Lonely Planet and Airbnb Recognize Catskills & The Hudson Valley as Global Tourism Destinations

  |  December 6, 2018

The road slices through Minnewaska State Park Preserve © ricardocostaphotography / Getty Images

With skiing in the winter; swimming in the summer; and world-class thrifting, eating, and drinking all year round, the Hudson Valley is a pleasure-seeker’s paradise. That’s why we weekend here, buy homes here, and set up businesses. From the lofty peaks of the Catskills to the sprawling farmland and orchards of Dutchess County, this region is breathtakingly beautiful, (relatively) affordable, and positively bursting with creativity from the innovative cuisine to the local art galleries to the strong maker movement.

Suffice it to say, we all know that the Hudson Valley is the bees knees. But everyone else is about to know it too. Earlier this week, Lonely Planet AND Air BnB recognized the Catskills and the Hudson Valley as a top tourism destination for 2019.

Lonely Planet Weighs In

The ol’ blue book has tapped The Catskills as the #2 Region to visit in 2019—in the world—second only to Piedmont, Italy. Bravo! Our modest little mountains beat out the Scottish Highlands, all of Northern Peru, and Normandy, France, to name a few of the other top 10 regions.

Salmon salad at Mel’s at 22 in Cooperstown, nY

Though we resent being characterized predominantly by the Woodstock Festival, Lonely Planet does also mention the food and craft beverage boom of the past decade, saying, “There’s been an influx of creative farm-to-table restaurants, bespoke breweries and distilleries, and a growing array of arts collectives and high-profile concert venues.” Thank you very much. Their list of 16 top Catskills restaurants includes Heron in Narrowsburg, Jessie’s Harvest House in Tannersville, Garden Cafe, a vegan restaurant in Woodstock; and Mel’s at 22 in Cooperstown. Yum. We approve.

Lonely Planet also recommend hitting up Opus 40, the Saugerties Lighthouse, Ommegang Brewery (or really any of the 200+ breweries), New York’s highest waterfall—Kaaterskill, and other local attractions.

Airbnb Swarm

Airbnb has proclaimed that bookings for our sweet lil’ upstate region have doubled in the last year. Welp, expect that trend to continue into 2019 with short-term rentals getting harder and harder to find. Better book now! Some of Airbnb’s top recommended rentals are pretty sweet, including this Geodesic dome in Woodridge, this very ‘grammable A-frame in Kerhonkson, and the unforgettable Willow Treehouse in Woodstock.

Following market trends, Airbnb has expanded into the experience market, now offering up everything from guided hikes to cooking classes. Some of the experiences on offer in Hudson Valley and the Catskills are wildcrafting a winter wreath, a perfume making workshop in Windham, and a farm visit.

One thing this region has in spades is space—there is plenty of room to share. Plushe money tourism brings makes it viable for new businesses to open, artists to thrive, and farms to flourish, so we say, the more the merrier!

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