Relax In Nature At This Beautiful Upstate New York House

Have you been itching to get away from the bustling city and get in tune with nature? Are you ready to just slow down a little bit and take a deep breath of fresh air? If you answered yes, then I have the perfect place for you! About two hours away from NYC, rests the beautiful The River House. The River House is a 3 bedroom, 31/2 bath stone house located on the opposite bank of the Willowemoc River, accessible only by crossing a private bridge. 

The River House is an amazing weekend getaway as it contains the perfect mix of exploration and relaxation. Imagine taking a hike starting from the backyard and coming back home to cozy up by the fireplace. 

The River House was clean, cozy, and felt like a home away from home. Plus, they provide everything that you need for a short stay from towels, toiletries, and continental breakfast!

What To Do:

No matter what season you visit, there is always something to do around Livingston Manor. 

All Year Round Activities 

Yoga:

The River House has a go-to yoga instructor, Justine Sutherland. She gives 90 minutes classes at her barn/studio located on Somewhere in Time Farm or can arrange to come on-site. $20 per person, ($135 minimum). 

The Livingston Manor area also has some cool covered bridges in the area. I visited during late Winter but I can imagine they would be stunning during the Fall and Summer months! This is a great spot for photogenic moments. 

• The Willowemoc Covered Bridge/Bendo Covered Bridge, 68 Conklin Hill Road, Livingston Manor spans the Willowemoc

• The Vantran Covered Bridge/Motts Flats Bridge, Covered Bridge Road, Livingston Manor - spans the Willowemoc

• Beaverkill Covered Bridge/Conklin Covered Bridge, 3 Ragin Road, Roscoe

Spring/ Summer Activities: 

Hike: 

Several different trails start right from the back yard of The River House!

• The Loop: one-mile trail. 

• The River Walk Trail: two-mile walk to Beaver Lake Farm and then another 2 miles on the return.  

• The Old Orchard Trail: three-mile hike each way.

• The Mongaup State Park is also nearby and there are several trails to go on: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24484.html

• Somewhere in Time Farm is an active produce farm that provides herbs and vegetables to many local restaurants and sells its produce at the Catskill Food Hub. In the warmer months, they have a farm stand in front of Main Street Farm in Livingston Manor. The farm is quite impressive and worth a look.

Winter Activity: 

• Snowshoeing is a cool activity to try if you visit during the winter months. It’s something different than anything you will do in the city. Plus it’s a great workout! 

• Frick Pond is a great place to go snowshoeing and is also nearby: 

Places to eat and drink:

I’m not a chef by any means but I wanted to cook at The River House because the kitchen was exceptional! You can pick up organically grown groceries and prepare a nice dinner with access to a fully stocked kitchen with top-of-the-line products! 

Some local restaurants are: 

TIP: most places close early and do not deliver so check online or call ahead to book a table!

• Northern Farmhouse Pasta - Italian food

• Casa di Longobardi - Southern Italian food

• The Kaatskeller - brick oven pizza

• Yiasou - Greek food

• Piccolo Paese - Italian food

• The Arnold - continental food with an Eastern European twist

Some Local Breweries/Distilleries:

• Catskill Brewery 672 Old Route 17, Livingston Manor 

•  Upward Brewery is located on 171 Main Street in Livingson Manor

• Do Good Distillery/Prohibition Distillery, located at 145 Rockland Road

• Roscoe Beer Company, 145 Rockland Road

Thank you for reading!!

XOXO,

Krity 

Photography by Ashley Gallerani
The stay at The River House was complimentary but my opinions are my own.

Iceland Diaries

Iceland had been on my bucket list of places to visit for years! I heard so many amazing things from friends, family, and blogs and the photos were always so unreal. I had to see it for myself. So in September, I bit the bullet and bought tickets to finally go to Iceland with my girlfriends. Best decision ever!

I spent 5 days and 4 nights in Iceland this December and brought in the New year in Reykjavik. Honestly, I wish I could’ve spent a full week there because there is so much to see! If you have the time, I recommend driving the whole Ring Road and spending at least a week there.

My few days in Iceland were jammed pack and so fun! See below on the areas I went to (Golden Circle and South Iceland) and tips I have.

Arriving in Iceland

Driving/ Renting vs. Tours

We opted to rent a car and drive ourselves which I think was the best decision at the end. I will say, it was NOT easy. We went in December and the weather was not great. Lots of snow, heavy winds, icy roads, and rain. The driving conditions were rough and at times we only drove 20 mph. Another thing to remember is that you will be driving a lot! I mean 5-10 hours a day depending what you want to accomplish. It is not an easy task but the scenery you see will make up for it. On the plus side, there are lot of signs and directions from Google maps are very easy to follow. The roads are also maintained very well- not as many pot holes as I was expecting. Renting a car cost us about $500 a day with insurance and gas (filled up two full tanks of gas). Overall, a car was the cheaper and more efficient thing to do. It was also nice to be able to create our own route and get out as we pleased. This allowed us to feed wild horses in the middle of the fields (I honestly don’t even know where we were ahah).

