115 miles from New York City, tucked between the Espous Creek and the high peaks of the Catskills, Perch Cottages offers a laid-back mountain retreat in Boiceville, New York.

The setting conjures up memories of vacation rentals of the not-so-distant past: a cluster of cottages gathered around a semi-circle drive, each with picnic tables and grills. In the middle, a central courtyard has lawn games, Adirondack chairs and bonfires, with the backdrop of the mountains. Nostalgic yet modern, Perch Cottages is reminiscent of a time when family travel was easy, fun and accessible – minus the 50’s cottage decor.

Each cottage was (very) recently gut renovated to include totally new bathrooms and well-stocked, well-equipped kitchens. Cooking meals on-site is a breeze. Bedrooms and living spaces are cozy and inviting: entertainment inside the cottages include Smart TV, Bluetooth speaker, board games, and record players with a small vinyl selection.

Outside, Perch Cottages’ many amenities makes staying on-site for vacation easy: spend days fishing or taking dips in the river, find a hammock to catch up on a book, or grab the family for lawn games. At night, three central gas bonfires are accessible to guests, for evening socializing, s’mores making, and stargazing.

Given its communal vibe, Perch Cottages is perfect for traveling families, friends, anglers, and work retreats. Perch Cottages are family and pet friendly; whole property rentals are welcome.

Though it’d be easy to spend your entire vacation at Perch Cottages, its central location in the Catskills make it a perfect home base to explore the greater region. Below, we’re sharing a few highlights to add to your itinerary.

The steep trails at Overlook Mountain lead hikers to the ruins of an old hotel in Woodstock, NY.

Perch Cottages is centrally located to Phoenicia, Woodstock, Stone Ridge, and Kingston – all with shopping, restaurants, and more. (Check those links for individual guides.)

For those seeking outdoor adventure, there’s no shortage of hikes and outdoor recreation in the area. One of our all-time favorite hikes is the nearby Overlook Mountain in Woodstock. About ten minutes from Main Street Woodstock, this 4.5 mile loop takes about three hours round-trip, with some time added in at the top for sight-seeing at the top. Features include a fire tower with 360º views (one of six in the region), and ruins from a grand mountaintop hotel that burned down (several times) to explore. Heads up: this popular trail is pretty well known; adjust your expectations and schedule accordingly, getting there early for parking and avoiding the crowds. Also, come prepared: it’s no short stroll in the woods! Come prepared with proper footwear, and bring plenty of water.

A lesser known trail with similar views is Mt. Tremper Fire Tower, whose six-mile trek also offers stunning 360º views from its own fire tower. Also nearby is the short-but-steep Tanbark Trail, located right off Phoenicia’s Main Street. If you make it here, peruse Main Street Phoenicia’s shops and restaurants, and hit the Phoenicia Diner or Woodstock Brewing on the way out or way back.

For a more mellow hiking experience, Kelly Hollow Loop is a short and easy 3.5 mile loop around a large pond, making it a go-to for families.

Last but not least, the Rail Trail has many access points from its 22 mile stretch. No need to conquer all of it, just choose your own adventure whether it’s walking, running, snowshoeing or biking.

Grab a bite at The Dog House at The Pines opens in warmer months – whose backyard food shack serves up hot dogs and drinks with occasional live music. Photo c/o The Pines.

The best restaurant in close proximity is The Pines, whose cozy restaurant in nearby Mt. Tremper serves up elevated but non-pretentious fare like burgers, grain bowls and sausage plates. In summer, the back yard has its own hot dog menu (with walk-up service) called The Dog House, which paired with live music and performances, is the best vibe around. At this popular outdoor spot, picnic tables fill up quickly; bring a blanket for easy seating.

During off-season, or off-days (Sunday and Monday nights) check out nearby Foxfire Mountain House; this in-demand venue is booked most weekends for for weddings, but when it’s not, it’s three-course tasting menu in the dreamiest Bohemian inn, is a recipe for memories.

About 15 minutes from Perch Cottages, the ever-popular town of Woodstock has loads of good options including date-night approporiate Good Night and its sister restaurant Silvia. For more casual vibes, check out wine bar Early Terrible and Tinker Street Tavern.

All these options aside, guests may be tempted to stay in and try out that NYT recipe that’s been bookmarked for ages. Thankfully, Perch Cottages has all the kitchen essentials (and more) you need to cook a meal on-site, including a propane grill for BBQ nights. The only thing we recommend bringing is a cooler — should you want to pack a lunch and drinks to take to the river. All other essentials are provided.

Last, to stock up on provisions, stop at Adams Fairacre Farms on the trip up; this enormous grocery store is a downstaters dream, with loads of farm fresh food, and a garden center that will have you plotting an illegal garden on your NYC fire escape. Closer to Perch Cottages, Migroelli Farms, Cheese Louise and Bread Alone are all worth a stop for their more specialty foods — including straight-from-the-farm produce, gourmet cheeses and snacks, and fresh organic breads cooked in a completely carbon neutral bakery.