Ashokan Reservoir, NY

New York City's water supply, courtesy of this beautiful reservoir in the Catskills. Great roads for biking or jogging surround the reservoir. Alas no swimming but fishing is allowed. Wikipedia has a great page about the history of the Ashokan Reservoir here.

Kingston City Hall, NY

Constructed around 1873, Kingston's City Hall was recently restored and updated. According to the city website, it is a "prime example of High Victorian Gothic municipal style architecture". There is a nice page on the history there as well.

Best tacos in Kingston

At 456 Broadway you will find the best kept secret for tacos in Kingston. I drove past this taqueria hundreds of times and never thought about stopping. Now, I can't drive by without stopping. The beef tacos are simple and served like my favorite taco truck in San Francisco. Authentic and delicious! The horchata is pretty good too. Best of all, tacos are only $1.50 and the folks there are really nice.

Cross-country skiing at Mohonk Preserve

After a fresh snowfall, my favorite thing to do is head over to the Gunks for some x-country skiing. Amazing, groomed trails connect Mohonk mountain house to the Overlook area with views of the valley below. Bring a snack pack because you'll need the energy boost to make it back! There is also fantastic skiing nearby at Minnewaska State Park Preserve and Mohonk Mountain House. Ah... the joys of Ulster County living.

The Shawangunks, NY

My client recently snapped this pic while we were looking at homes in the area. He and his family enjoy the world-class rock climbing here in the Shawangunks --otherwise known as "the Gunks". For those of you who are not quite so brave-including myself, there is an extensive network of amazing trails and rock scrambles.

This picture is at the Overlook parking lot with the Trapps behind me. Here is a google map. Wikipedia has a nice entry about the ridge.

After a memorable day exploring the Gunks, I recommend checking out the Gilded Otter in New Paltz. All beers are brewed on the premises and the food is great.

See you on the trails!

Q: Where do the locals ski? A: Belleayre Mountain

Even on the busiest days I have rarely seen a lift line at Belleayre. Park at the middle lodge and enjoy a beer at the end of the day, then relax in front of the fireplaces. It's a great place to learn how to snow board or challenge yourself with some pretty interesting terrain. Best of all, there are lots of discount days where lift tickets cost as little as $10! By the way, you can ski FREE on your birthday. Take a look at Belleayre Mountain's site for more info.

Don't miss Kingston's Second Annual Mardi Gras!

An "after the Holidays" break, there will be something for everyone. There's a parade at 4:30, if you'd like to participate, you can assemble at the police parking lot (Garraghan Drive) at 4pm.

There will be ice-sculpting, mask-making, jugglers, street musicians, and party festivities into the evening. Get your beads!!

Schedule is here: http://www.krbaonline.org/Event1.html

See you there!