New York City is the greatest city in the world but many of us trade ample space and access to a personal backyard we’d get in most states to be in the thick of it all. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the only thing that saved me from going raving mad was having access to our backyard, which we’ve outfitted over the years with a few comforts for summer grilling, outdoor birthday parties and evenings unwinding with music and good company.
After being cooped up for three long months in Brooklyn amidst the pandemic, I convinced T to get out of the city for a few days of respite. We wanted to find somewhere peaceful, close enough to New York City but with less people so we could maintain our social distancing. After some sleuthing on Instagram and Trip Advisor, we settled on the Catskills. We originally planned on staying in Woodstock, NY but knew there would be more people and less of a chance of social distancing so we opted for a smaller town called Phoenicia.
I found the cutest hotel called The Graham & Co right off the Main Street in Phoenicia that looked perfect for our vacay. This 20-room hotel was the perfect hideaway for our 5 days and 4 night stay. It’s surrounded by Hunter Mountain and bordered by a serene creek that we could hear from our Bungalow.
The Graham & Co. has over 3 acres of land for your social distancing pleasure. Guests have access to a swimming pool; hammocks for afternoon naps or for reading a book with a glass of wine in tow; a badminton court to work up an appetite before grilling on charcoal grills supplied by the hotel; picnic areas for a rosé and tea sandwich date; a fire pit for s’mores in the evenings and campfire stories; and complimentary bicycles to explore the serene Phoenicia and neighboring towns.
One of the selling points of this hotel is the unlimited amount of nature all around us. We chose to go on a weekday to limit contact with people. The Graham & Co is the place to unplug and unwind. The only sounds I heard was the gentle sounds of the creek in front of our Bungalow.
We spent mornings reading, afternoons sightseeing and hiking, early evenings at the pool and late nights under the expansive skies. We barely saw people, which made me less anxious. It was also refreshing to not get cell service save for the very fast WiFi at the hotel for conference calls and FaceTime calls.
You don’t really need your car unless you plan on driving to neighboring towns. You have access to fishing, tubing, a walk down the Ashokan Reservoir, where New York City gets its drinking water, and hiking trails. If you want something more lively, Woodstock is just a 25 minute drive.
We’re already planning a trip back. The Catskills is only 2.5 hour drive from New York, which makes it the perfect getaway for New Yorkers to unplug and unwind. Have you ever been there? What are your favorite towns?
I’m going to do a full post to recap everything I wore during my trip, including my favorite items for summer. Stay tuned for next Tuesday’s post.
