Different people have different ideas about what it means to “get away from it all.” Some prefer roughing it at a campground; others prefer a quiet B&B; others like the convenience of a full-service resort, where everything you could need or want is at your fingertips. What everyone agrees on, though, is that some vacation time—some time to forget your troubles and just have fun—is a necessary part of staying sane in today’s world. In this first in a series of articles this summer, we’ll highlight some of the best places to stay in the Catskill Mountains and Hudson Valley.

Bavarian Manor
866 Mountain Ave., Purling
518 622 3261
www.bavarianmanor.com
The rooms are lovely, each tastefully decorated with antiques and complemented with modern amenities. The restaurant is sought out for it’s award-winning cuisine in an old world atmosphere. But some of the walls are crooked, some of the floors are slanted and sometimes the building creaks. So what makes the Bavarian Manor Country Inn so popular?

The answer to that is simple … The Bavarian Manor Country Inn has a great sense of place. This 4-story Victorian Country Hotel has been a Catskill Mountain landmark since 1865. Its mission, for over 140 years, has been to offer guests a calm oasis from a stressful world in a friendly and gracious manner. It was once written (in the 1940’s) that the Inn attracts a happy and carefree group. That is true today as well. Both the family and staff all do their personal best each and every day to see that everyone has a wonderful stay. Hosts Stan and Suzanne are third generation family innkeepers keeping tradition alive.

There are 18 bedrooms, a cocktail lounge and a full service restaurant. Each room features its own private bath, cable TV, Wi-Fi, A/C, in-room coffee, alarm clocks (if you really have to), and some have mini-fridges, jacuzzi bathtubs and fireplaces. They’re even pet friendly! The hearty full menu country breakfast that’s served at your private table is the perfect way to start each day. And there’s plenty to do on the resort’s 100 acres, featuring a six-acre lake. Stroll the grounds, hike, swim, fish, go bird-watching. Or stay in your room and relax with a soothing massage or watch a movie from the resort’s extensive library. You can also venture out to explore the great treasures the northern Catskill Mountains have to offer. It’s all here for you to enjoy!

The Country Place Resort
91 Shady Glen Rd., East Durham
1 800 888 3586
www.thecountryplace.com
The Country Place Resort is a unique family-owned full service resort in business since the early 1970’s. Adjacent to Zoom Flume Water Park, New York’s #1 Family Water Park, The Country Place Resort is a favorite vacation destination for hundreds of families during the hot summer months.

Located in the great Northern Catskill Mountain Region, The Country Place Resort is perfectly situated for families living anywhere in the Northeast to plan a great family getaway with a minimum of driving time. The Country Place Resort offers a variety of accommodations for nearly every size family featuring two-bedroom suites, one-bedroom suites and standard rooms.

All packages at The Country Place include full breakfast and dinner. In addition, packages include unlimited admission to Zoom Flume Water Park—a great advantage for families with children who love to swim! Also, families will enjoy a large heated outdoor swimming pool, lake for fishing and pedal boats, wireless Internet to keep up with business or friends, outdoor sports activities and evening family activities. Other amenities include in-room fridge, coffee maker, cable TV and discounted admission to other area attractions.

The Country Place Resort is the perfect spot for a true family fun vacation at a reasonable rate. Call The Country Place Resort and find out why generations of families have found it to be close enough for a short drive but far enough away for an unforgettable vacation.

Juniper Woods Campground
1226 Schoharie Tpke., Catskill
518 945 1399
www.juniperwoods.com
Juniper Woods is a family-oriented, clothing optional resort located in a pristine and beautiful 65 acre park, nestled in the Catskill Mountains. Natural beauty is abundant here from the wooded rolling hills to the open meadows perfect for sunning and relaxing.

There are two spectacular lakes waiting to greet you each day. Hidden trails, perfect for a quiet stroll, a brisk bike ride or an exhilarating run, are found around the campground.

Set up your private, wooded oasis in one of their 50 campsites. Many are secluded and perfect for getting away from it all. If basking is what you pine for, other sites are open and exactly what the sunseeker craves.

The resort is complete with modern bathhouse facilities, a covered pavilion and a clubhouse with woodstove for gathering in inclement weather, and a solar heated swimming pool. Meet and greet new friends in the heated conversation pool and attend one of their great dances or wine and cheese parties!

Whether it’s quiet or community that you crave, Juniper Woods is THE place for your next escape from the hustle, bustle and overly-clad daily grind.

Meadowgreens Golf Resort
1238 Route 9H, Ghent
518 828 0663
www.meadowgreensresort.com
Opened in 2006, Meadowgreens Resort in Ghent features a nine-hole golf course, camping (both tent sites and RV hookups) and casual dining. The course, surrounded by woods, offers 3,011 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 36.

Meadowgreens is a great place to take the family for lunch, dinner, camping or golf—they have it all!

Sunny Hill Resort
352 Sunny Hill Rd., Greenville
518 634 7642
www.sunnyhill.com
Year after year, generation after generation, people have vacationed at Sunny Hill Resort and Golf Course, an all-inclusive family resort with two golf courses, nestled in the northern Catskill Mountains.

Come for the scenery and beautiful open spaces of the spectacular Catskill Mountains. Come for the entertainment that appeals to every age and every taste. Come for family vacations, family reunions, golf packages and memories that last a lifetime—memories that include boating, swimming, golf and fireworks.

