7 Best Sights in The Catskills, New York

In a handsome brick building that once served as the area's only movie theater, the Catskill Arts Society has a couple of huge galleries that show the works of local and national artists. There's also another slender gallery in the foyer, a small gift shop with lots of original pieces, and classes ranging from watercolors to pottery to creative writing.

In a newly built facility on the edge of the hamlet, this brewery's brilliant red building isn't just eye-catching, it's also eco-friendly, getting much of its power from solar panels. The zinc-topped bar is a great place to sample a little of each of the ales and lagers on tap, or to fill a growler to take home. The names of the brews couldn't be more evocative: some of our favorites include Floodwatch, Ball Lightning, and Devil's Path---named for the toughest trail through nearby Catskills State Park. Weekend events often include live music and high spirits.

Reached via a footbridge over the famed Willowemoc Creek, this nonprofit center outside of Livingston Manor is devoted to the preservation of the sport of fly-fishing and to the delicate ecological environment that makes the sport possible. The center maintains a vast collection of fishing reels, antique flies, and fishing-related artwork. It also conducts educational programs throughout the year, with workshops on making your own rods or tying a lure. In October the center celebrates the latest legends at the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame.

Originally know as the Motts Flats Bridge, this beautifully restored covered bridge was built in 1860. More than 100 feet long, it spans Willowemoc Creek, and in season you're likely to spot anglers in the waters below.

In a beautifully restored 1929 building that was once home to the Roscoe Fire Department, this distillery still has the huge garage doors that used to house the fire trucks as well as state-of-the-art equipment for producing small batches of award-winning vodka, gin, and whisky. Head in past the oak barrels lining the entrance hall and you'll find a cozy tasting room where you can sample the distillery's claim to fame. Free tours are given whenever there's a crowd, and it's fun to see the gleaming chrome vats alongside the building's handsome wood stairway and tin ceilings.

Roscoe is nicknamed Trout Town, U.S.A., which accounts for the rainbow trout on the label of all the beers produced by the Roscoe Beer Company. It's a friendly place, with a tree-shaded spot out front where there are often concerts during the warmer months. Inside is a fireplace, cozy leather couches, and lots of beer on tap. You can stop by the shop for a growler of one of the limited-release beers, including the Rainbow Red Ale.

You'll easily spot this little museum by the red caboose sitting outside. Operated by the Ontario & Western Railway Historical Society, the museum also features a passenger car, train signals, watchman's shanties, and ephemera like conductor uniforms and signal lights. Kids love the model railroads that are in constant motion. The museum is open weekends from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.