Tip: get insurance! Our car got damaged by a person’s door flying into our rear-view mirror due to the heavy winds. Do not risk it!

Tip: get gas when you see a gas station! You may not see another gas station for another 90 miles. Remember gas is also quite expensive in Iceland.

Tours are a great way to go if you have a really large party and do not want to take the chances of driving. However, they also take a lot more planning. The tours in Iceland are fairly reasonable ($50-$150). I recommend doing the tour in the day as you will see so much more. When it gets dark, you cannot see the beautiful mountains that you may see just driving on the highways.

Tip: Most tours leave from the city center so I highly recommend staying in Reykjavik.

Tip: Book at least a month in advance!

Day Trip 1: Southern Iceland

Stop 1: Vik

Stop 2: Reynisfjara Beach - black sand beaches

Stop 3: Dyrhólaey- my personal favorite

Stop 4: Solheimajokull- Glacier

Stop 5: Skógafoss- Waterfall

Stop 6: Seljalandsfoss- Waterfall (did not picture)

Iceland may look small on a map but there is so much to see and covering all that ground takes a long time. I knew I had to see southern Iceland before going while doing my research. It was STUNNING!! I highly recommend discovering this part of Iceland! I saw parts of nature that I didn’t even know existed (mind was blown)! The stops listed above is a great way to see parts of south Iceland if you are driving.

We started out driving out to the furthest point and working our way back to Reykjavik. A bonus of driving to the furthest point first is seeing signs for other points on this itinerary along the way and getting a sneak peak of what you will be seeing.

Vik

This is a charming little town in the southern part of Iceland. Being right by the coast, you see nothing but dark blue water for miles on end. It is also quite windy here so make sure you don’t get blown away. 

Reynisfjara Beach

Before visiting Iceland, I didn’t even know that black sand beaches existed. I’m used to the typical brown or white sand beaches. Well the sand along the southern coast of Iceland really is black! The beaches are beautiful and so unique! My favorite part of Reynisfjara Beach was the beautiful mountain with the rectangular jagged edge cliffs. It was so interesting to see a different kind of rock formation.

Tip: wear waterproof layers here

Tip: do not get too close to the water because the waves can get pretty crazy in a matter of seconds. There have been a few deaths here so be careful. Do not face away from the water when taking pictures-that’s how people have gotten swept away.

See my Iceland Google maps with all the location pins HERE

Dyrhólaey

This was my favorite stop of the first day trip! The view was so incredibly beautiful! My favorite part about this viewing point was that you can see the ocean, mountains, valleys, and little lakes at the top.

You do have to drive up a pretty steep curvy hill to get to see this view. It was a bit scary to get up and down the hill but it was worth it!

See my Iceland Google maps with all the location pins HERE

Solheimajokull

Talk about seeing all kinds of natural forms right? In one day (following this itinerary) we saw a beach, mountains, glaciers, and a waterfall! Iceland probably has all 7 world wonders right in the southern part of Iceland! 

I honestly did not know what to expect when arriving at this location. As we walked along the trial, I began to see small forms of bright teal ice. All of a sudden around a corner, the massive glacier stunned us! It was amazing!! 

Tip: if you are interested, you can go glacier climbing! If I had more time, I would’ve totally tried this! 

Skógafoss

One of the famous waterfalls in Iceland is not to be missed! This waterfall is quite grand. Iceland is known for all of their amazing waterfalls so make sure to check out at least one or two. You will also see a ton of mini waterfalls along the drive to Vik. 

Tip: wear waterproof clothing. Chances of getting wet are quite high. 

See my Iceland Google maps with all the location pins HERE

Day Trip 2: The Golden Circle

Stop 1: Kerid Crater

Stop 2: Gullfoss Falls- Waterfall

Stop 3: Haukadalur- Geysir

Stop 4: Bruarfoss- Waterfall (did not picture)

Stop 5: Thingvellir National Park

Kerid Crater

We were so lucky with the weather on day 2! We stopped at the Keri’s Crater around 11am and got so unbelievably lucky to be woken up to the most gorgeous sunrise. It was nothing but cotton candy pink and purple skies for miles on end. This crater is a very interesting landmark. It was my first time seeing anything like this too.

