For more over 100 years , artists, writers and musicians have been drawn to Woodstock. The arts scene in this, the lower part of the Catskills only about 1.5 hours from New York includes art galleries, live music, and a variety of food experiences in restaurants that offer Mexican, Chinese, Indian, Italian, and health-food. There are not many rooms in the Woodstock area. Don't be fooled by the name, either, Woodstock, the festival, was held in Bethel NY some distance away. LMake reservations well in advance.

The lodge was known as the Lodge at Catskills Corners. There are spacious, nice furnished rooms overlooking the Esopus Creek where you can fly fish in season. the top rooms have a first-floor sitting area with a gas fireplace and private deck. Wooden staircases lead up to a loft, with a king-sized bed and bathroom with a huge whirlpool tub. In the shops you can find gourmet foods and gifts, spa items, and fun things like kaleidoscopes.

Overlooking Hunter Mountain, Scribner Hollow Lodge may have the best views of any Catskills lodgings. Some rooms have a fireplace and private balcony. Scribner Hollow also operates one of the best restaurants in the Catskills; it has won Wine Spectator magazine's Award of Excellence multiple times and features wine-tasting dinners throughtout the year.

Our favorite place and the most romantic on the list. Mohonk Mountain House is surrounded by thousands of acres of pristine Catskills forest and winding trails for hiking and outdoor excursions. The hotel is a rambling, 251-room Victorian castle with Adirondack architecture, some rooms with fireplaces and balconies, a wide, rocking-chair-filled deck which juts out over the the deep-blue waters of Lake Mohonk. (Scenes from Dirty Dancing were filmed here.)