DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF THE CATSKILLS AT HEMLOCK NEVERSINK

I love upstate New York. People often overlook the fact that New York State is a lot larger than just New York City, and in so doing, they rob themselves of the splendor and beauty of upstate New York. One of my favorite places to visit in upstate New York is the Catskills — it’s only a two hour drive outside the city, and it’s home to gorgeous landscapes and amazing properties where you can unwind, connect with nature, and just put the hustle and bustle of city life in your rear view (albeit temporarily). So, with that in mind, and following a very busy start to Q1, Linda and I decided to visit the Catskills for a much needed break, and we stayed at the incredible gem of a property called Hemlock Neversink.

There’s so much to love about Hemlock Neversink. Let’s start with all the Amenities. One of the things I struggle with a lot in the city is finding things to do that do not involve alcohol or copious amounts of food. And yes, there are ton of museums and art galleries and such, and I have frequented several of these, but that’s not something I’m looking to do every weekend. So, when I go upstate, I love that there is an assortment of various activities to do. At Hemlock Neversink, there’s a state of the art spa and health center, with an incredible pool, hot tub, barrel saunas, amazing gym, and various treatments available to you! It’s an elevated form of self-care that I have not really experienced before. And, my favorite part is that the gym has some incredible equipment and is very spacious. (I do find it quite irksome when a hotel does not invest in its fitness center; Hemlock Neversink absolutely did). In addition to the self-care elements, there’s an activities building offering various crafts and indoor experiences, including painting, gardening, threading, etc. There’s also a library with some really intriguing books and board games. There was no shortage of amenities available to make use of — and I loved that for our stay. (Read below about the activities list and click here to see some highlights of the amenities here!)

Alright, let’s turn our attention to cuisine. One question I often receive from “city dwellers” is whether the food upstate is good? Of course, given the options available in the city, and the generally high level of several restaurants, there’s a concern that it would be compromised once you move further north. I’m here to tell y’all that the food at Hemlock Neversink is exquisite. Every meal is on a prefix menu, and all their dishes are absolutely fantastic. They have fantastic beverage offerings too, which just makes everything taste better. The portions are all reasonably sized, which means you can enjoy all three courses and not feel like you’re stuffed like a piñata. I loved ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING I tried. Finally, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this, but the music in the restaurant is soo good – they have this easy listening playlist going that sets the mood right. It was soo good that Linda and I both asked the general manager to direct us to the playlist so we can add it to our weekend vibes playlist at home on Spotify.

Another thing I want to highlight is the staff and the carefully curated activities list. Everyday at Hemlock Neversink, there’s a schedule with optional activities for the guests to partake in. These encompass both indoor and outdoor activities, including craft tutorials, guide-led hikes, and so much more. And if you want to do your own thing, there’s a bunch of equipment that you can rent for snowshoeing, skiing, winter sports, and more. It’s the embodiment of a well thought out environment that strikes the perfect balance between intentional isolation and interaction with others. And then, of course, there are goats!! On the property, there is a barn with the most adorable goats and all guests are welcome to feed them at the goat playground. It’s a truly sweet and tender experience. You can also go hiking with the goats, which is an awesome experience as well. No matter how long you decide to stay, one thing is for sure, you’ll never be bored!

Finally, as you’ve come to expect from me with my hotel reviews, let’s talk about the rooms and aesthetics. On the exterior, Hemlock Neversink kind of gives off the vibe of being an old-school summer or winter camp. The interior doesn’t quite match the exterior — the decor, art placement, fireplaces, and general alignment of everything in the common areas and the rooms is spectacular. I’m not sure whether the property used to be something else before it became a hotel, but I love what they’ve done with the interior. We stayed in the Grand Suite, which was awesome. Upon entry, you walked up the stairs into a one-bedroom suite with two balconies, a living room, and NO TV – which is extremely important to facilitate connecting with nature and your partner. If you’re going to stay here, I’d recommend this suite — it’s the best room available at the property.

Finally, if you don’t yet have a plan for the long Valentine’s Day weekend, they have a special that will blow your mind! I highly recommend it. Hemlock Neversink gets a 4.5/5 star FFF rating.