Take this article as a sign to go on a girl’s (or guy’s) trip to the Catskills, especially to the tiny hamlet of Phoenicia, New York. This small mountain settlement within the town of Shandaken in the Eastern Catskills is a perfect destination for hiking, dining and disconnecting. Overall, there are many great things to do in Phoenicia, NY all year!
In April 2024, I enjoyed a memorable girl’s weekend in Phoenicia, New York. My friend and I had a fantastic time roaming the Catskill Mountains, biking around Phoenicia, savoring the best food in the area and admiring the natural beauty all around.
There is nothing like a mini road trip to Upstate NY. I believe Phoenicia is the perfect spot for those living in the big city to escape the concrete jungle, disconnect from digital devices and reconnect with nature. It truly makes for one of the best weekend getaways!
**Please note that this blog post uses affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase via my affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only promote and talk about products and services that I have used and like. During my time in Phoenicia, The Graham & Co hosted me for two nights.
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Traveling to the Catskill Mountains:
The quirky hamlet of Phoenicia is situated over two hours north of Manhattan. The leading way to get there and see the area is by car. If you don’t have your own vehicle, I recommend renting one.
For those looking to take a flight to the Catskills of New York State, the closest international airport to Phoenicia, New York is New York Stewart International Airport in New Windsor. It’s also not too far from Albany International Airport. You can find affordable flights through Skyscanner.
Click hereif you are planning a road trip around theUnited Statesand want to rent an RV.
Where to Stay in Phoenicia, New York during a Weekend Getaway:
Located steps from Main Street in Phoenicia is The Graham & Co. It’s a boutique hotel that resembles a roadside accommodation you’d come across during an American road trip. The Graham & Co offers all guests a charming but relaxed vibe and has a modern take on the classic weekend getaway.
The Graham & Co was inspired by the culture of the New York Catskills. It’s the best place for a girl’s weekend escape, especially for friends who love the great outdoors. Come here to go hiking, biking and exploring!
Staying at The Graham & Co:
The Graham & Co has 20 uniquely designed guest rooms. Each room and lounge area mixes vintage with modern, making you feel like you’re staying at a home away from home in Phoenicia.
My friend and I stayed in the Standard Double room with two cozy queen beds, a desk and an en-suite bathroom. There was no television because The Graham & Co encourages all guests to disconnect and enjoy time with friends, family and loved ones.
The other guest rooms you can book for your mountain getaway to Phoenicia are the Standard Single, Deluxe Single, Deluxe Double, Bunk House Bunk and The Bungalow. All rooms have natural light, complimentary WiFi, Tivoli radios and more.
One of the top things I loved about my stay at The Graham & Co was that breakfast was conveniently delivered outside our room every morning during my weekend getaway. There are a few options for breakfast, but I loved getting Greek yogurt, granola, fresh fruit and a locally baked apple cider donut. (Breakfast is only available on weekends.)
What makes staying at The Graham & Co perfect for a girl’s trip, no matter what season you visit, is that you don’t even need to leave the property to make memories! There is an open-air reception where you can enjoy all-day coffee and tea, as well as purchase snacks, clothing apparel and home décor.
In the evening, you can warm up, make memories, enjoy a local craft beer and listen to great tunes at one of the fire pits. There is a small fire pit outside the reception and a larger one on the lawn. I recommend purchasing a s’mores kit from reception for your bonfire!
Other awesome things to do at The Graham & Co that unite people are enjoying the swimming pool during the summer months, utilizing the complimentary on-site bikes and having a relaxing movie night in the communal den.
The Graham & Co is dog-friendly and offers a great event space for weddings and retreats.
Fun Things to Do in Phoenicia, NY on a Girl’s Trip:
Discover the best things to do in Phoenicia, NY, year-round, from outdoor activities to dining and everything in between.
Explore Downtown Phoenicia:
The quaint downtown Phoenicia is snuggled within the Catskills of Ulster County, New York. (It reminds me of a small town from a Hallmark movie.)
Along Main Street are eateries, local shops, markets, a general store and more. Some of my favorite places to visit in downtown Phoenicia are below:
Bettina Café & Market: One of the best ways to kickstart your day in Phoenicia, NY is to grab coffee and breakfast at Bettina. This lovely café is in the heart of downtown and boasts incredible locally sourced dishes and specialty hot beverages.
Bettina also has a market where you can purchase local products from women-owned and BIPOC brands. For drinks, wake up to a cappuccino or cortado. Regarding food, you can fuel up with crème brûlée French toast to a taco skillet.
In addition, Bettina is also an excellent spot for lunch where you can savor soups, salads, paninis and more.
Phoenicia Arts and Antiques: If you love antiques and want to treat yourself to retail therapy during your girl’s trip to Phoenicia, then you must visit and walk through Phoenicia Arts and Antiques. It’s a multi-merchant market and art gallery with unique and vintage pieces.
