The Catskill Mountains: Hotels

Postcard Cabins promises to put "nature within reach." Their tiny cabins do just that by letting people (read: city dwellers) feel like they're camping without having to buy, store, and lug all the equipment necessary to do so. Postcard Cabins Eastern Catskills is in the town of Catskill, on the northeastern edge of the Catskill Mountains. The sprawling property (85 acres) has 50 cabins nestled between spruce and pine trees. Dirt roads wind between its different neighborhoods. Each cabin (only 150-200 square feet) features a huge picture window, which faces the woods. There's AC and heat, a queen-size bed, a little table, a small kitchen (including cookware, dishes, a mini-fridge, olive oil, salt and pepper, a two-burner stove, and utensils), a small bathroom (biodegradable toiletries, a hot shower), and WiFi (a recent addition) are inside. A fire pit, a grill grate, Adirondack chairs, and a picnic table are outside. Some cabins are handicap accessible, allow dogs, have bunk beds (perfect for families), or are considered suites (with upgrades like hammocks and outdoor kitchens). While provision boxes (pasta, soup, sweets), s'mores kits, and wood bundles with fire starters are available to purchase. Plus emergency assistance is just a red phone call away. Note: These cabins are designed to be self-sufficient. You might not see another person while you're there. Location: 2 hours & 30 minutes from NYC Style: cabins Vibe: glamping

Gather Greene is technically an event venue (team-building escapes, weddings, wellness retreats). But when groups don't buy out the property, the freestanding cabins are available for individual bookings. Gather Greene is truly a remote hideaway. It's in Coxsackie, a small town on the northern edge of the Catskills. The 100-acre property sits on a ridge with views of both the Catskills and the Berkshires. An open-air pavilion--with a sunset deck and bonfire pits--is the heart of the property. Dirt paths lead to 17 cabins, a shale quarry pond, and wildflower fields. The rest of the space is still covered with trees. While deer, rabbits, and turkeys rule the land. Each cabin features a huge picture window, which faces the woods. There's AC and heat, a beverage station (with a kettle, Harney & Sons teas, and pour-over coffee), a king-size bed, and a bathroom with a rainfall shower in each cabin. Chairs are on the deck outside. On the weekend, a light weekend breakfast is served in the pavilion's guest lounge, and s'mores are offered around fire pits. Plus snowshoes are available to rent in the winter. Notes: 1) One cabin is ADA accessible. Others are pet friendly. 2) If you sign up to receive their emails, you'll be notified when cabins are available to be booked. Location: 2 hours & 30 minutes from NYC Style: cabins Vibe: glamping

From the 1920s through the 1970s, the Catskills were one of the most-popular vacation spots for New Yorkers. Hundreds of small hotels dotted these mountains. Then air travel took over. Close destinations weren't considered as exciting. Many of the hotels closed. Those that remained were in desperate need of renovations. The Woodhouse Lodge is one of the lucky ones to be modernized into a chic retreat. The Woodhouse Lodge was built in 1962. After major renovations, it reopened in 2018. The small lodge is in Greenville, which is on the northern edge of the Catskills. It now has 10 rooms, a restaurant and bar, and a sprawling lawn. It's a laid-back escape that feels like a friend's country house. The lodge's rooms have queen, king, or double beds. They feature retro bathrooms, cozy linens, and mini fridges. An extra loft can fit up to six people. Dogs are welcome in all of them. Room-service breakfast is ordered by text. You can eat in your room or at the little table outside your door. Cocktails, beer, and wine are available in the afternoon. While the restaurant, Woodhouse Pizza, is open Thursday through Sunday nights, with outdoor seating under fairy lights when the weather cooperates. The best part of this property might be the lawn, though. Four acres of grass are dotted with trees (and hammocks!) and lined by the forest. Fire pits are lit every night. S'mores shortly follow. Then everyone drifts between them, their rooms, and the restaurant's outdoor tables with cocktails in hand the rest of the evening. This is a great spot to simply chill in the summer. Location: 3 hours from NYC Style: refurbished motel Vibe: shaker meets mid-century modern