Catskills Scenic Byway: Self-guided audio driving tour

4.29

(7 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is that stretch of road just past Woodstock—trees crowding in, sunlight flickering through leaves, and then suddenly the voice on the GuideAlong app chiming in about the Ashokan Reservoir. We pulled over, windows down, and there was this quiet hum from the water, a few birds arguing overhead. I’d never realized how much New York City depended on this place for drinking water. The air smelled like pine needles and something faintly earthy—maybe moss? We just sat for a bit, listening to the story play out while watching a couple of cyclists glide by.

I’ll admit, I was skeptical about an audio driving tour at first (felt a bit like cheating), but it turned out to be sort of perfect for the Catskill Mountains. The commentary popped up right when we needed it—like when we nearly missed the turnoff for that giant kaleidoscope inside an old silo. It’s hard to explain how weirdly mesmerizing it is to stand inside and watch colors spin around you. Li laughed when I tried to pronounce “kaleidoscope” in Mandarin—probably butchered it. Anyway, we ended up spending way longer there than planned, which didn’t matter because with this day trip you really do set your own pace.

Somewhere near Margaretville, we stopped for coffee and wandered into a little shop selling hand-painted mugs—one of those places where everyone seems to know each other. The guide mentioned the Water Discovery Center (I almost skipped it because honestly, water museums sound dull), but it was actually kind of fascinating—lots about local rivers and old railroad history. There’s also this gondola ride at Belleayre Mountain; we caught it late afternoon and the light over the mountains was all gold and blue haze. I still think about that view sometimes.

If you’re looking for a private Catskills scenic drive that lets you discover things as you go—with stories popping up just when you need them—it’s hard not to recommend this audio tour. You don’t need cell service once it’s downloaded (which is good because reception gets patchy), and you can start or stop whenever. Just remember to bring a charger—I forgot mine and had to ration battery near Arkville, which meant skipping some commentary until we got back on track.