View from Ski Lift at Hunter Mountain, NY
by Marie C. Dimino
by Marie C. Dimino
The beautiful Catskills Mountains in Upstate New York offer many diversified activities. It's a perfect getaway for families, friends, couples or singles.
The foliage colors of a typical autumn day in Upstate New York in the
beautiful Catskills Mountains can be poetically described as hues of tangerine
orange, glistening golds, crimson reds, chartreuse greens and rustic shades of
burgundy browns. The canvas is an open sky with varying shades of splendid blue
and puffs of billowy, fluffy, soft, white clouds. A hint of smokey silver, peach
and lavender sometimes spreads across the mountaintops crowning the heavens in
all its glory. The lakes and many tumbling waterfalls sparkle and reflect tiny
flashes of light that glitter and dance with the glow of the sun at the first
moment of morning’s dawn.
Autumn skies of this beautiful country with its crisp, cool air is what music
and art has been created from throughout the centuries. This natural fine art is
the palette that draws tourists here from all walks of life to experience and
photograph the pristine wonders of nature in the North-Eastern ever-changing
fall season.
Natural Wonders
Many birds instinctively migrate to warmer climates where food will be
readily available. During this time, geese can be seen flying in formation and
heard calling out to each other, tracking one another’s distance between them.
Monarch butterflies appear with their autumn colored wings as if to announce the
end of summer. Mushrooms go into full bloom to spread their seed for the
following year. Mycological societies especially enjoy their fungi hunting
during this season.
So Much To Do, So Much To See
There are many Catskills events and outdoor activities to explore. Pumpkin
patches, apple orchards, festivals, hay rides, fishing tournaments, and
motorcycle rallies, as well as, scenic tours and cruises on the Hudson River and
old-fashioned historical railroad rides that take you through the Catskills
Mountains giving you the feeling of yesteryear.
Farm stands are everywhere and overflow with fresh, ripe, sweet produce. You
can even visit an orchard and pick your own. Cider mills offer fresh squeezed
cider from a variety of apples. Maple syrup farms explain how syrup is collected
from the trees and offer maple syrup products and samples to try. Dairy farms
offer distinct and quality cheeses and soaps made from cow, goat and sheep milk.
Bee farms offer unique honey products such as basswood, blueberry, buckwheat,
and wildflower.
Garlic is planted in October, winters over, and harvested in July. Fresh
garlic is abundant in the Fall. Several varieties and species are offered at
garlic festivals where you can spend the day enjoying local garlic recipes.
Art Groups and galleries exhibit works of art that are also for sale by local
artists. Paintings, wood carvings, sketches, sculptures, and other interesting,
unique forms of art line the stores and streets. Treasure seekers will find the
abundance of antique stores irresistible. These shops can be found all over the
Catskills and range from private store owners to garage sales and flea
markets.
In the Fall season, some ski resorts open their ski lifts for Sky Rides so
you can enjoy the dazzling sights of the high peaks of the Northern Catskills.
On a clear, sunny day you can see amazing views of the Catskills Mountains, the
Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, and the Green Mountains of Vermont.
For thrill seekers, Zipline Adventure Tours will have you flying through the
air, 600 feet above the ground, at 50 miles an hour. There are also tamer,
family-friendly Zips for all ages and ability levels.
Mountain bike trails and bicycling routes are all around the Catskills
Mountains. Here you can enjoy scenic, wilderness, historical or romantic cycling
adventures.
Hundreds of trails are available for riders of ATVs, SUVs, dirt bikes, quad
runners, and go-karts. There are orchards with rocky trails, wooded trails,
grassy trails, sandy trails and muddy trails that are opened for touring,
practicing or racing.
For the sportsman minded, there are archery, gun and game clubs that offer
target shooting, pheasantry and sporting clays.
Many museums and landmark historical farm houses are open to the public and
tour guides are informational, cordial and friendly. Rooms are filled with
antique furnishings hand-carved by fine furniture makers of the 19th century,
and interesting items from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Explore the underground caves and caverns that were formed millions of years
ago. Experience lantern tours that simulate natural cave exploration. Exhibits
display the cave's geology, formation, rock and mineral specimens, and the
history of the cave's discovery. Learn about the vegetation and wildlife that
live in these caves.
Discover the fossils that date back 380 million years ago during the Devonian
period in the geologic time scale. In 1850, a naturalist found a sandstone cast
of a portion of a Devonian-age tree trunk in the Schoharie Creek near Gilboa
after a huge flood. The samples were sent to Canada where the specimens were
described and illustrated by McGill University paleontolgist John W. Dawson.
This was the first documented discovery of fossil tree stumps in North
America.
Nightlife, entertainment, wineries, concerts, music and dancing can also be
found throughout the region. The choices of hundreds of fine cuisine restaurants
with various ethnic food and country quaint eateries will leave you
perplexed.
Be sure to visit a corn maze and a haunted house attraction during the month
of October. The Headless Horseman Hayride and Haunted House in Ulster Park is
one of the most popular haunted attractions in the United States. There are many
Halloween activities for people of all ages to enjoy.
Classes, Crafts, Courses and Workshops
If you enjoy learning new things in Creative Art, the options are limitless.
There are a variety of classes to experience. Ceramic and pottery Classes will
teach you the technique and art of wheel throwing, hand building, trimming,
glazing and finishing pottery. Level of skill range from beginners to advanced
and are offered to people of all ages.
Watercolor and oil painting classes take you to paint-on-site locations with
magical scenery and beautiful waterfalls.
