Mid October in the mountains usually means bare trees and cold winds. Thankfully for us it was warm and clear and the leaves were at absolute peak! It could not have worked out better for our getaway to the Catskills. Of course I captured the whole trip on KODAK EKTACHROME, EKTAR, and PORTRA medium format film.
With the sun getting lower and the shadows growing longer, we made our way east down the Mohawk River valley before turning south into the hills.
We traveled along the beautiful valleys and up County Road 10 giving us an amazing view of the peaks from more than one thousand feet up. After winding on through the trees a little further we reached our final destination, the Deer Mountain Inn.
The inn was warm and welcoming and we made our way to our room. Once settled, we drove into Tannersville to grab a bite to eat. We found some great pulled pork at American Glory BBQ in a refined country setting. There was a great bar with cocktails and a decent selection of beers.
We returned to the inn and made ourselves comfortable taking full advantage of the huge screen TV and billiard table on the third floor. There's a bar and plenty of seating perfect for a gathering of old friends or new ones!
The next morning we ate a wonderful breakfast at the inn before heading out to Kaaterskill Falls. We opted to go to the top of the falls to get a view of the valley. We got a little lost trying to find the trail head but eventually parked in the newly constructed parking lot down Laurel House Road.
One of a few that begin there, the Laurel House Trail is mostly new and extremely well maintained. It is named for the hotel which once stood perched above the falls. We made it to the falls quite easily.
With the drought the water was all but a trickle and we were able to walk down to dry rock. The fall foliage and bare creek bed made for the quintessential mountain stream photo.
The view over the edge of the falls was breathtaking. Almost 200 feet above the valley floor you're left in awe of natures power and beauty.
All over the creek bed were names, dates, and even pictures etched into the rock. Some had dates going back over a century!
Down the trail a little further is a platform at which you can get a view of the falls, the drop, and the valley. Again, hardly a trickle going over the falls but the view was excellent.
We made our way into town for some lunch at Mama's Boy Burgers that hit the spot. We walked around town a little bit and stopped in some of the shops that line the main street.
We went for a little drive afterwards to relax in the afternoon sun. We headed east out of town on 23A driving past the trail head to the lower portion of Kaaterskill Falls. It's a beautiful twisty-turny drive with views all around.
We drove back to the Deer Mountain Inn to rest before heading out to dinner. The sun was nice and bright and gave me an opportunity to walk the grounds of the inn and take some more photos. There are multiple decks and patios with benches and chairs to fit a party of any size. The large lawn is level making it perfect for a wedding with or without a tent. Every detail and angle of view on the property has been designed to enhance the luxurious "cabin in the woods" feel. Even the lights are works of art. I found the hammock to be quite nice nestled between two Maple trees.
For dinner we headed back into Tannersville and had a delicious meal at Poncho Villa's Mexican Restaurant. The frozen margarita and Corona definitely hit the spot.
The next morning clouds had moved in and were threatening rain. We were determined to explore some more and headed east to Saugerties. I was on a mission to see a lighthouse! We found the aptly named Lighthouse Drive and parked at the trail head. This trail is right along the edge of the Hudson River bank, so be aware that it might be a bit wet, sandy, or both! The wood bridges wind along until you come to the high cattails. Through the tops you can just make out Saugerties Lighthouse built in 1869. Situated in the water, you take a small bridge to access it. There's a deck area built on the river side where you can bring your lunch and relax. Another cool fact is that the lighthouse is a functioning Bed & Breakfast! You either take the trail or access it via boat.
We grabbed a small bite to eat in Saugerties before heading back. On our way the fog began to build in the mountains and we found ourselves in the clouds!
After a little rest we got dressed up for dinner at the inn.
We had an amazing risotto for starters followed by some wonderful steak and lobster. After reviewing the many cocktails and impressive wine list, we settled on a bottle of Asti Spumante to accompany our delicious meal. Desert was a decadent chocolate tort. It was hands down one of the best meals I've ever had.
Our brief stay was coming to a close and it could not have ended on a higher note. Thanks to the wonderful staff at the Deer Mountain Inn for a getaway that we are still reminiscing about. We'll be back!
No comments: