The Itinerary: Urban Cowboy Lodge in Big Indian, NY
A complete weekend itinerary to Urban Cowboy Lodge, plus 10% off for our paid subscribers ✨
Welcome to The Itinerary:
Your go-to guide for easy Upstate escapes – plus exclusive discounts for each – created by Escape Brooklyn.
The Location:
Urban Cowboy Lodge, 130 miles from NYC in Big Indian, NY. The 68 acre property is surrounded by magical forest for exploring, and pristine waters that are world-famous for fly fishing.
The Deal:
The Cowboy is giving Escape Club subscribers 10% off a stay, now through the end of March. Code is for our paid members only; grab below the paywall.
Why We Love It:
This cozy Catskills lodge exudes rustic luxury, and has literally everything you need for a perfect Upstate weekend – indulgent rooms with tubs both inside and out, a restaurant and bar, creek for summer dips and an Estonian sauna for cold weather. You can check in and stay for the entire weekend, should you choose. Plus, the views are to die for.
The Vibe:
Cozy lodge with 26 rooms, many with cedar hot tubs (outdoors) or freestanding copper tubs (indoors). All guests can enjoy the Cowboy’s restaurant, Public House, plus their Estonian sauna. On weekends, socialize with fellow guests at the bar, or during fun programming like dance parties and reggae bingo.
An Escape-Worthy Itinerary: The Urban Cowboy Lodge in Big Indian, NY
Day One: Check In & Indulge
• 3 pm: Check in and enjoy a welcome drink – on the house. The Cowboy’s lovely staff will take you on a tour to your room. From there, ditch your bags and head straight to the Estonian sauna (note: you’ll need to book a time in advance). After a sauna session, head back to the room to rinse off and get ready for dinner.
• 5 pm: After an indulgent wellness afternoon, make the giant fireplace in the main lodge your next location – cocktail in hand. Hang there until it’s time for dinner at the Cowboy’s restaurant, Public House. We love any menu items that feature locally-sourced Catskills trout. Reservations are highly recommended.
• 9 pm: Post-dinner, head to the games room at the Cowboy for a round of pool, karaoke or bingo. In the main lodge space, a DJ spins fun tunes, and the excellent vibes frequently result in a dance party. Alternately, guests can reserve the private screening room at the Cowboy for intimate movie viewing.
Day Two: Get Outdoors, Visit a Local Brewery, Dinner Out
• 8 am: Take our word for it: get the egg sandwich served at onsite at Public House. For those itching to explore, check out Café Mornings in nearby Margaretville for a Korean toast sandwich or egg bowl.
• 10 am: Get outdoors! Hit the slopes at Belleayre; alternately, stretch your legs on the hiking trails at Giant Ledge or Slide Mountain. If you go winter hiking, make sure you have proper equipment (available from the front desk in limited supply) like snowshoes or micro spikes for traction.
• 4 pm: Aprés time! Craft beer lovers should check out West Kill Brewing (see: Do You Aprés Ski?) or Woodstock Brewing.
• 7 pm: Before heading back to the Cowboy for the night, grab a meal or drink out. We love the tavern at Peekamoose that serves elevated pub fare, or you can eat in the dining room for something more formal. A bit further afoot but worth the drive, The Pines is amazing (and close to Woodstock Brewing, should you end up that way.)
• 9 pm: Did you get a room with an indoor tub, aka an Alpine Bathing Suite – or a Walden Suite with an outdoor tub? Of course you did. End the day with a relaxing soak. You earned it.
Day Three: Antique Shopping on Route 28, Explore Kingston, Sample Tapas at the Hudson Valley’s Newest Hotspot
• 8 am: Rise & shine! Make use of that tub and sauna one last time before check-out at 11.
• 11 am: Take your time heading back toward the highway, popping into antique shops and cute towns along the way. For brunch, stop at the iconic Phoenicia Diner.
• 12 pm: Explore Kingston, NY’s Stockade District. Park the car and walk the historic streets with loads of shopping and art galleries. For more specific recommendations, check our full Guide to Kingston.
• 2 pm: Grab a late lunch at Mirador. The newly-opened Andalucían-inspired tapas bar & café uses the best products from Spain and the Hudson Valley in a cute sunny space in Kingston’s midtown. A tapas menu allows you to pick just the right amount of food for a post-brunch, pre-drive back to the city.
Ready to book a trip? Use the code below for 10% off, now through the end of March.
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