Congratulations! You’re growing up in one of the most beautiful and culturally vibrant rural communities in the country. True, Ulster County may not have the glitz of Manhattan or the year-round balmy breezes of Southern California. But, with a little investigation, you can find the hidden (and not-so-hidden) places that make life here sweet.

Kingston and Town of Ulster

The county seat and former capital of New York State, Kingston (called K-town by its neighbors) and the Town of Ulster next door are home to the Hudson Valley Mall, a variety of shopping centers, and the Broadway and Uptown business districts. It’s the heart of Ulster County.

• Rondout Neighborhood Center • 845-331-2575
• Midtown Neighborhood Center • 845-331-1682
• The Boys and Girls Club • 845-338-8666
• YMCA • 845-338-3810
• YWCA • 845-338-8069
• Everett Hodge Center • 845-338-9050

• Breathe Fitness • 845-334-8000
• Fitness Unlimited • 845-338-1818
• Mid-Hudson Athletic Club • 845-338-2887
• Dance and Drum Academy • 845-338-7664
• Demorest Boxing Club • 845-331-7468
• Kingston PAL Boxing Gym • 845-331-1671 x1718
• Andretta Pool at Dietz Stadium • 845-331-1682

• Hudson Valley Mall • Route 9W, Ulster
• Regal Cinema • 845-336-4188
• Mid-City Lanes • 845-331-6161
• Hoe Bowl (with arcade) • 845-338-1414
• Sawkill Family Ski Center • 845-336-6977
• Ascot Park Mini Golf • 845-339-6395
• BMX Park at Kingston Point Beach • 845-331-1682

• Open Mic (Mezzanine Café Mon. night; Back stage Studio Prod. Th; 39 John St. Fri.)
• Bop to Tottom (women’s boutique) • 845-338-8100
• Kenco (outdoor gear/clothing) • 800-872-2964

Saugerties

Saugerties is a blossoming town just north of Kingston. The town is known for sports (especially baseball), and during the spring and summer months Cantine’s Field is always buzzing. If you’re around, check out the Orpheum Friday nights.

• Cantine Field • 845-246-5890

• Fitness Advantage • 845-246-3933
• IXL Health and Fitness • 845-246-6700
• Ice Skating Rink / Hockey League • 845-247-2590

• World of Dance • 845-246-1131
• Orpheum Theatre • 845-246-6561
• Bowlers Club • 845-246-4969
• Puttin’ Plus • 845-246-4511

• Barclay Heights Diner • 845-246-4610
• Yaya’s Emporium (accessories)• 845-246-5110

Woodstock and Catskill Park

Woodstock radiates from The Green, a recently artfully paved patch of public space at the center of town. The town is the most famous in the county, renowned for the rock festival bearing its name (which was actually held in Sullivan County), its artsy vibe, and its film festival—which always has a youth-specific component with teen-created films and young peoples’ discussions (see www.woodstockfilmfestival.com).

• Youth Center/Skate Park • 845-679-2015
• Andy Lee Field • 845-679-2113

• Breathe Fitness • 845-657-2342

• Woodstock Playhouse • 845-679-4265
• Woodstock Library Fair • 845-679-2213
• Tinker Street Cinema • 845-679-6608

• Shops on Tinker Street and Mill Hill Road
• Tinker Gnome Game Shop • 845-679-4282
• Catskill Mountain Pizza • 845-679-7969
• Hike up Overlook Mountain • Meads Mt. Rd.

Outside of Woodstock sprawls the massive Catskill Park, a huge expanse of forest preserves and private lands woven together by the state of New York to be saved as mountain wilderness forever. The major towns in the park lie along Route 28. These include Shandaken, Phoenicia, and Pine Hill.

• Pine Hill Community Center • 845-254-5469

• Town Tinker Tubing, Phoenicia • 845-688-5553
• Camping on State Lands • 518-457-2500
• Hiking on State Lands • 845-586-2611
• Belleayre Mountain • 800-942-6904

Esopus and Port Ewen

Though Port Ewen is directly across the river from the Rondout riverfront neighborhood of Kingston, it is in a separate municipality: Esopus.

• Port Ewen Athletic Association • www.peaa.org
• Summer rec program at Ross Park • 845-338-5598

• Wood’N’Wheel Skating Rink • 845-331-9680

Rosendale and Marbletown

Rosendale and Marbletown (the town containing the hamlets of High Falls and Stone Ridge) crouch at the junction of the Catskills and the Shawangunk Ridge. Both towns are on the artsy side, with cafes and restaurants popular with weekend visitors. Luckily, there’s also a lot for youth.

