Ski, Spa, Sip, Repeat - Savoring Winter in the Catskills
Which reminds us. Greene County offers the best apres ski for miles around.
Escape to the Catskills for Winter Fun
Come to the Great Northern Catskills this winter to experience world-class skiing, riding and plenty of off mountain activities for the whole family!
Think skiing and snowboarding are just for “outdoorsy” people? Think again. The Great Northern Catskills’ two alpine ski resorts not only offer the freshest freshies and pow pow within two hours of NYC, but a whole list of killer restaurants, après ski party spots and off-piste activities like snow yoga and hot stone massage. Check out Hunter and Windham Mountains and decide which to ski or ride first.
Save time. Stay close.
Don’t want to schlep to the mountain? Don’t have to when you stay at Winwood Inn & Condos in Windham. A snowball’s throw from the base lodge, you can book a room, condo or private home. Grab your guy or gal pals and head to the mountain for the best ski vaca. Enjoy an after-ski chill and beat some vintage arcade games, hit up the property’s movie theater, or onsite restaurant, Rock’n Mexicana.
Like Daniel Tosh, we too like seasons. Seasons restaurant at Windham Mountain Resort, that is. The mountain’s newest dining hot spot offers panoramic views of the mountains, large fireplaces for getting cozy, vaulted ceilings to create that European ski resort feel, and a fantastic menu.
Over at Hunter Mountain, The Kaatskill Mountain Club offers luxury slopeside lodging with all the amenities you need to have the best ski getaway of your life. Great pub fair and sit-down dining at Van Winkle’s, sushi, noodle bowls at SLURP Noodle Bar, or waffles at the base lodge – satisfy your belly after a day on the mountain. Up for some après ski? The Main Bar in the Base Lodge, and the Coppertree Bar, also in the Base Lodge, are fun places to relax, kick back, and mingle with your friends... and make new ones!
Après Ski for Days
So you've hit the slopes, checked out the base lodge bar and are ready to head back to your room, clean up and keep going. Not so fast. Might we suggest a heart-pounding ride on the longest, highest, fastest, zippiest zipline tour in North America before dark when you don your going-out duds? Hunter Mountain's New York Zipline Adventure Tour is open year-round, so grab your face mask, keep your ski gear on, and get ready to fly through the air like the majestic snow bird that you are.
Hit up the newly launched Catskills Beverage Trail, a series of six spots offering hand-crafted microbrews and award-winning wines. Get out into the country and explore a bit, hit up off-the-beaten path places like Honey Hollow Brewing Company in Earlton, farm brewery that uses local farm ingredients and believes in brewing to share. A generous beer brewer is the kind of friend you dream of having! Or you can stick to the mountains and check out the Hudson-Chatham Winery in Tannersville and sample award-winning wines made with grapes from neighboring vineyards. Pretty cool, and pretty tasty!
Learning to ski or ride has never been easier or more fun
Maybe it's been a while since your schussing days, or you've never attempted to hit the slopes before but have challenged yourself to try this winter, whatever your reason, the Great Northern Catskills' learn to ski and skills development programs are the answer to your question.
One of the most important parts of learning to ski is that you’re status as a newbie often guarantees you steep discounts. It’s a clever ruse, designed to get you to fall in love with the sport. Windham Mountain’s “Own It” program includes three days of learn-to-ski lessons, rental equipment and lift tickets for $299. For the third lesson, skiers receive a brand new pair of Rossignol skis with bindings worth $550. Over at Hunter Mountain, the deals include “Bring a Friend,” which offers a free Lower Mountain lift ticket with the purchase of a $79 Single-Pak. Not into waking up early? Head to the mountain later with our Sleep in Sundays lift ticket for $35 if you come Sundays after 12 pm.
Once you fall in love with skiing and snowboarding, there's always an opportunity to keep pushing yourself. At Hunter and Windham, two of the top ski resorts in the Catskills, the staff believe that once a skier, always a skier. That's why they've created skill development classes to help you hone your form, master off-piste terrain, become a power skier, or learn how to conquer the most indomitable mountain of all: Fear.
Don't go buying all that equipment before you know how to ski or ride - both mountains have some of the best brand names out there for you to rent during your lessons.
Off Hill for the Rest of Us
So, ok, you're not into skiing or snowboarding. That is not a crime. What is a crime is not getting out and exploring the myriad off-hill attractions, shopping, dining, and fun to be had in the Catskills. From ziplining to ice skating and snowtubing, you can still enjoy winter sports without strapping yourself into skis and hurling down a mountain. Rent snowmobiles and head into the backcountry, or check out the Big Air Bag at Windham and have an exhilarating yet cushy adventure as you jump into the air and land into a welcoming embrace not unlike a feather bed.
End your day with pampering. Both Windham and Hunter have full-service spas ready to relax and refresh you. Shred then exhale as a master-level masseuse works the kinks out of your shoulders and back at the Mountain Club Spa at Hunter. Or, join a yoga class that will rejuvenate your bones and biceps at Windham. Feel like kicking your yoga practice up a notch? Join in one of the Windham’s Snowga classes. Yep, yoga in the snow. Dress accordingly.
