HudsonValleyGoodStuff

Ice Cream Station in Phoenicia: Super friendly service & yummy cones!

 

I love the Ice Cream Station in Phoenicia! Sometimes instead of venturing out and discovering new ice cream places, I find myself sticking to old reliable ones. Where should I venture out to? Who has the best ice cream around? 

Ice Cream Station in Phoenicia: Great ice cream & gourmet lollipops!

I was happy to learn that the Ice Cream Station on Main Street in Phoenicia is now open every day!  I went there last night for the first time this season. I ran out of the house without my phone or camera so unfortunately no photos, but I will be sure to document it next time.  I had the mocha madness which was coffee ice cream with chocolate fudge and toffee. My husband had delicious mouse tracks ice cream. They also have a nice selection of candies and lollipops. Another nice touch is a box of random used toys that for kids to entertainment. Check out my Phoenicia section for other good stuff in Phoenicia. 

11 Things I Can't Wait to Do When Spring (Really) Arrives in the Hudson Valley

There are so many wonderful events and things to do in the Hudson Valley this Spring. I have been bogged down with to-do lists and endless Hudson Valley winter blues so I haven't had much time or mojo for blogging. A visit to the Village Tea Shop in New Paltz did cheer up me for an hour. I had a great time guest blogging for Small Bites for Hudson Valley Restaurant Week.  I hope next year more restaurants in the Woodstock area will participate.

In the mean time, I am looking forward to so many things this Spring. I can't wait to:

1) Get my bike tuned up at Overlook Mountain Bikes in Woodstock, and go for a long bike ride.

2) Check out the olympic-sized pool at Bard. *This has been on my to-do list for 2 years!

3) Visit Woodstock Animal Sanctuary and give the gift of a membership there to two very special people in my life.

4) Try out the Good Stuff cafe in Stone Ridge. I also want to try the new Mexican restaurant in Rhinebeck.

5) Attend the Woodstock Writers Festival.

6) Cheer on the men and women participating in the 18th Annual Trooper Biathlon in Hurley. I did ita few years ago, and highly recommend it. I was not in biathlon shape though so I finished very last.  It is a beautiful, but challenging course.

7) Taste Jolly Cow ice cream on a warm day! This week's soft serve flavor is Yellow Cake Batter.

8) Run along Cooper Lake Road.

9) Go for a walk along the Walkway Over the Hudson.

10) Walk for Autism Walk on April 10th. Hopefully it won't rain this year.

11) Enjoy a mango Margarita at the Steel House.

What are your favorite Spring things to do/events in Hudson Valley?

 

Cat'n Around Catskill: Cat statues, quirky shops, good eats, and ice cream!

 
 

I spent a lazy afternoon walking around Catskill on Monday. I hadn't been there since last year, and it looks like there are a couple new restaurants that have opened up since I last visited. Unfortunately, it was Monday so a few shops and restaurants were closed. We stopped for ice cream at Cone-e Island ice cream stand. The vanilla soft serve was excellent! It had a real vanilla flavor that you don't find everywhere. There is also a small play area with coin operated rides for the kids to ride near the tables).  

I also loved looking at all the different Cats from the Cats of Cat'n Around 2010 in Catskill. There are 61 of them! The cats will only be on display until September 19th. Come admire them! My favorite is the Michael Jackson cat ("Black or White: Tribute to the Gloved One" by Serine Baeckmann-Elge). If you want to take a Cat home, come back for The Cat's Meow Auction & Gala on September 26th. Visit Cat'n Around or Welcome to Catskill for more info.  

 

Lucky Chocolates in Saugerties now serving DIY gourmet ice cream!

I was very happy to find out that Lucky Chocolates is now serving ice cream. Though there are only 6 flavors, customers can add their favorite gourmet chocolates (say Salt Caramel or Creme Brulee) or any of the other 40 kinds of chocolates) into their scoops to create a dream scoop.(Gluten-free cones are also available too). You just pay $2 for the extra chocolate pieces. You can even add gummy bears, As Rae, the owner says "The possibilities are endless!" You are also free to express yourself and your unique chocolate cravings by custom making ice cream floats or milkshakes. Lucky Chocolates uses organic and fair trade chocolate, and has a selection of vegan and dairy-free treats too. Lucky Chocolates, 115 Partition Street, Saugerties, NY. (845) 246-7337. 

