Phoenicia is in the part of the Catskills where the landscape starts to become exceptionally breathtaking, but it’s still only 120 miles north of the city. That’s not to say I’m dismissing the southern Catskills. I just feel like it gets more beautiful the farther north you head.

Main Street Phoenicia is a quaint and colorful hamlet sandwiched between the mountains. It’s welcoming to weekenders. In fact, I might even suggest that it caters to weekenders.

And why not? Apart from just relaxing and taking in the sheer beauty, the area has much to offer. For active folks, 3 major ski areas are all located about 1/2 hour away. Hunter, Belleayre and Windham offer skiing, snowboarding and snowtubing for the graceful impaired (that would be me). In the summer, there are mountain hikes and tubing on the Esopus.

But back to the town. No visit to Phoenicia would be complete without breakfast at the world famous Sweet Sue’s. Ok, Ulster County famous. They serve 25 types of pancakes and offer vegetarian “meat” options. There are art galleries, cool shops and a retreat center as well as a nearby Buddhist monastery.

Adirondack Trailways travels to Phoenicia; however, getting around the area without a car could be problematic. The town is small enough to cover in a few hours.