See my Iceland Google maps with all the location pins HERE

Gullfoss Falls

Another famous waterfall in Iceland and this one I not to be missed! This waterfall was definitely the biggest one that we saw! You can go on a trail to the bottom as well but in December it was too icy and closed off.

This spot has a really nice cafe so it is a good stop to plan around lunch.

Haukadalur- Geysir

This was another natural landmark that I was seeing for the first time. The eruptions were so big which I was surprised by. The first time the geysir erupted, I actually got scared. The eruptions happen quite frequently so the chances of you seeing one is highly likely.

Note that the water smells like rotten eggs but it was still really cool to see this landmark!

Thingvellir National Park

We were so blessed to see an incredible sunset at the Natural Park. The colors of the sky were so beautiful next to the outlines of the mountains and trees. You can end up spending hours at this park going on different trails. We opted to go for a little bit and just take in the scenery instead. In December, the trails were pretty icy so be mindful of this.

Day Trip 3: Locations close to Keflavik Airport

Stop 1: Hafnarberg - Sea-cliffs

Stop 2: Valahnúkamöl- Sea cliffs

Stop 3: Blue Lagoon

For the last leg of the trip, we decided to stay by the airport since the blue lagoon is right by it. Iceland is filled with so many amazing natural areas that we found a few stops to checkout before heading back to the US. Right along the water, there were beautiful cliffs surrounded by gushing waves. The water along the coast were wild! There is a very high chance you will get wet. Still worth checking out the views though. This part of Iceland was also very quite and didn’t have any tourists.

See my Iceland Google maps with all the location pins HERE

The Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon was one thing that I just had to do when visiting Iceland! It looked exactly like it did in all the pictures I saw online too! The water was incredibly blue, it felt nice and warm, and the views from the lagoon were stunning! However, it was really cold getting in and out of the lagoon (I ran as fast as I could getting in and out). We got the basic package which included a drink and mud masks. I recommend this package because it gave the full blue lagoon experience without breaking the bank. You won’t want to spend more than 2 hours at the lagoon because your head/ top half will get cold and you’ll begin to prune. Another thing to remember is to heavily condition your hair before entering the lagoon- leave the conditioner in your hair too! Even though I conditioned my hair, it was still very dry/ straw like after the lagoon. It took about two washes to get it feeling back to normal.

Ending note- you have to visit the lagoon as it is definitely an experience you will never forget!

Things I Did Not Know But Wish I Had:

The water in Iceland does not smell the best. It smells like rotten eggs (not exaggerating). We stayed in an Air BnB and it was pretty gross. The water was perfectly clean, just did not smell the best. However, when we stayed at a hotel, it did not smell as bad. Not sure why, but just be prepared.

There are a lot of roundabouts! I guess it keeps drivers in check from not going too fast. Started to get a bit annoying but keep your eyes peeled. They also have a yellow light which comes on before the green light to get you prepared to go.

During the winter, there are only about 4-5 hours of daylight. This meant we had to get a very early start to each day! Photos were great to take during the daylight but as it got darker, photos were harder to take. I didn’t realize how dark it was going to be- even during the daylight hours, because it was cloudy, things seemed quite dark!

Food is quite expensive but relative to New York prices. Be prepared to spend an average of $15 for lunch and $25 for dinner.

Be prepared to experience all different kinds of weather and for the weather to change in a matter of minutes. The weather would change of heavy winds to rain to sleet in span of 5 minutes. Crazy!

Also, be prepared to get soaked! If it calls for rain and you are visiting waterfalls, wear all of your waterproof gear. My waterproof parka got soaked through (don’t know how) but be ready to get wet. It was worth it though.

Mexico City Travel Diary

Mexico City is a city you should have on your radar. It’s colorful, the weather is amazing, food is outstanding, people are friendly, there’s tons of historic architecture, and is filled with culture!

Mexico City is the perfect city to get a full vacation experience in a short period of time. What do I mean by that? You’ll get cultured by learning about the country's history, party, eat traditional food all while feeling relaxed by the easy vibes of the city. You can’t ask for more. I was in Mexico City for four and a half days (not including transportation) and it felt like that was a great amount of time to soak in the city. I could have easily stayed longer, so if you have the option to do so, take it! There’s a lot to do and even more to eat! Here are my must-see Mexico City sites, a list of food and bar recommendations, insight on where to sleep, plus the perfect outfit options to take on your trip!