Brio’s Pizza: This classic restaurant is along Main Street in Phoenicia. Since 1973, this local pizzeria has served crispy, thin-crust Neapolitan pizza in a wood-fired oven. After your meal, you can also indulge in delicious cake!
In addition to its delicious pizza pies and decadent desserts, Brio’s Pizza offers draft beer and breakfast.
St. Francis Meditation Garden and Grotto: One of the most peaceful places in downtown Phoenicia is the garden and grotto across from the Church of St. Francis De Sales. Here, you can admire the beautiful shrine and grotto dedicated to the Blessed Mother. There are also other statues and plants to check out.
Phoenicia Farmers Market: From mid-May through the end of October, a farmers market is held at Parish Field off Main Street in Phoenicia every Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm.
As you stroll around the market, you can purchase fresh produce and eggs from local farms, beautiful plants and flowers from nearby nurseries, meats and seafood from regional butchers and fishermen, baked goods from donuts to bread from independently-owned bakeries, local skincare products and more.
While you’re at the Phoenicia Farmers Market, you can also savor ready-to-eat food, as well as sip local coffee and spirits. Visiting this lovely market is a great way to support small businesses.
Enjoy a Relaxing Bike Ride:
What I love about staying at The Graham & Co is that there are complimentary bikes you can take out and ride around the area. It’s one of the top things to do in Phoenicia, NY. All you have to do is let the person at reception know you’re taking a bike out and enjoy!
While you’re out for a joy ride during your girl’s trip, you must venture through downtown Phoenicia, along the picturesque Esopus Creek, through the charming neighborhoods and around the Ashokan Reservoir.
A great way to enjoy a leisure ride with a view is to bike the Ashokan North Unit Loop from Shokan. It’s a paved trail perfect for all biking abilities and offers beautiful views of the reservoir.
Another awesome thing to do during your Phoenicia bike ride is visit a local farm. My friend and I stopped at a small family-owned farm along Mt. Tremper-Phoenicia Road to pick up fresh eggs!
Conquer a Catskills Hike:
Another of the best things to do in Phoenicia, NY, is to hike! The nearby Mount Tremper Trail is a fun but challenging hike with scenic views.
The trailhead parking is less than a five-minute drive from The Graham & Co and you can even walk from the hotel. The trailhead has a small parking lot, but it will fill up quickly if you don’t arrive early. You can park along the street, though!
Overall, the Mount Tremper Trail is a 5.9-mile, out-and-back hike that takes around four hours to complete. There is a 2,027-foot elevation gain, and the trail has a steep incline, making it challenging. It’s a highly trafficked trail, so I recommend hiking in the morning. The best time of year to conquer Mount Tremper is from the end of March through mid-November.
You will come across streams, mini waterfalls and wildlife during this hike. If you plan to conquer Mount Tremper during autumn, you’ll experience a fall foliage wonderland! Once you reach the top of the mountain, you can climb a fire tower that offers 360-degree views of the Catskill Mountains. It’s breathtaking!
Savor the Best Food in the Catskill Mountains:
A leading reason I love visiting the Catskills no matter the time of year is the incredible dining scene! Since many Brooklynites have moved to the mountains, they have brought their NYC culinary skills with them, presenting visitors with a plethora of fantastic food options, from Asian to Italian and vegetarian to Latin.
Below are the best places to eat during your girl’s weekend getaway in Phoenicia:
Phoenicia Diner: An iconic spot in Phoenicia, New York that you must visit during your getaway is the Phoenicia Diner. It’s the perfect breakfast spot that has been around since the early 1980s.
This epic location offers a traditional diner interior and a great outdoor space to sit and eat in the warmer months. You can savor fresh, locally sourced food from the Catskills and Hudson Valley.
There are delicious skillets, omelets, pancakes, French toast, coffee, etc. Phoenicia Diner also serves great lunch items like soups, salads, sandwiches, crab cakes, burgers, and more. You and your friends will not be disappointed.
Peekamoose Restaurant & Tap Room: A little over 10 minutes from downtown Phoenicia is Peekamoose Restaurant & Tap Room. It’s an upscale American tavern in Big Indian, NY, located in a restored farmhouse.
Marybeth and Devin Mills own Peekamoose Restaurant, where you can enjoy seasonally crafted dishes, renowned wines and tasty desserts. We had wood-grilled octopus, housemade gnudi and steamed parsnip cake for dessert during our evening. Everything was incredible!
Woodstock Brewing: Founded by two good friends in 2018, Woodstock Brewing is the perfect place to grab a drink and delicious food after a long day of adventure.