Whether you’re looking for lodging and accommodations at a beautiful inn, B&B, or resort, there’s a place in New York that is unique and oh, so special … a place called Sunny Hill.

Villa Vosilla: An Italian Boutique Resort
Route 23A, Tannersville
518 589 5060, 800 766 4825
www.villavosilla.com
This is a very exciting time for the Villa Vosilla, the last authentic Italian resort in the U.S., located on the scenic Hunter Mountaintop in the northern Catskill Mountains. The resort, family owned and operated for 45 years, has been an Italian institution and family destination for over four decades. The fourth generation of family is refreshing, rejuvenating and making numerous improvements at the Villa Vosilla, by redesigning and renovating through local communities, while still retaining the Villa’s Italian charm. The family vision is to recreate the Villa Vosilla, an Italian boutique Resort, into a little gem in the Catskills.

Formerly known as the Rose Garden, the resort was purchased by John Vosilla Jr. He worked closely with his wife, Nattalina Vosilla, and his family to establish the Villa Vosilla’s reputation as one of the premier vacation spots in upstate New York. With the expertise of Executive Chef John Vosilla Sr., and his wife Catherine, the Villa soon became known as a dining destinationwith its fine Italian cuisine. Multitudes of guests would travel from New York City for Sunday lunch just for Chef Vosilla’s homemade pastas.

John Vosilla Jr. was a great visionary. He pursued “going green” before corporations were environmentally conscious. He catered to destination weddings before they became popular. And he expanded the spa before it became trendy. The family remains motivated to enhance these specialities, while remaining committed to “Going Green in Greene County.”

John’s daughter Doria and his son-in-law, Dr. Lee McGunnigle, and their four children continue to labor at the Villa. Today the Villa Vosilla is the last of the authentic Old World Italian resorts, and guests continue to come for its Flavor of Italy: the ultimate Italian Comfort Food and outstanding Italian entertainment. The Villa Vosilla is a testament to the Vosilla family legacy, which centers on hard work and the continuation of European traditions.

Lee, creative and well-trained in the culinary arts, is the executive chef and credits the expertise of mentors, Master Chefs John Vosilla Sr., John Vosilla Jr. and the cousins of famed NYC Rossini’s Ristorante for his culinary success. Lee says, “My food philosophy is to use the freshest natural ingredients. We refuse to use commercial foods from large corporations. Our belief is to sustain our local economy through its communities by patronizing family-run independent local farms and independent food purveyors. Food should taste real and not be masked with heaviness. The genuine essence of the dish should stimulate the palate to create harmonious culinary balance. Our mission is to create pure flavor with the freshest ingredients, that encompasses Italian home-style cooking.”

Just as Italian cuisine is an integral aspect in providing an experience of warmth and hospitality to visitors, Villa Vosilla’s Italian culture and traditions have been kept alive through performances by numerous Italian bands and entertainers. “We feel we have the best entertainers. They truly care about the Villa’s audience on and off stage. It’s not just a job to them. Entertainers like Audrey and Alfredo can be seen chatting and having morning coffee with customers; Marc Antonio continues to humor guests at the Bocce Tournaments. Many entertainers such as Fred Lando, Tony Valenti and Billy Phillips have families that vacation with us. They are not just entertainers; they are an extension of our family. The Italian radio personalities Joe Farda, John Labarca, Luisa Potenza and Tullio Salomone frequent the Villa with their groups. The Villa, which is an extension of our home, is a circle of family and friends.” says Doria. “Italian Extravaganza Weekends” celebrate Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Bocce, Columbus Day, and Un Ballo Mascherato Weekends. These specials are just icing on the cake to the fabulous nightly entertainment in a very elegant nightclub setting.

Lee has been Mayor of Tannersville, in the town of Hunter, for six terms and strives to improve the village for residents and tourists alike. “People do not realize how much there is to do in our area. It is a family’s paradise: North/South Lake, swimming, boatin, gorgeous waterfalls, hiking trails, rock climbing, fishing, mountain biking, golf courses, Hunter Mountain Festivals, the Sky Ride, paintball, mini golf, tubing, horseback riding, farms, farmers’ markets, wineries, breweries, cultural events and some of the best antiquing outside of New York City. The village will soon boast the Orpheum Performing Arts Center and The Mountaintop Library and Learning Center.

Doria, Lee, and their four children have decided to retain the Villa Vosilla’s “Taste of Italy in the Catskills” during the social season from May to November. The couple says, “The four children have a strong desire to remain in the area and manage the resort. The grandchildren, like their grandfather and his father, have a vision to keep the Italian culture and tradition of family alive by reliving happy times with old friends and creating memories with new friends. They hope to continue John Vosilla’s dream for the future: to continue to have the Villa Vosilla grow and flourish, and making life a celebration of family and friends.”

Wolffs Maple Breeze
360 Cauterskill Rd., Catskill
518 943 3648, 800 777 WOLF
www.wolffsresort.com
Discover the third generation storybook beauty of Wolff’s—300 acres of fun and relaxation in the heart of Rip Van Winkle-land! Your entire family will fall in love with Wolff’s, where there’s something for everyone.

You’ll have a hard time deciding what to do first at Wolff’s: swim in the king size pool … sunbathe on the surrounding patio … miniature golf … boat or fish in one of their three stocked lakes … or explore the beautiful woodland trails. The resort offers 45 luxurious units and suites, each with A/C, refrigerators, in room phones, cable and color TV.