WHERE TO SLEEP

We heard from many people that Zona Reforma or Zona Rosa were the best places to stay. We stayed at NH Collection Mexico City Reforma in Zona Rosa and highly recommend that hotel!! NH Collection Mexico City Reforma was incredibly modern and the staff were very helpful! We stayed in a suite which was a huge amount of space, well lit, and very clean. Their shower head is also amazing! This hotel was walking distance from amazing restaurants, bars, and the main city street. I could not have asked for a better location! 

WHERE TO EAT

Mexico City has a lot of really great restaurants so narrowing down exactly where to eat was hard. It felt like there weren't enough meals to eat in a day when I was down there. I am a huge fan of Mexican cuisine so if you are too, you must try these restaurants. Make sure to check out my Yelp list for easy access to ratings and locations HERE.

Tacos, guacamole, crisp fresh tortilla chips, flavorful spices, endless sauces, juicy meats, and fresh veggies was all I ate for five days. Carbs and meats took over my diet but it was worth every bite. 

For breakfast, we usually ate at the hotel or had something as light as a granola bar and fresh fruits. But if you are a breakfast lover, you must go to El Pendulo. It is a bookstore/ restaurant. The food is great and you can grab something to read over breakfast. They also have a cozy little back courtyard that is perfect for your morning coffee.

Lunch

My first real meal of the day was really lunch. I craved fresh tacos everyday. There are tons of street vendors who sell hot tacos. You can't avoid the smell on the street. One taco stand you cannot miss is Taquería Los Cocuyos! Hands down the best tacos I have ever had. To be honest, I don't really even know what kind of meat I ate, all I know is that is was good! The full menu is in Spanish and there is no English version. The tacos are under $1 too!! I did not get sick eating any of the street food in CDMX. 

El Cardenal is probably one of the highest rated restaurants I ate at while in Mexico City. It lived up to its reviews! The ambiance felt so homey- like I was going to my grandma’s house for dinner. The dining area is beautifully lit by huge wooden windows. We tried the veal to share and is was absolutely delicious. Crispy and perfectly fried out the outside, yet sot and juicy in the inside. It was very well complimented by their home- made sauces. Just a warning- the portion is huge so be prepared to eat!

Dinner

Dinner was my favorite meal to eat in Mexico City. After a long day of walking around, a good meal was the best treat to end the day. Some of my favorite dinner spots were Pasillo de Humo, Comedor Jacinta, and Los Girasoles.

Pasillo de Humo serves some of Mexico City’s best traditional Oaxacan food. From the outside, it looks like a bar but the dinner seating area is located upstairs. You definitely have to try a dish with their homemade mole sauce! Also make sure to ask about their mezcal selection! They’ve got a lot to choose from!

If you’re looking for a quick yummy bite to eat, you have to try La Casa de Toño. It’s a chain favorite of the locals and I completely understand why! They start you off with complementary chips and salsas. Be careful, the salsas are hot! I had to order a Horchata which is a Mexican milk drink to calm down the spiciness. I recommend trying the tacos and their well-known soup! We (two people) ordered a lot of food and the bill only came out to $13 usd including tax and tip!

WHERE TO DRINK

Drink at Dualistas. This is an old hole in the wall spot where locals come for a drink after work. The floors are sticky, there is no ac, graffiti fills the walls, hard rock plays from the jukebox, and there is not a single tourist in site (besides the people who are really in for the experience). They don’t have a large selection of drinks because they only carry traditional drinks. Try the pulque- 'a Mexican alcoholic drink made by fermenting sap from the maguey'. It is a thick, smoothie like drink with the equivalent alcohol content of a mild beer. Have a few of these and you might be on the floor. It’s easy to knock back a few because it doesn’t taste like alcohol at all!

The nightlife in Mexico City was bigger than I expected. Bars stayed open quite late and were always full. One of my favorite bars I went to in Mexico City was Bósforo. Dark, small, and very mysterious. I loved the vibe of this bar and the mescal selection was amazing! The serve mezcal in shot glasses with a slice of orange. Be prepared to stand and get cozy next to a candle as the space is quite little.

WHAT TO DO:

1. Frida Kahlo museum, aka Casa Azul:

• The paint colors are bright, and the gardens/foliage are lovely. You’ll get an inside look at her studio where she created her art, her personal living areas, and a look at her personal diaries. They also have a great display of her clothing! To take pictures inside the house, not just in the courtyard, you have to pay a small fee of 30 pesos which is totally worth it!
• It's generally best to get your tickets online ahead of time so you don't end up on a long line behind a bus load of tourists! I didn’t do this and when I showed up to the site. There was a three hour wait. HOWEVER, I got lucky and bought a 2-in-1 pass for Casa Azul and Museo Diego Rivera Anahuacalli for 150 pesos and got instant entry. In the ticket price, it included a bus to the Museo Diego Rivera Anahuacalli and back. For an extra 30 pesos, you can take photos inside both sites. 
• I took an Uber to Casa Azul from Zona Rosa for $12 round trip. I highly recommend this route unless you are quite familiar with the MXCD transit system.
• While you're in the area, enjoy the main square of Coyoacan. There are markets, great churros, and just a generally pleasant vibe.

