Nestled In The Catskill Mountains Is New York's Charming Idyllic Town With Recreation

The drive west from New York's state capital of Albany takes you toward the northern Catskill Mountains. About 60 miles into your trip, you can find the town of Blenheim. You will not find it on a main route between the state's major cities. Instead, you'll travel on smaller country roads that wind through forests and farmland, a journey that has helped the town maintain its quiet persona. When you arrive, you'll see a small community with a population of around 300 people where most residents own their homes. The town reflects a more traditional and conservative way of life, with deep roots in the area's long history.

The town's overall vibe is categorized by its natural environment. You'll see agricultural lands, large state forests, and gentle hills everywhere you look. A large part of its nearly 22,000 acres is made up of deep woodlands (a popular area for hunting) or active farms with old barns and stone walls. The Schoharie Creek cuts a course north through the eastern part of town, and the small residential center of North Blenheim is positioned right in a bend of the waterway. The feeling is one of country living, and you'll find that many families have lived here for generations. The town does have a revitalization plan in place that is meant to welcome small businesses and new residents, all while aiming to support the quality of life its current residents value.

If you're looking for things to do around Blenheim, you'll find your options are mostly focused on the outdoors and history. Mine Kill State Park is a good place to start your exploration (and there is no fee to get in). In the summer, use the park's swimming spots, which include an Olympic-sized pool, a kiddie area, and a diving pool. The park's lower reservoir is open for your boat or kayak, or to be used to spend a day fishing. The park also has miles of trails to hike or bike. When winter comes, return to these same trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. A short, pleasant hike uncovers the majestic cascading waterfall of Mine Kill Falls that's hidden just over an hour from Albany. It's one of the main attractions and has an 80-foot plunge to get a great view of it from the nearby viewing platform.

Other than being minutes away from some of the oldest forests in the world, you can visit the Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center, which is inside an old dairy barn and has displays to learn about electricity and hydropower. On the same property is the Lansing Manor Museum, a home from 1819, while another point of interest is the close by Old Blenheim Bridge. The original 1855 covered bridge was destroyed in 2011 by a flood, but a precise copy was built and finished in 2019. Also try Vroman's Nose, an oddly shaped geological feature which gives you sights of the Schoharie Valley, or go to Howe Caverns, the biggest public cave in the Northeast. Visit the Old Stone Fort Museum Complex to learn about the area's role in the Revolutionary War or stop at the Iroquois Museum to see contemporary and archaeological works from the Haudenosaunee people.

When you're setting up your itinerary, you should know that you will not find many hotels, coffee shops, or restaurants directly inside Blenheim. You will need to head over to some of the surrounding communities for these. If you're planning a wedding or large event, one option inside the town is Blenheim Hill Farm, which is a 300-acre farm that is used as an event venue and has room for up to 40 guests to stay in its two historic houses (the Blenheim Inn and the Virginia Queen Farm House). Vacation rentals are the most available choice to find many different cabins, cottages, and farmhouses listed on sites like Vrbo or Airbnb.

Head over to towns like Stamford, South Kortright, and Middleburgh, where you can find inns, motels, and bed-and-breakfasts. You'll have places like The Hidden Inn in South Kortright, and The Colonial Motel in Grand Gorge. The food scene is also spread out across these areas. For coffee and a quick bite, go to Stamford Coffee or T.P.'s Cafe, a classic small-town diner in Stamford. In the town of Cobleskill, have a nosh at the Bull's Head Inn, which opened in 1802 and serves up American-style food inside a colonial-type building with a stone-walled tavern in its cellar. Another restaurant to try is The Farmers Beef and Brew in Middleburgh, which builds its menu around ingredients from local farms. Speaking of farms, experience the area's farming culture at local farm stands like Shaul Farms in Fultonham or Barber's Farm in Middleburgh. You can also go about 18 miles out to Roxbury for a Catskills getaway that's one of America's most unique hotels, offering a kaleidoscope of magic and luxury.