Bluebird Hunter Lodge is in the Great Northern Catskills, at the edge of Hunter Mountain in Upstate New York’s Greene County.
Planes
Albany’s airport is just over an hour’s drive away, and the hotel’s closest; domestic routes will fly direct, but if you’re arriving from Europe you’ll have to catch a connecting flight from one of the East Coast’s bigger airports. If you’d rather take a road trip, touch down in JFK and take Route 87 for around two hours before veering off for 30 minutes to reach Hunter.
Trains
Amtrak has direct trains from the city’s Penn Station to Hudson station, which is then a 40-minute drive from the hotel.
Automobiles
If you’re planning on sticking to the slopes, you shouldn’t need a car; but for those hoping to explore more of the Catskills, we’d suggest picking up a rental at the airport (and there’s free parking onsite).
Worth getting out of bed for
Bluebird Hunter Lodge puts you right at the base of Hunter Mountain, which seduces outdoorsy types with its wealth of powdered pistes and rugged trails. Expect skiing and snowboarding, or diversify into snow tubing and snowshoeing on Bearpen Mountain – then toast your efforts at one of the area’s many breweries.
After the melt, the Catskills serve up 500 miles of trails. We’d suggest starting with the Huckleberry Trail, that takes you through Gooseberry Creek and over to fabled Rip Van Winkle; or try the Becker Hollow Trail. Mountain biking over Windham Mountain and zip-lining through the canopies will give the thrill-seekers a different perspective, and those willing to ascend to the Kaaterskills Falls will be greeted with scene-stealing views of the Hudson River. For town jaunts, Hunter is within walking distance, and Tannersville and Lexington are both short drives away.
Local restaurants
The Catskills is rife with rich and fresh seasonal fare, and some of the finest is just across the road at mountain-admiring Prospect, where Upstate classics are given a Southern spin in dishes such as grilled pork chops dosed in a creamy morita sauce, and market-fresh fish marinated in basil oil and garden-picked herbs. You’ll find equally tempting plates at Tabla, along Main Street, which has Italian leanings, as well as a flair for camera-ready cocktails. Mama’s Boy Burgers fries prime patties and fills buns with whatever you fancy for laid-back lunches and easy dinners.
Local cafés
On Main Street, Shandaken Bake is locally loved for its oven-warmed pies and storied strudels, and behind Fellow Mountain Café’s rustic exterior you’ll find rows of seasonal sandwiches, pastries, and perfectly roasted blends.
Local bars
Jagerberg Beer Hall and Tavern takes you from Hunter to Hamburg with pulled pints of Schwarzbier, Kölsch, and German pilsners, and liverwurst-heavy sharing plates.