Writing Groups offer workshops in creative writing, journaling and poetry.
Fiction and non-fiction classes offer tips and ideas where you can read your
work-in-progress to the group. Some screen and play writing courses allow you to
actually audition characters and present your work on stage to a live
audience.
Learn the art and history of weaving arts. There are a variety of loom types.
Once prehistoric, they have now moved into more complex modern-day machine
looming. Archeologists believe that basket making and weaving were probably the
first crafts developed by humans. Primitive people learned to create woven
structures. Some of the items were nettings, coverings for huts, containers for
goods, carriers for the young, rugs, blankets, hammocks, pouches and body
coverings.
Felting arts is the process of laminating wool to selected areas of a base
cloth. Projects may include creating dolls, animals, ornaments, lightweight wool
drapery and silk scarfs.
Drum circles and yoga transdance classes are a great way to meet people and broaden your social circle. There are also spiritual resorts and retreats which are very relaxed and draw spiritually minded people together in a peaceful, natural setting. Some offer vegetarian and vegan cuisine, tai chi, yoga and meditation classes.
Hiking and Mountain Walks In The Fall - Fun and Educational
The Catskills region has much to offer to those who enjoy vacationing during
this season. Aside from the natural beauty of its spectacular foliage, both
hikers and bikers can now comfortably enjoy exploring the trails and the changes
in the wildlife while taking in the scenery.
In cooler weather there are fewer insects to contend with. Mosquitos
disappear and bees begin to hibernate inside their hives. Wasps die off except
for the queen wasp, who hibernates and starts her new colony in the spring. Some
insects remain in pupa form throughout the winter.
Under the fallen leaves covering the ground is a habitat known as the leaf litter environment. Slugs, snails, millipedes, woodlice and spiders maintain their daily routines while living in the hidden world under the leaves.
Under the fallen leaves covering the ground is a habitat known as the leaf litter environment. Slugs, snails, millipedes, woodlice and spiders maintain their daily routines while living in the hidden world under the leaves.
The forest is bustling with activity by squirrels and other woodland animals
who scurry about and hoard their food preparing for the upcoming winter months.
Some animals undergo a series of transformations such as changing colors and
growing longer, thicker fur to endure colder months ahead. Mammals prepare for
the winter by eating enough to put on body fat. Some hibernate, slowing their
heart rate to survive the colder months, and are able to go without food for
long periods of time.
Deer, wild turkey and bats seek mates during the autumn months. Bucks are
very territorial and if you are fortunate enough to spot one, it is best to stay
a good distance. Some species of bats will sing to the females inside the caves.
These love songs can be heard using a bat detector.
This is a very busy time of the year in the forest. Both interesting and
educational, hiking or walking in the Catskills is a great activity and a
wonderful way to spend the day if you enjoy nature and animals.
Fishing
Every year, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
stocks fingerling and yearling trout throughout the Catskills streams, which
offer some of the finest trout fishing in America. There are also perch,
pickerel, bass, sunfish and catfish. These streams are famous for its fly
fishing. There are many fly-shops, resorts, motels and bed and breakfasts that
cater to fishermen who come from around the world to fish these waters.
Golfing
There are many golf courses to choose from if you enjoy golfing. They are all
professionally designed and set against breathtaking mountain backdrops. The
layouts carved into the natural terrain includes extensive bunkering, doglegs,
and a variety of water hazards. Golfers are drawn to the region by the
mountainous challenge that its golf courses have to offer. New York state ranks
fifth in the nation for its number of golf courses.
Horseback Riding
The mountainous Catskill region provides you with the opportunity to
experience some of the best horseback riding. There are miles of trails to
explore. Private stables offer guided rides. Lessons are available with
professional instructors to learn the proper riding techniques. If feeling very
adventurous, enjoy the western feel of the many family resorts and dude ranches
that offer horseback riding, cattle drives, and much more.
Rock Climbing
Rock climbing has become a popular sport for men and women of all ages. If
you are exploring this for the first time, be sure your guides are state
licensed, skilled in wilderness medicine, and trained and certified by The
American Mountain Guides Association. Climbing and mountaineering instructions
are available to climbers of all levels.
Hunting
The DEC now requires that all new hunters, bow hunters and trappers must pass
the appropriate course before getting their first license. New York offers many
exciting opportunities to hunt a large variety of wildlife, including big game,
small game, game birds and furbearers. Hunting season is open between September
and January.
Visit the Catskills!
The Catskills region in Upstate New York offers something for everyone.
Families, friends, couples and singles alike can enjoy what it has to offer.
While driving to the Catskills, be sure to set the mood with George Winston’s
new age/jazz solo piano recording of Autumn - Colors/Dance.
Whether you come for sightseeing, recreation, or relaxation, the memorable experience of leaving it all behind you will create wonderful memories that last a lifetime and will make you want to return for many years to come.
Whether you come for sightseeing, recreation, or relaxation, the memorable experience of leaving it all behind you will create wonderful memories that last a lifetime and will make you want to return for many years to come.
The Mycological Society of America - http://www.msafungi.org
Places to Hike in the Catskills - http://www.hikethecatskills.com
Catskills Fishing - http://www.classictrout.com/catskill_region.php
Catskills Golf Courses and Clubs - http://www.visitthecatskills.com/golf.html
Catskills Horse Rentals - http://www.horserentals.com/newyork.html
Catskills Rock Climbing and Mountaineering - http://www.rockclimbing.com/routes/North_America/United_States/New_York/Catskills
NYS Hunting Schedule - http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/huntingseasons1112.pdf