• Rosendale Youth Center • 845-658-8982
• Marbletown Youth Center • 845-687-9101
• Center for Creative Education • 845-687-8890
• Women’s Studio Workshop • 845-658-9133

• Breathe Fitness • 845-687-0000
• Rosendale Pool • 845-658-9347

• Rosendale Theater • 845-658-8989
• Arcade • Next to Alamo Restaurant

Accord, Kerhonkson, and Ellenville

The southwest corner of the county is especially beautiful—and a bit more rural than the rest.

• Rochester Youth Center • 845-626-2115
• Ellenville-Wawarsing Youth Com. • 845-647-0200
• African-Am. Men’s Assoc. • 845-647-2262

• Fitness Source II • 845-647-1032
• Ellenville Pool • 845-647-7080
• Kerhonkson Pool • By Kerhonkson Elementary

• Skate Time 209 • 845-626-7971
• Minnewaska State Park • 845-256-0579
• Ellenville Bowling Lanes • 845-647-2695
• Robin Hood Archery • 845-626-0983
• Ice Skating / Skiing at the Nevele • 800-647-6000

• Lakeside Pizza and Café • 845-647-1717
• Whoz Next Barber Shop • 845-647-2887

New Paltz and Highland

New Paltz is known mainly as a college town, with a progressive political climate and a quirky downtown area. It’s also a great place to be young: it’s got an active youth program and plenty to do.

• New Paltz Youth Program • 845-255-5140

• New Paltz Cinema • 845-255-0420
• Ice Skating at Mohonk • 845-256-2776
• Ulster County Fairgrounds • 845-255-1380

• The Inner Wall Rock Climbing • 845-255-7625
• Moriello Pool • 845-255-1700
• Ulster County Pool Complex • 845-255-7027

• Rhino Records • 845-255-0230
• 60 Main (coffee, arts, music) • 845-255-1901
• The Taco Shack • 845-255-2366

Wallkill,Plattekill and Marlboro

Wallkill, Plattekill, and Marlboro border Orange County and the City of Newburgh.

• Milton Library Teen Center • 845-795-2200

• Rob’s Pizzeria • 845-895-2000
• San Marino’s Pizzeria • 845-895-9374

Outside the U.C.

Poughkeepsie

Po-town is the biggest city between New York and Albany. It’s in Dutchess County, across the river from Highland, and it’s got all the elements of city life you’d expect: a downtown with ethnically diverse storefronts and restaurants, a long strip of suburban sprawl with plenty of malls and shopping plazas, and a train station with frequent Metro North service to Grand Central Station.

• Mill Street Loft (arts education) • 845-471-7477
• Youth Media Project • 845-485-4480
• YMCA • 845-471-9622
• Adriance Memorial Library • 845-485-3445

• Galleria Mall • Route 9 South, 845-297-7600
• Overlook Drive-In • 845-452-3445
• Regal Cinemas at the Galleria • 845-297-1161
• Silver Cinemas South Hills • 845-297-5516
• Hyde Park Drive-In • 845-229-4738
• Roosevelt Cinemas (Hyde Park) • 845-229-2000

Newburgh

Newburgh is one of the centers of Orange County. It’s a short drive from the southern portions of the U.C.

• Newburgh Mall • Route 300, 845-564-1400
• Showtime Cinemas • 845-566-8800
• Destinta Theaters in New Windsor • 845-569-0300
• DIA:Beacon Museum in Beacon • 845-440-0100

Albany

It’s the state capital, home to a variety of universities and an array of city services. It’s also only about an hour from Kingston, making it the most accessible urban area to most Ulster County residents.

• Crossgates Mall • I-87 and I-90, 518-869-9565
• Colonie Center Mall • I-87, 518-459-9020
• Pepsi Arena • 518-487-2000

New York City

What’s to say? It’s “the city” and it needs no introduction. There’s too much in NYC to narrow down any particular interest, so we’ll just tell you how to get there. From Pine Hill, Phoenicia, Woodstock, Kingston, Rosendale, and New Paltz, there is the Trailways Bus. Service is frequent and the trip is quick—just 90 minutes from New Paltz to the Port Authority. From Kerhonkson, Wawarsing, and Ellenville, there’s the ShortLine Bus. The trip is slightly longer and goes through Middletown. The fastest way from Highland, Marlboro, or Wallkill is to take either the train from Poughkeepsie or the ShortLine Bus from Newburgh. If taking the train, be sure to buy Metro-North tickets from Poughkeepsie; buying Amtrak tickets—either from Poughkeepsie or Rhinecliff—is much more expensive.