Introduction to Ulster County Neighborhoods
Just 90 minutes from Manhattan up I-87, Ulster County is a world apart. A large part of the county is forever wild—the quarter-million acres that make up Ulster’s portion of the Catskill Park are still home to bobcats, minks, fishers, coyotes and black bears. Hunting and fishing, naturally, are popular here, as is golf (there are 14 courses here), horseback riding and hiking and biking on 350 miles of trails. The Shawangunk Mountains—the ‘Gunks, as locals call them—are among the best rock-climbing sites in the country. And winter affords lots of outdoor fun as well, with great downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing—and cozy lodges with fireplaces to warm up afterward. For indoor fun, Ulster County is a center for arts and culture in the Hudson River Valley. From the spectacular artscape of Opus 40 to galleries and outdoor theatre, Ulster County has been home to the creative arts for more than 100 years. There has been a lively music scene since the original Woodstock was held here, and the Ulster Performing Arts Center offers many live concerts. Arts, crafts and antiques can be found at the Ulster County Fair in New Paltz and the growing antique center in Saugerties. Satisfy your shopping jones at the unique boutiques in Woodstock, New Paltz, Saugerties or at the big malls in Kingston. The rich and fertile soil supply local restaurants with an abundance of fresh and natural foods, and there are 14 vineyards dotting the regional wine trail, providing an easy opportunity to wander the county and taste the valley’s bounty.
