"If I were to name the three most precious resources of life, I should say books, friends, and nature. And the greatest of these, at least the most constant and always at hand, is nature." - John Burroughs

This, one of naturalist John Burroughs' most famous quotes, could easily be taken up as the creed for those of us who choose to make the Hudson Valley and Catskills regions our homes, favoring small community and time in nature over the big energy and infinite commercial opportunities of the city. Books. Friends. Nature. We might add FOOD to our ethos.

At the turn of the century, John Burroughs was one of the most popular and influential writers in America; his essays were read by millions of people, his company and counsel sought by

'Tis the season to do stuff. Real Estate agents are people too, so we understand the holidays are packed! But are they packed with the type of events you actually want to attend? Our list of events for November and December 2025 in the Catskills and Hudson Valley does not include the usual parade of Nutcracker performances and Handel's Messiah sing-alongs. We're keeping it small this year with a list of events that you're unlikely to find on your Instagram feed. They are to deeply satisfying escapes from the usual holiday melee you might elsewhere - Upstate gets carried away just like everyone else. We've got a pottery workshop, a walk with goats, a drum circle (in case you need to get some excess energy out), a quiet reading of fairytales, and a

"Dink”, "Dink”, “Dink”. It’s the sound that’s taking over America! A sound that springs from an awkward, oversized ping pong racket hitting a wiffleball-esque ball. It’s the sound of quartets of friends coming together for a little exercise and a little chat while they get some sun. If you haven’t been living under a rock, perhaps you’ve made the “Dink” that delights so many once or twice already. Pickleball is the thing right now. Like many things, it took a while to spread across the Hudson Valley and Catskills, but, as the MLP championships (Major League Pickleball) are playing out on TVs in sports bars everywhere, it’s here now.

A few weeks ago, I was in the city for a meeting, and I ended up with a little time to spare on a beautiful day.

Time to dust off your flannel, don your sweaters, perfect your apple-picking technique, and prepare for the kind of outings that makes you wonder why anyone would want to live anywhere else. As local real estate experts who've lived and worked in the Hudson Valley and Catskills for decades, we at Coldwell Banker Village Green Realty try to stay plugged into everything that's happening Upstate. It's not hard! Every time we put our monthly list of Upstate events together we feel compelled to participate! September brings that magical transition from salty summer days to autumn's crisp ones - it's officially festival and fair season, people! 

From intimate chamber music concerts overlooking the Hudson River to pungent garlic festivals that'll have you

Picture this: You, sunshine, and fields of blooms stretching toward the Catskills. Armed with scissors and a bucket, you're suddenly transformed into a floral curator - no rush, no notifications, just you finding your perfect dahlia.

Let's be honest—there's something deeply satisfying about ditching the bodega bouquet for flowers you've harvested yourself. The Hudson Valley's u-pick flower farms offer this small luxury, just a quick ride from NYC's buzz.

The Hudson Valley flower season runs from May through October, with each month offering different blooms. Most farms operate on weekends, with most flower farmers keeping up-to-date social media feeds that tell you exactly what's ready for picking.

Whether you're planning a solo mental health

As real estate agents in the Upstate NY region, we notice when the shape of the towns and villages of the Hudson Valley and Catskills changes around us. New galleries, new restaurants, new shops – sometimes we’re the first to hear about them from our clients who are making their entrepreneurial dreams happen (these are our favorites!), sometimes we hear about them through the lightning-fast grapevine that makes this community so incredible. If the fries are great, we know. If the pants are perfect, we’ve got them. If the art is worth attention, we have the house to match. Here’s a list of the new and notable businesses we've welcomed to our neighborhoods of late. If you love to make recommendations as much as we do, use this list as a research

194 Wittenberg Road, Woodstock, NY 12498

Explore some homes for sale with the Local Experts in Upstate Real Estate at Coldwell Banker Village Green Realty, offering exceptional properties for sale in New York's most popular regions—where your biggest neighbor drama might involve a too-friendly deer or groundhog in your garden. From the aptly named "Troll House" in Kingston at $375,000 (it may be magical) to the magnificent Hudson River estate Stoneledge in West Park at $2.65 million, the Catskills and Hudson Valley offer an unparalleled selection of homes in a variety of styles (nothing ticky or tacky here) all with a side of Upstate lifestyle. Whether you're seeking a cozy lakefront cottage in Yulan where ice fishing becomes your new obsession or

Summer in the Hudson Valley and Catskills will make you a joiner as Ulster, Greene, Columbia, Dutchess, and Orange counties offer up the experiences you never knew you needed – like perfecting your downward dog while llamas “judge” your form (fear not - they’re not really all that judgy), or letting goats lead your hiking expedition (heads up - they have questionable navigation skills). July and August bring an eclectic mix of adventures, from channeling your inner lumberjack at amateur axe throwing events to witnessing the first fully staged American production of Smetana's opera "Dalibor" at Bard College – because, for the right person, nothing says "summer fun" quite like a sung-through 19th-century Czech drama! Whether you're seeking barnyard

Let's embrace the chill of the Catskills and Hudson Valley this winter season with enthusiasm! Yes, January and February might have the chilliest temperatures of the year, temperatures that on occasion might make your phone shut down in protest, but that's ok! Why? Because the region offers up so many cozy doom-scroll alternatives that you could blithely drop that phone in the Hudson River and not miss it until March. While the rest of the world complains about winter, let’s put on our layers and puffy coats and treat the single-digit degree days as a communal challenge. Sure, you could stay home under a blanket, people do it – or you could join us for two months of concerts, walks, learning opportunities, and other events that will have you fighting

December in the Catskills and Hudson Valley is always a feast for the senses! There are holiday displays, there are makers’ markets with DJ’s, oysters, and incredible wares you won’t find in any shop, and there is always counter-programming for when the red, green, silver, and cheerful become way too much. While the wind blows and the landscape softens under drifts of snow, we’re doing things! Join us, the local experts in Upstate Real Estate as we tug on just a few of the strings that make up Upstate’s tapestry of a calendar this month.

Woodstock Holiday Open House

Where: Woodstock, NY

This is always a great time. Santa arrives at evening’s end in a conveyance that is different every year,