Every other week, beginning today, we’ll be taking you on a digital journey across the Hudson Valley through our On The Road series, guided only by our maps and our love for exploring the ins and outs of this National Geographic Traveler Top 20 Destination.
#MakeTheRightMove: #LiveLikeALocal on our curated expeditions, featuring the top stops for experiencing the area's storied history, scenic beauty, diverse culture and internationally renowned arts, music and cuisine.
Follow the Path
On The Road #1: From Saugerties to Woodstock to Phoenicia, via Route 212
1. Saugerties Lighthouse: Founded in 1812, historic Saugerties started out as a shipping port on the shores of the Hudson River for sloops carrying crops, bluestone, bricks and goods from the Catskills south to New York City and north to Albany. One of the most iconic landmark destinations in Saugerties is its lighthouse, marking the way for ships since 1834. The walk to the lighthouse is one of the most picturesque in the Valley, so it's only appropriate that our journey starts here.
2. Kiersted House: Traveling South on 9W from Lighthouse Drive, before entering the Village of Saugerties, you pass the old stone Kiersted House on the right. Standing much as it did when it was built in 1727, surrounded by ancient black locusts, the Kiersted House now serves as a museum focused on the life and culture of the region's early Dutch settlers.
3. Saugerties Village: Route 212 starts at the traffic light in the center of Saugerties. Continue through, and feel free pull up next to any of the turn-of-the-century brick buildings that house the town's vibrant businesses, restaurants and art galleries.
4. Winston Farm: Upon leaving Saugerties, at the junction of Route 32, are nearly 600 acres of rolling meadows, where locals sled in the winter. Known as Winston Farm, it was the site of the 1994 Woodstock Festival.
5. Woodstock School of Art: Continue West on Route 212 for 9 miles, and as you enter the outskirts of Woodstock stop at the Woodstock School of Art. An historic school for arts and crafts built from local field stone as a WPA project in the 1930s, the property features a museum and scenic grounds.
6. Woodstock Village: Once you've entered the bustling Village of Woodstock, consider stopping for a meal at one of its many highly regarded restaurants. Then, walk to the neighboring boutiques, art galleries and museums (Woodstock Artists Association and Museum; Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild; and Woodstock Center for Photography).
7. Bearsville: As you proceed onward, you'll know you've left the Village when you see Woodstock Hardware on your right. Follow along the main drag until you reach your next destination: on the left, the famous Bearsville Complex, featuring Bearsville Theater and Utopia Recording Studios, where music legends from The Band to the B-52s and from Bad Brains to Bob Dylan have lounged, rocked and recorded. Be sure to stop at the Bear Cafe for a delicious meal in a beautiful indoor setting, or lounge outside at the fire pit with a drink from The Commune.
8. Halter Realty: Exist left out of the Bearsville complex and return to Route 212, which quickly bears right and then takes you through some of the most beautiful countryside in New York State. On the left you'll quickly find Cub Market, a perfect place to park for lunch, and the main office of Halter Associates Realty, with listings of some of the most exceptional homes and commercial properties available in the Hudson Valley.
9. Cooper Lake: About a mile west of Halter Associates, slow down for the breathtaking Cooper Lake. Park on Cooper Lake Road and walk along the remarkably clear water and through the Catskill Mountain forest.
10. Route 212: Next, drive along scenic Route 212, and enjoy the incredible vistas that pop up with each twist, turn and bend. Be on the lookout for deer, grazing on the roadside; and you might even spot one of our local black bears.
11. Old Plank Road: At the four corners of Mount Tremper, and close to the end of Route 212, make a right onto Old Plank Road towards Phoenicia.
12. Zen Mountain Monastery: Cross the old steel bridge that connects both sides of the Beaverkill. Park in the lot to your left, and behold: the elegant wood-and-stone Zen Mountain Monastery, a respected Buddhist retreat for almost 40 years that rests on 230 wooded acres in the Catskill Mountains. Built by Norwegian craftsmen in the 1930s, the monastery and training center was originally the Catholic Camp Wapanachki.
13. Phoenicia Village: Once back on the bikes, or in your car or truck, continue down Old Plank Road into the Village of Phoenicia. Stop in for a meal at one of the many downtown eateries catering to the traveler, and enjoy the clear, rushing waters of the Stoney Clove and Esopus Rivers that define the borders of town.
Stay tuned for the next edition of On The Road with Halter Associates Realty, when we'll be mapping out an entirely new trip through Woodstock and Phoenicia.
Thinking of moving here? Make The Right Move: Contact us today, or stop by the office next time you're in town — and Experience The Halter Difference.
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