You Came for the Mountains. Stay for the Towns.
Five villages within 25 minutes of Highmount that will make you want to book an extra night.
Most people book a Catskills trip for the hiking, the skiing, or the simple pleasure of doing absolutely nothing in a beautiful place. Fair enough.
What surprises them is everything else.
Within a short drive of Alpine Four Season Lodge, you'll find a mountain town with the best diner you've eaten at in years, a village where half the residents seem to be artists, a Main Street that will cost you two hours and a vintage chair you didn't plan on buying, and a cider barn in the hills that makes you wonder why you don't live here already.
Getting a little lost in the Catskills is not a problem. It's practically a feature.
Phoenicia 10 min away
If the Catskills had a mascot, Phoenicia would campaign hard for the job. This small, wonderfully unhurried town packs more character per square foot than most cities manage across entire neighborhoods. Independent shops, art galleries, strong coffee, and the legendary Esopus Creek tubing scene — Phoenicia earns its reputation every single weekend.
Start here. Grab breakfast at Phoenicia Diner before the line forms. It will form.
Phoenicia Diner
Esopus Creek tubing
Tender Land Home
Local galleries
Margaretville 15 min away
One of the prettiest Main Streets in the Catskills — and one of the most dangerous if you're trying to stick to a budget. Antique stores, local boutiques, bakeries, and artisan shops line the street with the kind of low-key charm that makes an hour feel like fifteen minutes. You will leave with more than you arrived with. This is a promise, not a warning.
Antique shopsCatskill Mountain Artisans GuildLocal bakeriesMain Street boutiques
Andes 25 min away
Quiet, sophisticated, and genuinely authentic in a way that's increasingly rare. Andes has quietly become a favorite among food lovers, artists, and anyone who uses the word "unplug" seriously. The drive alone through the back hills is worth it. Wayside Cider will sort out the rest of your afternoon.
Woodstock 25 min away
No, Jimi Hendrix is not walking down Tinker Street. But the creative energy is still very much alive. Boutique shopping, live music, wellness studios, galleries, and a village green that's made for an aimless afternoon. Woodstock is best approached with no agenda and comfortable shoes.
Tinker Street shops
Woodstock Artists Association
Village Green
Live music venues
Belleayre Mountain 5 min away
Right on the doorstep. In winter, Belleayre is one of New York's best ski mountains. Come summer, Belleayre Beach at Pine Hill Lake becomes the kind of easy, unhurried lake day that makes city life feel very far away. The views are extraordinary in every season — and you'll be back before dinner.
Belleayre Mountain
Belleayre Beach
Pine Hill Lake
Mountain views - hiking
"The beauty of the Catskills is that adventure is never far away. Neither is peace and quiet."
One day, five destinations
8:00 am Breakfast in Phoenicia — Phoenicia Diner, window seat, no rush.
10:00 am Explore Margaretville — Main Street shops and the antique stores that will slow you down.
12:30 pm Lunch in Andes — Farm-fresh, unhurried, and worth the scenic drive.
3:00 pm Woodstock — Galleries, shops, and people-watching on Tinker Street.
6:00 pm Back to Highmount — Fire pit, mountain sunset, cold local beer. You've earned it.
Alpine Four Season Lodge - Belleayre welcomes you to unwind and enjoy.
Stay in the middle of all of it.
Alpine Four Season Lodge puts you five minutes from Belleayre and within easy reach of every town on this list. Book directly and skip the fees, our best rates are always here.
Book your stay directly →www.alpinefourseasonlodge.com
Best rate guaranteed when you book direct at alpinefourseasonlodge.com
Daniel & The Crew
32 Galli Curci Road, Highmount, NY 12441