Boice Brothers Dairy: Ice Cream in Kingston

Boice Brothers Dairy & Ice Cream stand in Kingston is a great place to go for an ice cream treat if you are running errands in Kingston's business district or the round-out area. I did just that a couple days ago. The Boice family have been in business since 1914 so they know their ice cream! It was very tasty. I had the mango banana Dole Whip (low fat) and the kids enjoyed the soft serve vanilla. The store is open year round and sells chocolate milk and egg nog too. Prices are budget friendly. The animal statues in the front are cute though, they have definitely seen better days. There are a few tables by the stand. Boice Brothers Dairy, 62 O'Neil Street, Kingston, NY.12401. (845) 340-2018.

Rainy Day Kid Activity: World's Largest Kaleidoscope & Jane's Gourmet Ice Cream

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I have been to the Emerson Place many times over the past 6 years, but I have never braved the World's Largest Kaleidoscope at the Emerson Country Store . The Emerson Place is a quiet group of stores next door to the Emerson Resort and Spa.  There are a few fancy home decor stores (avoid them if you have wild toddlers), a nice toy store which specializes in kaleidoscopes, and a very chic and cozy snack bar that serves Starbucks coffee and Jane's Gourmet Ice Cream. (In case you have never tried Jane's Ice Cream, try it...It's amazing!) The snack bar/book store also sells homemade danishes, cookies and sandwiches.  The Kaleidoscope show runs 10 minutes long and costs $5.40 for adults and is free for children 12 and under. It is sort of built like a miniature planetarium. When the lights go out, you can see Kaleidoscope patterns change on the ceiling. Today's show was "America, The House We Live In"  which included many Americana, political images, and a very colorful 70s segment. It's good fun for kids and grown-ups! For more info visit http://www.kaleidostore.com. Emerson Country Store, 5340 Rt. 28, Mt. Tremper, NY (845) 688-5800. Shows run daily from 10am-5pm.

Day Trip: Lake George--Horse carriage rides & Miniature Golf

 

 

 On our way back from Six Flags Great Adventure in Queensbury, we stopped off in nearby Lake George to eat lunch.  There were quite a few options, including an interesting looking Indian restaurant, but we settled on Adirondack Sandwich Works for its low key family friendly vibe.  The exterior is unassuming as you can see. The sandwiches were delicious. (Well greasy, but damn good!) They also bake cinnamon buns on-site. (I was very tempted, but wanted to leave room for an ice cream tasting!)  After lunch, we went on a horse carriage ride along the lake and our tour guide mentioned Around the World Miniature Golf Range (http://www.aroundtheworldgolf.com)  was voted one of the top ten mini golf places in the country by the Travel Channel.  For our ice cream tasting, we went to The Pink Roof, which had soft-serve and hard ice cream. It was a gorgeous Summer day in Lake George and we all enjoyed walking along the promenade by the lake and seeing the steam boats.  Lake Geroge has a public beach with a life guard. We passed it on the horse carriage ride. It looked small, but looks like a quiet place to have a picnic and a dip in the water. If you are planning a trip to Lake George, the Chamber of Commerce is a good place to start. http://www.lakegeorgechamber.com.

New Ice Cream Stand in Saugerties: No name yet, but ice cream is good!

This place popped up about a week ago so I was eager to check it out.   I think I've tried most of the ice cream places within a 40 mile radius of Woodstock so it's nice to try a new place.  The server told me that the owner hasn't chosen a name yet, but hopes to soon.  It has has a cheery exterior with a bear motif and nice picnic tables. Their soft serve ice cream machine wasn't working yet, but there were about a dozen or so gourmet ice creams to choose from and most of them looked really good. I was tempted to try the Cake Batter flavor, but instead chose the Mocha Chocolate Chip yogurt. My husband had the Coconut Almond. Both were very tasty. As it is so new I didn't get an address for it, but it is right across from the Saugerties Lumber Yard which is located at 223 Ulster Avenue in Saugerties, close-by CVS.

Kaatskill Cider--Good ice cream & quirky Catskill souvenirs on Route 32

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What a great weekend to be in the Hudson Valley!  We took our kids to the annual East Durham Irish Festival, and then stopped off at one of my favorite ice cream stands, Kaatskill Cider Mill. I love their Cappuccino Crunch flavor, and my husband got his usual Moosetracks flavor, but he swears the Moosetracks here is one of the best. They also serve hamburgers, hot dogs, and fries at the counter. You'll also find a wealth of Catskill related knick-knacks and politically-incorrect souvenirs. Kaatskill Cider Mill, 4953 Route 32, Catskill, NY. (518) 678-5529.