2. Teotihuacan pyramids:

• Definitely go in the morning! Fewer people, not as hot, and extra beautiful. I got to the site around 9am which was the perfect time. When I was on my way out around 2pm, it was hot (I got a little sunburn) and it was getting pretty packed. 
• It’s very cheap to take a bus (there are various companies) from Central de Norte, a main bus terminal. It's about an hour ride. 
• Tip: make sure to wear sneakers or shoes with good grip. The stairs at the pyramid are very steep and slipping is very easy. I’m 5.2 ft and the stairs were the length of my shin, not joking! There are ropes to hold on to. Also, make sure to wear sunblock and reapply midway. The sun is very strong and there are no shaded areas. 

3. The Angel of Independence

This is probably the most iconic places in the city. It's in the middle of Paseo de la Reforma which is a major street in Mexico City.

While I was on Paseo de la Reforma, I saw a protest going on which I found really cool. It showed the passion of the people. This street is also filled with signs/ images of historic moments. 

4. Zócalo:

This is the main square downtown with government buildings. It is a must-see for CDMX history and sites! You can’t miss this area.

• Palacio de Gobierno: fantastic murals inside and is a really pretty Spanish style of architecture.
• Murals by the famous Diego Riviera are all over the second floor. You cannot miss this! 
• Catedral Metropolitana: so old and beautiful and great for pictures. You can actually go on the roof for a small fee!

Tip: while visiting the government area, make sure to carry some form of ID. You will need it for entry

5. Chapultepec Castle & bosque.

The bosque (forest) is a huge park, bigger than Central Park in NY. It has gardens, museums, and fun things to do like paddle boat, bike rides, etc. At the end of the park, on the top of the hill, is one of my very favorite spots from the trip, the castle. It's a stunning piece of architecture- inside and out. You also get insane views of the city because it's up on top of a hill. This is another great place for pictures! 

6. Palacio de Bellas Artes

The Palacio de Bellas Artes is insanely beautiful inside and out. Pro tip from a local: if you go to the Sears across the street and grab something from their cafe (on the god-knows-what floor), you get a perfect view of the palace from above, which means you'll capture the brightly colored glass roof.

If you have time, go see the ballet! It was beautiful and so entertaining. it is not like your traditional American ballet, it is more of a Mexican local dance. 

Across from Bellas Artes is the Palacio de Correos, another really beautiful old building.

7. Other great things to do:

• Generally the Condesa neighborhood is known for being scenic for its bohemian vibe, little parks, etc.
• Santa Maria la Ribera + Kiosco Morisco: a little neighborhood with a small-town feel. The Kiosco is a really cool pagoda-ish thingy that was built for a World's Fair. The area around it is cute and also the site of a geology museum. 
• The Museo Tamayo is also cool and modern and a great place for pictures and to enjoy the (sometimes weird) art.

OTHER TIPS: 

• Uber is your best friend. It's quite cheap, reliable, and will quickly/ safely get you where you need to go.
• I didn’t get a chance to ride the metro system but I’ve heard good things about public transportation in Mexico City. One thing I do know is that it’s cheap! 
• Ask for WiFi passwords. There is WiFi everywhere. I never used my international service. 
• Make sure to load up on sunblock. Being brown, I thought I could get away with just applying in the morning but after being out in direct sunlight for over 5+ hours catches up with you. 
• Take a screenshot of you hotel and it’s cross streets so if you need directions, you can have an image to show. Many of the streets are very similar to each other.

WHAT TO WEAR

Mexico City is hot! But the good kind of hot where the sun feels good on your skin. But as far as wearing clothes in the heat, I recommend wearing shorts, easy loose fitting dresses, linen tops, and light weight cotton clothing.

When packing for Mexico city don’t be shy to take a lot of color. The city is filled with art murals and colorful buildings-even homes are painted in pink red and yellow!

Regarding shoes, I’d take a pair of sneakers to do intense walking in. You’ll need it for the Teotihuacan pyramids. You’ll also want a pair of sandals. I love Birkenstocks and block heeled mules for walking. The taxi and Uber’s there are incredibly cheap so don’t be scared to pack a pair of heels for a night out.

And of course we can’t forget the sunnies and swimsuits. Shop some of the items that I took to Mexico City below

xoxo,

Krity