Quick vacation: Phoenicia, NY

A few weeks ago for my boyfriend’s’ birthday, we decided to take a quick vacation upstate to Phoenicia, NY to celebrate and to take our minds off of the current events. I was not sure how he found this place, but it was unique and was a nice change of pace. It became a family vacation since his mom and younger brother decided to take the trip with us. Although it was a short trip, it was exactly what we needed!

Where we stayed

We stayed at the Phoenicia Lodge in the Catskills, about a 2 hour drive from New York City. Since everything is spaced out, I highly recommend driving. Although you could get there by bus, public transportation and taxi service is limited and ride sharing is non-existent. You can choose between rooms, cottages and suites, depending on your needs and who you are traveling with.

The rooms are similar to standard motel rooms and either have a queen bed or two twin beds. The cottages and suites have kitchens, with some having separate bedrooms. We booked two separate cottages. Our cottage was a little smaller than we expected, but it felt cozy. The room was very clean and provided basic amenities and cookware comparable to commercial hotels.

Complementary beverages and breakfast pastries are provided every morning in the office. There is also a fire pit, bikes, board games, and movies for guest use. The property provides free WiFi. Something we discovered is we had limited cell phone service in the area and had to enable WiFi calling in order to make phone calls and send text messages on our devices. Make sure this is set up on your device before arriving. Thankfully, landline phones are available in each room and the office. The advantage of this is you can truly go off the grid!

The lodge is dog friendly and they decided to bring the family dog, Boots. There is plenty of space to walk and play with your pet. If you decide to bring your dog, they must be house trained and do not leave them in the room unattended. Cats are not permitted due to allergens.

Where we ate

We opted to bring most of our food and purchased additional food at the local supermarket six miles away. Unfortunately due to the pandemic and the days we chose for our stay, many of the restaurants were closed. We passed by several eateries on Route 28 and some places in the downtown area.

What we did

Esopus Creek

On our first day, we took a short bike ride and discovered the creek. When we arrive, we were in shock about how beautiful the scenery was! If you prefer to walk, the creek is walking distance from the lodge. Some sections are deep enough for wading. Fishing is also permitted in the creek (with permit). This was a Great place to relax and enjoy nature.

Railway Explorers

During our stay, my boyfriend booked a rail bike session for the four of us. Essentially, you pedal a rail bike on an inactive railroad track with scenic views. It is a family-friendly activity with modifications for younger riders. Bikes are designed for two or four riders. They also have single rider bikes available. Pedaling was not difficult due to the pedal assist. The trip is 8 miles and takes about 2.5 hours, including the break in-between to flip the bikes around. Below is a brief video from our ride.

We were also able to bring Boots. However, he had to ride in someone’s lap due to space. He had a great time and enjoyed the ride! However, I would recommend leaving a larger dog behind. For reference, Boots is a terrier mix and approximately 20lbs.

Sessions must be booked in advance and generally fill up quickly. Tandem bikes are $85 and quad bikes are $150 (you pay per bike, not by person). It was a great way to explore the area and I highly recommend!