I am a recently separated mother of two boys. I love to travel and love nature. The separation has changed my financial reality, along with my travel reality. I feel most at peace surrounded by nature. I can hear myself. I didn’t want my kids to feel the loss of a parent on a trip, so I needed a place we could all feel comfortable and secure, while at the same time allow for exploration.
I found a place close enough to drive to, but far enough to feel remote. We rented a newly renovated cottage at Rockcut Ledge in Mt. Tremper. We brought my son’s friend Liam along to ease the brotherly fighting that goes along with 72 hour close contact. The cabin was right next to one of the best swimming holes on the Esopus Creek… something we learned from the locals. The cabin is 2 bedrooms, each with a queen sized super cozy bed. The bathroom is newly renovated. The kitchen consists of a stove, sink and cookware. The ladder leads up to a loft area where the kids watched movies on the laptop. There was also air conditioning!! Score. The property is 10 private acres right on the creek. Each cottage has a fire ring in the backyard which can be used to make smoores each night :).
Check out VRBO for cottages on the Esopus:
Phoenicia and Woodstock are very close by as well as many Catskills hiking hot spots. The Phoenicia diner had many gourmets breakfast options. The Bread alone bakery is close by with many breakfast goodies. Woodnotes Grill was a perfect dinner spot on the first night with dining right on the creek. The kids could play creek-side while waiting for their meals. The ice cream station in Phoenicia was excellent and we even saw a bear strolling along the shop!!
The best part about this cabin is that everyone can be completely occupied just by playing in the swimming hole in the back yard. We brought a tube which was great for bringing the fishing gear back and forth, along with riding the “rapids” where the creeks merge. We caught tadpoles and crayfish, fished off the rocks, and built rock towers. Perfection.
“The tadpoles are so tiny and cute”
-Dylan (age 8)
The four of us ventured on a rail explorers adventure . We pedaled on rail bikes along the Esopus Creek. We should have booked a rail car for 4, but instead got two 2 seaters hooked together. This made the car heavier and more difficult to pedal for the 4 of us. At one point the two older boys wanted to pedal alone which made it VERY difficult for me to pedal with my 8 year old alone. The views were awesome along the creek. I recommend two stronger pedal people in the back.
We had to find a spot to catch fish before leaving. There are many people who fly fish along the Esopus, but the recommended age is 12 and up. We found Cooper lake with a little bridge where everyone was able to catch some fish.
One thing I would like to do when Dylan is 12 is tubing down the Esopus Creek with Town Tinker Tubing.
On the way back to Long Island we hit up the Liberty Paintball arena for 2 hours of paintball. Whoot Whoot.
“The paintball was awesome! Different arenas to play on! My favorite one was just a forest with little cabins. There were two teams, blue vs red, you were able to bring a gun or rent one! This is definitely my favorite part of the trip.”
-Chase (age 11)
The best part about family vacations is the love felt between everyone!
27 thoughts on “My First Solo Trip with 3 Kids on the Esopus Creek, Upstate New York”
Love all the pictures!
Thanks Leigh! There are a lot more… haha
Nice Job! Your pictures are amazing! Looks like a fun trip!
Thanks Shana!
I LOVE this! The pics are incredible and it’s very well organized!
🙂
What a fabulous blog. I look forward to following your travels!
This looks great. We did a rail explorer last summer and loved it.
The rail explorers adventure looks like it would be fun! What a wonderful adventure. Having three boys of my own we always look for outings like this.
This looks so fun. The rail explorer adventure looks so fun!
Wow. Looked like fun-filled vacation! Excellent location too. I could see my kids exploring all day!
What a great post! I love what you are doing both for your boys and for yourself! Well done!!
That trip looks like a lot of fun!
I’m glad you were still able to give the boys amazing family time.
Love this post!! I’m a divorced mother of two girls and it gets easier and we now travel all the time! It looks like you had a great stay and lots of love and fun!! ❤️
Thanks Briana!
Congrats on being brave and continuing to travel solo with your little ones. You deserve the trips and they will love the memories.
Thanks Janine! 🙂
Looks like my kind of place!! Definitely keeping this place on my radar for travel!
Great pictures. I bet the boys absolutely adored this week. Great job making this possible for them. I love how you were keeping it real with that last face with the kiddo making a face as you try to kiss him! Adorable!
The rail car is an activity that I would try. We also like fishing.
Good for you! I was a single mom to six! It really does become easier as time goes on and you will make new and wonderful memories with your boys.
What a brave soul you are – solo trip with boys. I’ve done it – so I know it’s not for the faint of heart. LOL!! Looks like you had a fabulous time, though – lots of fun, out in nature, making memories.
I connect with nature as well. It looks like a very peaceful place. Looks like you showed the kids a wonderful time!
Wow! This is beautiful! I love the picture of the train tracks. I’m glad you were able to get some time away with your kids. That time together is invaluable!
I grew up going to these cottages. When they were known as the Mt. Tremper Cottages. Every summer the first two weeks in July. Mrs. Stern the owner at the time was a tall German lady. She would swim in the creek in the mornings. Her husband was ill and had passed. I took my children and grandchildren there. One year there was lots of rain and the creek damaged the property. We went up one summer the cottages were all remodeled and now called Rockcut ledge. I am trying to get reservations but can’t find a phone number. Can you help me? Please
Wow that’s amazing! What great memories. I actually recently searched online to re-book this and couldn’t find them. I will search and let you know.