Perhaps the nearby towns of Woodstock and Hunter get more prominent billing, but the picturesque Catskills hamlet of Phoenicia is brimming with activities to fill a weekend itinerary. With creekside lodging, farm-to-table dining, and shops that run the gamut from rustic to hip to quirky, here’s a glimpse at what to see and do in Phoenicia.
Where to Stay
The Graham & Co. is a 20-room hotel set back on three acres around the corner from Main Street with amenities aplenty: a swimming pool, hammocks, fire pit, and even bikes you can borrow to troll around town. Each room is thoughtfully designed with a nod to Catskills heritage, but with modern comforts in mind like luxe bedding and Tivoli bluetooth radios.
Designers and the aesthetically-minded will geek out over the CMYK-themed accommodations at Norsdale, with its nine chromatic guest rooms. Each has its own color color scheme and distinctive sleeping configuration.
Where to Eat
For those craving Italian, it’s hard to resist the wood-fired pizza at Brio’s. They’ve also got a short menu of gourmet sandwiches that are pleasing to both the palate and the wallet.
Home chefs and gourmands should swing by the Phoenicia Farmers' Market, every Sunday from 10am to 2pm across from the Post Office, for a selection of seasonal produce and flowers from local producers like O'Connor Farm Flowers, Windfall Farms, Wrights Farm as well as apothecary products, locally roasted coffee, artisanal nutmilks, and more.
What to Do
Phoenicia’s Main Street is lined with locally owned businesses, each with its own unique wares. Find contemporary housewares and gifts at Tender Land Home, vintage and artisan-crafted goods at Mélange, and casual-yet-trendy clothes at Catskills Clothing Company.
The Nest Egg is a longstanding, old-fashioned country store offering a range of useful and unusual items, from locally made jam and fudge, to hiking guides, and even moccasins for the whole family.
Catch community theater performances at Phoenicia Playhouse, home of the Shandaken Theatrical Society. In summers past, adventurous types could take to the Esopus Creek in to tube down the rapids with Town Tinker Tube Rental. But the business is currently on the market. Fingers crossed it will get purchased soon, so whitewater fun can resume.
If you still want to get in the creek, plan an expedition with fly fishing company Catskill Outfitters, who will equip you with everything from waders, boots, and fly tying materials to a seasoned guide to show you the ropes, err, lines. If you want to stick to dry land, take the moderate year-round trek up Tremper Mountain, whose 2,740-foot peak offers ample views of the Catskills from atop a fire tower.
Enjoy a post-hike beer at Woodstock Brewing; though its name might harken to the famous town nearby, the family-friendly microbrewery serves IPAs, lagers, and pub grub right on Route 28 in Phoenicia.
