC, Sullivan Catskills is the perfect place to get away from the city with your family for a dose of nature and fun!
Want to see more? Check out some Instagram reels from the trip:
Read more about the Sullivan Catskills from Macaroni Kid publishers in N. Huntington PA, Johnstown PA, Harrisburg PA, Erie PA, Bowie MD, Cleveland East OH, Shelbyville IN, and Gig Harbor WA.
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