Our Communities
This appears to be a climate Goldilocks zone, and many people moving here say that's their number one reason for choosing the western Catskills and Leatherstocking region. We have gorgeous summers, plenty of water (so much that the Catskills supply water to metro New York!), real winters that are cold and snowy enough to play in, and only hints of weather that batters the coast. And of course there are those glorious autumn colors that other people drive for hours to see!
Artists have made this area home for decades and many towns have events celebrating visual arts, theater, dance and music.
The biggest cities are Binghamton to the west, Kingston to the south, Utica to the north, and the Capital District to the east.
The bigger towns have many attractive communities nearby, if living in the country feels like too big of a change. Or you can travel farther into the countryside, where it's not hard to find a spot where you can feel totally secluded. Cell service may not have reached everywhere, but most parts of this region now enjoy a choice between high speed cable and fiber optic Internet.
Wherever you go, you're going to find stunning views, big skies and open space, and a sense of peace that speaks to your soul.
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Cooperstown
Cooperstown is a small town gem that's known all over the world as the birthplace of baseball. But it is so much more.
Classic architecture, tree-lined streets, a beautiful main street featuring fine restaurants, rolling farmland, distilleries, breweries, golf , the Dreams Park, and the remarkably unspoiled beauty of Otsego Lake -- being part of this community is a prize that many covet and few attain.
Hartwick, Milford, Fly Creek, and Springfield Center are smaller communities that tend to be quieter in summer, when Cooperstown becomes a tourism mecca.
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Three and a half hours from the GWB, one and half hours from both Albany and Binghamton, with a neighboring private airport, it is a practical weekend destination and a home base like few others.
Oneonta
Oneonta, The City of the Hills, which celebrated its centennial in 2008, is home to two colleges, Hartwick and the State University of New York at Oneonta.
Bordered by the Susquehanna River and home to two railroads in the late 19th century, it was an industrial and commerce center. Its Main Street architecture and stately historic homes reflect its history.
Today's Oneonta is enjoying a downtown resurgence with upscale shops, cafes and restaurants. Whether your interest is art, antiques, or brew pubs, Oneonta has a lot to offer.
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Cherry Valley
Best known to historians as the site of the Cherry Valley Massacre in the Revolutionary War, in more modern times Cherry Valley has lured writers and musicians looking for a quiet, creative atmosphere.
Willa Cather wrote O Pioneers during a happy summer there. Alan Ginsberg and a crew of Manhattan artists made their home on a farm right above town. Today, many members of the Glimmerglass Opera Company call the village home every summer. The limestone buildings of Main St, including the Limestone Mansion, are sure winners with lovers of old architecture.
Visit during the Kite Festival, the Outdoor Games, browse the bookshop, the general store, grab a pint at the Red Shed Brewery. Or dine at The Rose and Kettle, a destination for foodies from all over New York. Enjoy upstate village life with an artistic flair.
Delhi
Delhi is home to the State University of New York at Delhi, and also boasts a healthy population of recently arrived urban expats. The sophisticated dining, the bookshop, and the vibrant arts scene all reflect that influence.
Bovina, Andes, Hamden and Kortright are all within an easy distance to Delhi, its services and its shopping.
The West Branch of the Delaware River runs
alongside the town, which is nestled in a valley
in the heart of the western Catskills
Franklin
Franklin is nestled between Oneonta and Delhi in Delaware County,
offering stunning valley views, a charming Victorian era village,
professional productions at The Franklin Stage, dining, arts and antiques.
With businesses, including world-renowned designer Gary Graham's 422 Main,
interior design artist and author Sean Scherer's Kabinett & Kammer,
Lava Atelier and the Franklin Stage, Franklin has become a Catskills destination.
The Tulip and Rose offers fine dining, while Yokel is the place for casual meals,
whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Despite a feeling of being far away, Franklin is handy to shopping in Oneonta, and just twenty minutes to Delhi.
Sharon Springs
Recognized by the National and NY Register of Historic Places, Sharon Springs was once a thriving destination for city dwellers looking to escape the summer heat. Today, most visitors come to see the flagship store of Beekman 1802.
In its heyday, it was a popular alternative to Saratoga Springs, boasting four different, natural mineral waters.
Several hotels were built in the mid-1800s, and some are now being restored.
The success of Beekman 1802 has brought this sleepy village international attention and drawn lovers of historical architecture and country life.
Unadilla, a town of about four thousand in Otsego County, gets its name from the Iroquois word for "meeting place." The village is home to lovely Victorians along the banks of the Susquehanna River and the route of the old Catskill Turnpike. Unadilla has a growing focus on antiques, as well as recreation.
Unadilla
