by Kristina Kropat

Created on: October 06, 2010   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

The Catskill Mountains of upstate New York offer an all-in-one package for stressed city dwellers looking to relax off the beaten path and out of staters alike. The pristine, scenic views that stretch on for miles, centuries old historic places, undisturbed wilderness, and even modern venues offer something for everybody to enjoy.

The Catskill Mountains begin northwest of New York City and extend just southwest of Albany, New York. Six New York counties are part of the range-Sullivan County, Ulster County, Delaware County, Otsego County, Schoharie County, and Greene County. Towns with distinct and unique attributes include Monticello, Delhi, Bethel, Woodstock, Roscoe, and Hunter; just to name a few. The Catskill Forest Preserve is 286,000 acres of state owned public land. This huge area of conserved wilderness is a bountiful resource for all nature lovers.

The popularity of the Catskills goes all the way back to the days of booming industries such as tanneries and logging. The Catskills also became home to many sanitariums to treat patients of tuberculosis. It was thought that the clean mountain air helped patients recover. In the 1950s, Sullivan County gained notoriety as a haven for New York City residents to spend their summers at. Summer camps, bungalow colonies, and hotels sprung up to house the mass exodus of summer visitors. It was at these hotels, in the "Borscht Belt" as it came to be known, that many well known names got their start. Jerry Lewis, Buddy Hackett, Red Buttons, and others all got their start at these Catskills hotels. Unfortunately, only one hotel from that heyday still exists in operation today-Kutscher's Hotel in Monticello, New York. Kutschers hosts an Indie rock festival every year. Definitely visit for a walk back in time. Even though much of the Catskills' history has been lost in time, there is still plenty to see and do.

For the nature lover and adventurer there is camping, fishing, boating, hiking, kayaking/rafting, horseback riding, skiing, and hunting. Roscoe, New York is home to one of the world's finest trout fisheries. Junction Pool is formed by the convergence of the Willowemoc and West Branch Delaware rivers. The season opener on April 1st of every year is a huge event attended by politicians, fishermen, and celebrities alike. Other rivers teeming with excellent fishing is the Delaware River, Neversink River, and the East Branch Delaware. The Delaware also offers a wonderful river experience; you can lazily relax in it's

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