Despite the name, this 15-barrel brewery is in Phoenicia and offers superb indoor and outdoor space to enjoy with friends. Regarding craft beer, you can taste different lagers, ales, sours, IPAs and even cider.
When it comes to food at Woodstock Brewing, I love the tacos! I’ll usually get the smoked chicken and cod tacos, but you can also savor carnitas, pork and vegan tacos. In addition to tacos, Woodstock Brewing also has incredible salads, sandwiches, burgers and desserts.
Urban Cowboy Lodge: A trip to the Catskills is incomplete without visiting Urban Cowboy Lodge. It’s an upscale boutique mountain lodge in Big Indian, NY known for its epic décor, Estonian sauna, forest bath and soaking tubs, among other amenities.
While in Phoenicia, you must dine at Urban Cowboy’s award-winning seasonal restaurant. You can savor tasty vegetable plates, pasta, fresh fish, delicious meats and more. Plus, the views here are jaw-dropping!
See a Show at Phoenicia Playhouse:
If you love theater, you must see a show at the Phoenicia Playhouse, steps from The Graham & Co.
The Phoenicia Playhouse is home to the Shandaken Theatrical Society, a 40+-year-old non-profit organization dedicated to bringing talented performances to the local community.
The playhouse offers a variety of performances year-round. Click here to see the schedule.
Go Skiing in the Catskills during the Winter Months:
During a winter trip to Phoenicia, NY, one of the best things to do is to go skiing. The area has many great mountains, including the highest peaks, where you can enjoy winter sports.
The top three places to go skiing during a girl’s winter ski escape are Hunter Mountain, Belleayre Mountain Ski Center and Windham Mountain Club. You won’t be disappointed no matter which ski mountain you visit. There are trails for beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders.
Belleayre Mountain Ski Center is home to the highest skiable peak in the Catskills and boasts 50 trails; Hunter Mountain offers two of the best terrain parks on the East Coast and has the largest tubing park in New York and Windham Mountain Club is perfect for all abilities and offers 54 trails.
Make Memories Along Esopus Creek during Summer:
There’s nothing like being in the great outdoors during the summer months. Since the Esopus Creek runs through Phoenicia, it’s a must to go tubing or kayaking through The Town Tinker. Not only is it one of the top things to do in Phoenicia, NY, but it’s also perfect for making memories with your girlfriends.
If you’re into fishing, Esopus Creek offers plenty of great opportunities to get some local catches. When entering the creek, please be mindful of the current.
Visit the Empire State Railway Museum:
Touring the Empire State Railway Museum is a great indoor activity in Phoenicia. It was established to preserve the history of the railroads that ran through the Catskill Mountains.
Located in Phoenicia, New York, you can visit the museum, which is also a non-profit, from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from Memorial Day through Columbus Day.
While you walk through the Empire State Railway Museum, you can view framed artwork, photographs and interesting artifacts on display. You can learn about the Ulster & Delaware Railroad and step into different rooms that will take you back to the Industrial Period.
Visit Woodstock, New York:
Another one of the leading things to do in Phoenicia, NY is to drive 20 minutes over to the charming town of Woodstock and explore the downtown area.
Some of the best things to do in Woodstock, NY are stroll through the downtown area and go shopping. The top places to eat in Woodstock are Bread Alone Bakery for coffee and baked goods, SILVIA for farm-to-table cuisine, Cucina for Italian food and Medo for sushi.
If you want to hike near Woodstock, consider conquering the Overlook Mountain Trail, a moderately challenging, 4.6-mile, out-and-back trail. Additionally, check out the Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD), a Tibetan Buddhist monastery.
Admire the Incredible Views at Kaaterskill Falls:
Kaaterskill Falls is a beautiful gem of Upstate New York that you must visit during a trip to Phoenicia. It’s located in the town of Hunter, NY, in the Great Northern Catskills of Greene County, a half-hour drive from downtown Phoenicia.
Overall, Kaaterskill Falls is breathtaking to visit anytime during the year. I’ve only been during the winter and found it spectacular among all the snow and frozen icicles. It’s a 260-foot, two-stage waterfall on Spruce Creek, requiring a 1.4-mile roundtrip hike.
The only downside to visiting Kaaterskill Falls during wintertime is that the hiking path is very icy and slippery. In that case, crampons and proper hiking gear are suggested.
From Kaaterskill Falls, you must also stroll through the charming town of Tannersville. Another fun thing to do is spend an afternoon at Subversive Malting & Brewing in the village of Catskill. (These epic locations are also near Getaway House.)
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I hope you all enjoyed discovering the best things to do in Phoenicia, NY during a girl’s trip. If you have any questions, please email me at info@browneyedflowerchild.com.
Basic Facts of the United States:
Currency: United States Dollar, Capital: Washington D.C., NY State Capital: Albany, Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time
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