We couldn’t possibly make everything that there is to do in the Catskills a part of our main navigation, but we felt we needed to paint a well-rounded picture, so here’s some more cool stuff to do. You can also become a fan on The Roxbury’s facebook page and get access to up-to-date information and what we’ve got cookin’! (Scroll down to see the Distillery Tours and other cool sections!
Cool Liquor Store
This entry is outside of alphabetical order because, well, the most important things for a good vacation should come first. And we know that when most of us travel, most of us want to know where to find the booze! And we are also thrilled to be able to say that our guests can find most anything they would need just a hop, skip and a wee little jump down the block from their room door. Roxbury Wine and Spirits not only carries the essentials that you would expect at any good liquor store; they also have a wonderfully unique selection of New York State and local wines and liquors. AND they’re open seven days a week! Please support them while you are with us, we want them to stay here a long, long time… 607-326-6200.
Beautiful Yoga Studio
Yet another entry that is outside of alphabetical order because we want to make sure that you see it! The folks at playcatskills.com have spared no expense to create a truly beautiful restorative and meditative yoga studio nestled right here in the Roxbury valley with the Catskills surrounding it. Whether you are an expert or a first-timer at yoga, we highly recommend visiting them during your stay at The Roxbury!
Antiquing & Art Galleries
The Roxbury Arts Group hosts some of the most exciting art exhibitions in the region. It’s annual Art Exhibit and Silent Auction to benefit Catskill Rural AIDS Services is one of the social highlights of every summer, not to mention a great venue for discovering new artists.
Great antique stores dot the Catskill countryside on most every major road. You can make a whole day of antiquing by starting in the village of Saugerties and taking route 28 all the way to Delhi. A few of our favs are Rick’s Barn right here in Roxbury or take the beautiful drive up and over Rose’s Brook to Lyon Mountain Blue Barn Antiques for some true specialties with a European focus. Talk to us in the office about an antique trail map and some of our additional favorites.
The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce has put together a great website that compiles tons of information about the art galleries and antique shops in the area. We have a brochure version of this website in our lobby and it is a wonderful guide for planning a day full of treasure hunting and ART!
Belleayre Summer Music Festival
The roster of musicians and performers at Belleayre’s Summer Music Festival just keeps getting better year after year. Check out their website for this summer’s cool performers. We can arrange tickets for you.
Book Village
That’s right, we said book village. The town of Hobart and its conglomeration of used book stores and other cool novelty stores just keeps growing and growing. If you’re into used books, this is nirvana. Check out the Hobart Book Village Website to find out about events and special book fairs.
Delaware and Ulster Railroad
Fun for the kids. Many special events like staged train robberies, twilight rides, and Tommy the Train week.
Distilleries
Just 10 minutes down the road is the area’s very own Union Grove Distillery. Home of the yummy smooth Vly Creek Vodka, not only distilled with pure Catskills spring water but also made using the apples from one of our oldest local orchards. It doesn’t get any more local than this (and the owners are friends). Great way to spend a couple hours one afternoon and get a tour of the distillation process and then sample some of the good stuff at their bar afterwards. Their bloody mary’s are TDF! Also a fun stop on your way home because the building is on the way! And in a few more years, bourbons and whiskies and other locally-made libations!
Farm Tours
Stone & Thistle: Visit a working livestock farm at Stone & Thistle Farm in East Meredith. May to October. Meet the cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, horses and rabbits. Collect eggs. Hold chicks. Bottle feed lambs or goats. Cuddle baby rabbits. Milk a goat. Groom the horses. Activities may vary with seasons/weather. Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Private. By reservation only. $100 for up to six persons. $10 for each additional person. 1211 Kelso Road, East Meredith, NY 13757. 607-278-5800.
Farmers’ Markets
These are around every corner, but our favorite is the Round Barn/Pakatakan Farmer’s Market just down the road on Rt. 30. It’s the place to be seen on a Saturday morning in Delaware County. If you like the Union Square farmer’s market in Manhattan, then you’ll dig this too.
Flea Markets
During the summer and fall, the best one is on Rt. 28 in between Arkville and Margaretville. It’s called the “Magic Mile.” You can’t miss it, look for all of the tables and tarps. Cool finds here. Everything from a used lawn mower to a Tiffany lamp.
Fun Shopping
We’re shopaholics ourselves, so it bothered us tremendously when we first opened that our guests had to venture to other villages to satiate their shopping urges, but those days are long gone! A modern take on the classic general store located on Roxbury’s very own Main Street, Roxbury General offers a changing variety of carefully curated crafts, gifts, homewares, clothing, toys, and stationery, much of it sourced right here in the Catskills! A personal favorite of ours for obtaining that last minute gift, one-of-a-kind greeting card, special sundry, elegant piece of jewelry, or a variety of other unique items. They also rent bicycles for the Catskill Scenic Trail or tooling around town—an added plus since they are only a few steps away from The Roxbury. Also, check out their supercool online store and facebook page. A must visit while staying at The Roxbury!
In need of camping supplies? Locally screen-printed Catskill paraphernalia? Take a short drive to Catskill Outpost in Stamford, newly opened in August 2020. They can outfit any casual enthusiast with all the necessities for a day in the mountains, from camp stoves, lanterns and apparel to locally-sourced food items, soaps and leather goods. And while in Stamford, be sure to check out Tandem Antiques, Big Lug Bicycle Outfitter and Solinskys!
And to make a complete day out of it, check out the shops in the neighboring villages of Margaretville, Andes, Phoenicia, the county seat of Delhi, and the perennial favorites: Woodstock and Cooperstown.
Horseback Riding
Broken Spoke Stables is only about a 25 minute drive from The Roxbury and they offer some of the best horseback riding trails around. They are in Hobart, NY – also the home of the book village. But don’t read your book while riding the horse…
Hot Air Balloon Rides
Take a ride in the sky over the Catskills with the wonderful Wizard at Catskill Mountain Balloon, Inc.. The balloon takes off about an hour and fifteen minutes from The Roxbury, so plan your day accordingly!
Howe Caverns
The closest thing to Carlsbad on the East Coast. Take a boat ride through the Caverns and count the bats. About an hour away and a great thing to do on a rainy day. Kids LOVE it!
Kayaking
Spend a lovely day kayaking just down the road from The Roxbury at Susan’s Pleasant Pheasant Farm. Yes, we just said Susan’s Pleasant Pheasant Farm. Say it three times fast. And, shhhh, they also have a secret swimming hole there!
And check out Al’s Sport Store in Downsville. It’s not the Snake River, but it can be pretty gosh darn thrilling!
Maple Tree Farms
We love sap! And if you do too, some of the best maple syrup and other maple tree products can be found right here in the Catskills with New York State Maple trees. If you’re at The Roxbury in March and April, you’re almost sure to be able to go visit one of the many farms and watch the ‘sap run’ going on and being boiled into delicious delightful delicacies. Right down the road from us is Roxbury Mountain Maple and a little further down is Shaver Hill Farm. Check them out!
Parks
Walk from your room at The Roxbury to Kirkside Park. It�s eleven acres of splendor in the heart of the village. Straddled by the east branch of the Delaware River and appointed with rustic adirondack style bridges and winding paths,the Park becomes the backdrop for a summer full of concerts, outdoor theater, and 19th century base ball with great fishing just a ripple away.
Snowmobiling
While we have not personally tried them, there are two places to go to rent some rad snowmobilies. Bear Creek Landing Sports Complex in Hunter at 518.263.5409 and Rip Van Winkle snowmobiling in Haines Falls at 518.589.5999.
Check out this link for the Hamden Hill Ridge Riders. They don’t rent snowmobiles, but they know a lot about them. You might try contacting them about other snowmobiling options if the above numbers don’t work.
Swimming
Of course we have our own pool at The Roxbury at Stratton Falls, but if you’re looking for other places to swim, our favorites are Big Pond, Little Pond, and Alder Lake. Alder Lake and its associated wonderful hiking trails in the Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest is hands down our favorite swimming lake in the Catskills. It’s an idyllic setting and still quite undiscovered. We have driving directions for you at The Roxbury that explain exactly how to find these wonderful areas and if you go to Alder Lake, we’ll pack up a goody bag for you with towels and sheets and water for an afternoon picnic. For the small kids, the lake at Belleayre has a life guard and a huge beach with sand for building your dream sandcastle.
Table to Farm Tours
Table to Farm Tours offers curated full day and evening tours introducing you to farmers and distillers throughout the Catskills. Along the way they’ll share the rich history of the region and favorite spots to explore. At each farm you’ll have a chance to hear the farmer’s unique story, learn about how they farm, take a tour, and taste the products. Their tours are great for kids, adults, and groups like bachelorette parties and family reunions. Check out their website to book a tour or let us know you’re interested and we’ll do it for you. Our guests RAVE about the experience!
Theater
All around, in Margaretville, Delhi, Phoenicia, Woodstock, and, yes, right here in Roxbury at The Roxbury Arts Group.
Another great theater, The Open Eye in Margaretville, provides quality live theater productions to diverse audiences in the Catskill Mountain communities. A perfect venue for weekenders from the city and locals alike!
Tubing
Tubing the Esopus is a blast! Kick back on your inner tube and let the Esopus River carry you away. The Town Tinker in Phoenicia can set you up with all the gear you need.
Building your dream home
Alta Log Homes is not only a log home manufacturer and builder, it builds some of the most spectacular homes in the area. They are designed with an array of choices, from standard homes designed with economy in mind to majestic homes of distinctive architectural innovation.