"Afternoon sun on sunset rock in the Autumn, overlooking North-South Lake in the Catskills Mountains of New York. (HDR)."

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Catskills

This beautiful mountainous region west of the Hudson Valley has been a popular getaway since the 19th century. The romantic image of mossy gorges and rounded peaks, as popularized by Hudson River School painters, encouraged a preservation movement: in 1894 the state constitution was amended so that thousands of acres are 'forever kept as wild forest lands.'


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Best Road Trips

Drive along scenic byways to see the natural wonders and charming towns that make the Catskills worthy of wanderlust.

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Spending Diaries

What a Lonely Planet colleague spent on a weekend of art, rustic-chic lodging and eating out in New York State’s Catskills.

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Gay Head in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
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Beaches

Where Locals Go: Our NYC staff share their favorite nearby getaways

May 9, 2024 • 9 min read

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