Sunny skies, crisp mountain air, a good book, a little romance and a Catskills village that has stolen our hearts.
Something wonderful is happening in the Catskills right now.
The days are sunny, the air is just crisp enough to hint at winter, and the mountains around Belleayre have settled into a peaceful rhythm. The leaves are thinning, the sky looks bigger, and the birds have become the main attraction.
November might just be the Catskills’ most underrated month.
At Alpine Four Season Lodge in Highmount, it’s the perfect time to escape with a book, slip away for a romantic few days, or bring your laptop and work with a mountain view.
And if a bird landing outside your window interrupts your next Zoom call, we consider that an improvement in workplace culture.
Watch a plenitude of wild-birds in the woods that surround Alpine Four Season Lodge
The Locals Have Feathers
With the leaves down, the wildlife is easier to spot. Look for cheerful black-capped chickadees, curious tufted titmice, white-breasted nuthatches walking headfirst down tree trunks, and the bright red flash of a northern cardinal. Listen for woodpeckers tapping in the forest and blue jays calling between the branches.
Many of these birds stay all winter, and chickadees often travel in mixed flocks with nuthatches and woodpeckers. Even a quiet morning gets surprisingly entertaining.
The best part? No binoculars, no hiking boots, no expedition required. Just a comfortable seat, a warm drink and a little patience. The birds provide the entertainment. We provide the accommodations.
A Fireplace, a Book and Absolutely No Agenda
There’s real luxury in doing less.
Light the fire if your unit has one, curl up with a good book, put the kettle on and enjoy the quiet.
Or make it romantic. Cook dinner together, open a bottle of wine, put on some music and enjoy an evening with nowhere to be.
Can’t quite disconnect? Bring the laptop. A few days of remote work from the lodge turns an ordinary week into something much better. Same emails. Better scenery. And when the workday ends, you’re already on vacation.
The Print House with smalish plates, great cocktails, live music and plentiful vinyl records.
Fleischmanns: Our Little Catskills Love Affair
Just down the mountain from Belleayre sits Fleischmanns, a small village that has become a real soft spot of ours. It’s charming, unpretentious and full of independent businesses that give a small town its personality.
Start with coffee at Doolittle’s, a lovely little general store and café on Main Street. Browse vintage treasures at Two Doors Down or FORMERLY. When it’s time for a drink or dinner, we have a particular fondness for The Print House, where vinyl records, cocktails and good food make for exactly the kind of relaxed evening we love.
It’s the sort of village where you stop for coffee, find a vintage treasure you absolutely don’t need, stay for dinner and somehow lose the whole afternoon.
That’s not poor time management. That’s a successful vacation.
Discover more local favorites through the Village of Fleischmanns and the Great Western Catskills dining guide. Seasonal hours vary, so check before you go.
Your Mountain Escape Is Closer Than You Think
You don’t need a packed itinerary for a memorable Catskills getaway.
A sunny morning. A crisp walk. Birds in the trees. Coffee in Fleischmanns. A delicious local dinner. An evening by the fire.
Sometimes the most luxurious thing you can do is give yourself permission to slow down.
At Alpine Four Season Lodge, minutes from Belleayre Mountain, we welcome romantic escapes, peaceful midweek stays and remote workers who’d rather look at trees than another office wall.
Come for the fresh air. Stay for the stillness. And let the birds handle the morning announcements.
👉 Book direct at alpinefourseasonlodge.com for our best rates and no third-party booking fees.
With love from the Catskills,
Daniel & Vanessa
Alpine Four Season Lodge
Highmount, New York
