The Winter Clove Family Resort in the Catskills

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Winter is a great time to visit the Catskills in upstate NY. With the wide variety of winter sports and activities to do in the area, head East, young man (or woman) when next the weather looks stormy. What a great place to get stranded during a blizzard!

When we last visited, it was less then a winter wonderland. In fact, it was downright balmy at 50 degrees. While that made for a nice day outside- no chapped cheeks or frozen noses and toes to speak of- it did take the wind out of some of the typically snowy activities.

There was still plenty to do, even if Mother Nature wasn’t cooperating. The resort we stayed at, The Winter Clove Family Resort, has a great location for family fun and activity in the area. It’s local to several mountains, horseback riding, and the Baliwick ranch.

The resort itself has quite a bit to occupy you and your family- it is also a great place to unwind and relax, spend some time reconnecting. We are all so busy, running this way and that, it’s nice to spend some time as a unit now and again. In addition to it’s activities, pools (both indoor and out) and bowling ally and game room, there is a grand room for spending time together, relaxing by the fireplace. Read, do a puzzle, check out a newspaper, play some board games- the lodge has lots of options to suite just about everyone. There are also sitting room areas on each floor, if you would like to watch TV or a movie.

Rooms to not have phones or TVs in them, so if you want to watch, you will need to head to one of these areas to do so, or bring your laptop or tablet. Each stay comes with all meals provided in one price, which is great news for moms- no need to cook or clean up anything! A welcome break from that chore. The Winter Clove is very clean, both the rooms and the hotel at large- even the pool area was very clean. The inn has been run continuously by five generations of Whitcomb family, and many of the staff are members of that family.

Meals are at designated hours in the restaurant area, and generally have 2 options, as well as one child option. There are beer and wine lists available. Breakfasts serve the like of eggs, breakfast meats, and toast, french toast, pancakes, oatmeal- you can choose from the menu. Lunch will offer (for example) 2 different sandwiches, plus one more for kids. Soup was also served, and there were 2 dessert options. Dinner had 2 options, 1 child choice, salad, and 2 dessert options.

You can also make use of the mini refrigerators in the sitting areas on your floor should you like to bring anything of your own.

My son enjoyed playing on the playground, with or without other kids. Sometimes he was by himself, sometimes there were quite a few of the other guests there as well. He also enjoyed the game room (there is air hockey, ping pong, and a mini-basketball shooting game downstairs, a pool table and arcade game upstairs) and especially the antique bowling alley. He really had fun bowling, and letting mom and dad keep score- or not so much. There was no electronic score board, which for him meant no real competition, we were just playing- something that was great for him. It took out all the agitation and just let him have fun, not worrying about his score.

There was also small gift shop, and you know my son HAD to pick up a toy. In this case, a stuffed moose sporting the hotel’s logo. Traveling with kids has it’s own special requirements, doesn’t’ it?