The 4-Hour Rule: Coxsackie

Stipulated: the perfect travel time for a three-day weekend getaway is four hours. More, and you waste your vacation. Less, and you’re still near home. Hence our series, The 4-Hour Rule, dedicated to revealing the best destinations that are far away, yet still close to home.

^{Photos by Kelsey Ann Rose}

STAY
Gather Greene brings a few welcome modern conveniences to an otherwise bucolic setting just outside of the Catskills town of Coxsackie (that’s “cook-SAH-kee,” you juveniles). You’ll find 17 high-design cabins tucked discreetly into the woods according to the Dutch concept of “gezellig,“ which roughly translates to gathering with friends in a cozy environment. Each micro-cabin is still big on conveniences: large bed, heating and cooling, a coffee/tea nook, outlets and a mini fridge. A pavillion public space is perfect for connecting with the troops (catering kitchen, restrooms, meeting area and upstairs treehouse lounge), and the property is appropriately scattered with hammocks, picnic tables, fire pits, hiking trails and lawn games. Overnight stays begin at $250/night. Book now, because the secret is certainly out.

^{Photo courtesy of The Cask and Rasher}

EAT
If you’re the type of weekend warrior who prefers to drop their bags and stay on-site, the owners have a preorder dining service offering breakfast pastries, cheese plates and dutifully curated charcuterie in the afternoons and local Boehm Apple Farm cider brew at night. But nearby, there are heaps of options, from Che Figata Italian bistro to old-school seafood eatery Reds Restaurant to the ultra-cozy Cask and Rasher for live music and pub fare.

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DO
The area offers some of the best adventure outfitters in the region, from the nearby Zipline New York to Blue Sky Hot-Air Balloons to the slightly more audacious Skydive the Ranch. For those more inclined to stay grounded, Northeast off-road adventures and Hudson Sailing will deliver an adequate dose of adrenaline. And if you’ve got munchkins in tow, there’s always the Trevor Zoo — they’ve got freakin’ red pandas.

Main photo by Kelsey Ann Rose, courtesy of Gather Greene