EXTRA! EXTRA! SHINING EXTRAS!!
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Here are some *On Your Own* Side Trip Possibilities/Extras from the Campground:
(for your own google-mapping and GPS ease, use this address for our campgrounds:
85 Martinfield Rd, Greenfield Park, NY 12435, Jellystone at Birchwood Acres)
There is so much to do around this area, it's a good thing that the conference is sandwiched between two weekends, so you can stretch out your travels and sight-seeing to include everything you are drawn to!
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Well, first and foremost, I have to list Soaring Eagle Campgrounds. It is about an hour away, and this is my family's river home. Our river cabin is located a couple of miles downstream from this campgrounds.
This campgrounds is owned by a relative of Dave's and it's our launching location on most of our river days. They rent canoes, kayaks, and tubes (nice big tubes that don't have your butt hanging in the water!), as well as floating ice coolers to keep your beverages cold! They will take you upstream and launch you so that you can finish at their site.
This truly is a beautiful part of the world (and our *home* in the summer). If you go here and look at their slideshow, you will see photos that look much like the ones I share of my family and I on the river (except different people ;)!
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Lake Minnewaska State Park is 1/2 hour away. Minnewaska State Park Preserve is one of the most unique and beautiful parks in New York State, featuring numerous waterfalls, three crystalline sky lakes, numerous cliff-edge views, world-class rock climbing and 35 miles of carriageways and 25 miles of footpaths on which to bike, walk, hike and simply enjoy. They are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
They have:
- Swimming
- Biking
- Hiking
- Boating
- Horseback Riding
- Climbing
- Scuba Diving
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Shawangunk Ridge is 26 miles and 48 minutes away.
. . . . .Sam's Point Preserve is a beautiful hiking and viewing spot nearby on the Ahawangunk Ridge, only 20 minutes away. From the parking area, a 1/2 mile walk takes you to Sam's Point, which enjoys a 50 mile panorama of the Shawangunk and Catskill Mountains. Here is driving directions.
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Shawangunk Wine Trail is nestled between the famous Shawangunk Mountains and the majestic Hudson River.
The eleven wineries on the Trail all follow the tradition of the fine winemaking established by the early French Huguenot settlers who brought their wine making expertise to this valley over 300 years ago. Each winery is different. Small to medium in size, all proud of their well crafted red and white wines that range from bone dry to dessert sweet. You will find sparkling wines, vinifera and French/American varietals and blends, and even some beautifully made fruit wines. This young, thriving industry has recently become well known for its prize winning wines across the nation.
While taking a tour of the wineries along the Trail, always in view of the mountains to the west, one is reminded of the cataclysmic forces of earlier geological periods when the earth heaved up forming the great folded ridge of conglomerate rock. And the more recent glacial period that scratched and gouged the scenic cliffs and formed the unique chain of emerald lakes perched atop the ridge. No wonder the "Gunks" are known as the rock climbing capital of the east.
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Catskill, NY is 59 miles and 1 1/4 hours away. Budget Travel Magazine listed Catskill, NY as one of the 10 coolest small towns in America!
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Bethel Woods is the place where it happened ~ Woodstock in 1969! They have concerts, events and a museum. 24.8 miles or 47 minutes away.
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Not to be confused with the *event* that is known as Woodstock...Woodstock, NY, is a cute, artsy town in the Catskills. It is 44 1/2 miles or 1 hour away.
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Nearby Restaurants ~
Thank you to Erica Chase-Salerno for this valuable *Extras* tip:
Aroma Thyme Bistro is a Green-Certified Restaurant in Ellenville, NY (9 miles from our campgrounds: google map directions here), an incredible place for healthy gourmet dining. They have wine with no added sulfites, they test their seafood for mercury & pcb's, they have vegetarian, raw and whole grain items regularly, they do not serve items with high fructose corn syrup and they don't support chocolate made by slave labor. WOW!! Take some time to click around on their website...it is SO interesting and enlightening!
From their menu page:
We feel our food is one of the most progressive menus around. From wheat-grass juice to fine wines, we have married holistic and gourmet cuisine. We feel that food should be pure and nutritious. We do not believe in manipulating food and pushing Mother Earth to her limits.
We have simple guidelines:
* No white sugar
* No white flour
* No butter
* No cream
* No fried foods
* slavery free chocolate http://www.foodrevolution.org/slavery_chocolate.htm
* wheat free menu choices
* lots of organic ingredients
* hormone & antibiotic free meats
* sustainable seafood
* lots of vegan food
* great selection of raw foods
* no/low mercury sushi grade Albacore Tuna
* organic, raw & extra virgin coconut oil
* organic grains, rice & beans
* wild Alaskan Salmon
* organic Agave nectar
* local maple syrup
* organic brown rice syrup
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Another VERY cool place to eat:
Rolling River Cafe, Bar, Gallery & Inn, where people can eat, drink, relax, talk, listen to music, & enjoy or buy art...in the Catskill Mountains, Sullivan County, New York: 25 Cooley Road, Parksville, NY 12768
Click here for directions: http://tinyurl.com/jellystonetorollingrivercafe.
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