Gas Up the Car, Pack The Snacks: In Schoharie County, Everything Else Is Just A Quick Drive Away
Schoharie County: Nestled in Upstate New York, midway between the Catskills and the Adirondacks and just a few hours drive from everything else–not just the Hudson Valley, but New York City, Boston, Montreal, Buffalo (and Niagara Falls) — we’re the perfect place to start and end every adventure. Even if you just live down the road.
For starters: Albany International Airport is less than an hour away. Syracuse International? Two hours. Plus there’s easy and quick access to Amtrak from just about anywhere. And by car? Maybe the best way to see what we’re all about: the best place you’ve (maybe) never heard of. Gas up and pack the snacks. Because you can get there from here.
Geography & geology informs much of what we are. If you’re coming from NYC, skip the beaten path and make the scenic drive through the Catskills and the communities that thrive there:
Woodstock is for art lovers. Windham and Hunter? Outdoors and recreation.
Margaretville is sophisticated, Delhi is historic, and Stamford, surrounded by natural beauty, will always be the Queen of the Catskills. Check out local favorite, 3,209-foot Mount Utsayantha for panoramic views of the Delaware Valley. On a clear day you can see as far as Vermont.
If you’re into hiking, the AllTrails app is your best bet for Catskills hikes, but as you drive through the Schoharie Valley, don’t miss Minekill Falls, Vroman's Nose, and the Middleburgh Cliffs.
Some of Upstate NY’s most unique geography–is behind–under really–Howe Caverns (and Secret Caverns) world-famous natural wonders just off I-88, created by thousands of years of underground rivers flowing through limestone. If you’re a real spelunker, there are dozens of other caves–some accessible, others not–with more waiting to be “discovered.” (We’ve seen the videos.)
The Adirondacks, including Lake George and Lake Placid, are a family-friendly destination, perfect for a quick Upstate New York get-away.
Go North… just a few hours and you’ll be in the 6 million acre Upstate NY, Adirondack Park with so much to explore:
Lake George is a family-friendly destination.
Lake Placid, on Mirror Lake at the foot of Whiteface Mountain, is a hub for outdoor recreation (like ice climbing) and it’s known around the world as a two-time host of the Winter Olympics.
Montreal? Quebec? Vermont? Just a border away.
And of course, there’s always the Adirondacks’ 46 High Peaks–the challenge of a lifetime, whether you’re doing them all or just a few.
Go East… if you’re looking to take outdoor activities inside. Consider Albany’s Indoor Rockgym (a day pass gets you rentals too.) Interested in history?
Albany’s home to the admission-free New York State Museum (exhibits include The Cohoes Mastodon, Fire Engine Hall, and The World Trade Center; Rescue, Response, and Recovery).
the Albany Institute of History and Art (our favorite? Ancient Egypt).
There’s the General Phillip Schuyler House (Don’t throw away your shot…)
The Capital District is also one of Upstate NY’s best places for following your favorite bands and shows:
The Egg, Palace Theater, SPAC, Proctors… Maybe you’ll even find a local act on its way up.
Go West… four hours gets you to Niagara Falls and Buffalo – a hip and up and coming city for young professionals with a surprising number of outdoor activities like hiking, canoeing and kayaking, and backpacking. Visit the Finger Lakes on your trip.
If your fun comes on two wheels, Buffalo is also a jumping off spot for the 750-mile Empire State Trail. Every July, cyclists from across the country ride from Buffalo to Albany through quaint villages, peaceful countryside, and centuries of history as part of the fully-supported Cycle the Erie Canal. Segments of the Empire State Trail run south into the Hudson Valley and north into the Adirondacks too. The best part? You can jump on it in Canajoharie (15 minutes from Sharon Springs.)
Looking for cycling friends? Reach out to the Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club (they’re on Facebook) for info and rides.
And just down the road… Cooperstown.
So much more than what you expected. A small town with big town attractions:
Baseball Hall of Fame, Fenimore Art Museum and Fenimore Farm, but also friendly restaurants and breweries and not-just-baseball shops. Glimmerglass State Park on Otsego Lake is open year-round; there’s a beach, camping, a concession, kayak and canoe rentals, and plenty of trails.
Fun fact: Otsego Lake is the headwaters of the Susquehanna River. Near-neighbor, the City of Binghamton, where the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers meet up at the end of I-88, is home to the Link Planetarium at the Roberson Museum and the Ross Park Zoo–the fifth oldest zoological institution in the country. If you go, be sure to check out the area’s six antique hand-carved carousels, all free and why Binghamton is called the Carousel Capital of the World.
New York is a big state with so much to explore, but in Schoharie County, you’re either part of it all or just a quick drive away. One more reason to check us out. Where are your favorite spots to visit?
