The author was hosted to facilitate this article. All thoughts and opinions expressed are their own.
I had the fantastic opportunity to road trip to Sullivan Catskills in New York and met with 14 Macaroni KID publishers from around the country. The experience was such an adventure. I zipped down the water slides at the Kartrite Resort and Indoor Water Park, rafted 5 miles down the Delaware River with Lander's River Trips, and had a blast trying so many new things.
It's an adventure I won't soon forget, and I'd recommend it to families looking for a great vacation spot. Here are my top 6 reasons why the Sullivan Catskills needs to be your next vacation.
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1. Woodstock Happened Here
Yes, the Woodstock happened at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in 1969. At least 400,000 people gathered on a dairy farm for The Woodstock Arts & Music Festival. Now you can tour a groovy museum that tells the story of those three days. You can also explore the grounds where there is a monument, see the message tree, and envision where the stage once stood.
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2. Enjoy a Concert
I think it would be amazing to enjoy a concert in the same area as Woodstock. While not in the original spot due to preservation efforts, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts still prides itself on spreading joy through music. They have a beautiful outdoor concert venue that has hosted big names like Train, Backstreet Boys, Pitbull, and more. They also offer backstage tours.
 Dining at Villa Roma Resort |
3. Great Accommodations
The Kartrite Resort and Indoor Water Park
Enjoy an arcade, ropes course, bars, and restaurants under the same roof as the indoor water park. I enjoyed the water slides and lazy river, and I know my kids would love the splash area with a dumping bucket. My room was clean, a generous size, and the bed was super comfortable!
Villa Roma Resort
The Villa Roma Resort is perfect for a family getaway during any season. They have many amenities and activities like an indoor pool, outdoor pools, hot tub, fishing pond, horseback riding, and more. During winter they also have skiing. Their all-inclusive packages make vacation stress free. Villa Roma is offering 10% off to Macaroni KID readers. Get the deal HERE.
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4. The Dove Trail
To celebrate Woodstock's 50th anniversary, the Sullivan Catskills placed 50 artistically decorated doves throughout the area. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to find all fifty, but the ones I did see were beautiful. I'd love to go back with my kids and try to find them all!
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5. Get Outside
While rafting on the Delaware River with Lander's River Trips, I spotted three bald eagles, and other publishers spotted up to seven! The area of the river we were on is the second largest bald eagle nesting area. Lander's River Trips is an excellent opportunity to unplug with the family and spend a few hours outside having an amazing time.
6. The People
Many of the people I talked to were passionate about the area. I was pleased to speak with Mr. Rick Landers of Lander's River Trips. He shared that his dad started their business in 1955, and it is still family-owned. Villa Roma Resort was purchased in 1969, and generations of families are still returning. At Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the tour guides were happy to share their love of Woodstock and the area with us. Of course, it takes someplace unique to evoke the love these locals spoke with, but the Sullivan Catskills are extraordinary.
Looking for more information on Lander's River Trips? Check out Macaroni KID City of Pittsburgh's article.
Interested in Bethel Woods? Read more on Macaroni KID South Hill's article.
Read about Macaroni KID Johnstown's adventure here.
