I spent the weekend in Kerhonkson, NY where we had a great time filled with relaxation, nature, and fresh produce. Our first stop on the way up from NYC was A Tavola (food was delicious and fresh, decor was upscale rustic) in New Paltz. New Paltz just might be one of the hippest cities upstate. There are bars, guitar shops, and many restaurants so it seemed like a really cool place to hang out on a Friday night.
After a good night’s sleep, we drove 5 minutes from our cottage to Lake Minnewaska State Park. The parking fee per car is $10 for the day and it can be used in all of the parking lots in the park. We did an easy hike around Lake Minnewaska, which was super clear.
Lake Minnewaska is also a local swimming area and there’s a nice beach area with lifeguards if you want to swim.
Awosting Falls is a popular stop and place to picnic:
If you walk a little away from the falls, it is very tranquil and you can find a good place to nap…
After the hike, we drove on Route 209 to find delicious produce and even a pick-your-own everything (pretty literally everything…) farm at Kelder’s Farm.
Going to the farm at the end of July was not like the best idea since it appeared to be the shoulder season for the crops but there were some great blueberries that looked like they would be ready for picking in a couple of weeks.
The farm also had pigs and donkeys that you could feed. This pig had clearly learned that people approaching meant food:
If you get hungry, there are some wonderful pierogies available at Helena’s just across the street; note that they are only open from 12pm-5pm Thurs-Sun.
On Sunday, we meandered along Route 209 on our way back to the city. One of the things I love about upstate New York during the summer is the preponderance of farmstands along the road. If you get hungry, fresh fruits and apple cider donuts are usually within a five minute drive.