When I tell people I’m from New York, they almost always assume I mean the city. Skyscrapers, subways, bright lights — that’s the image most people carry. What they often forget is that New York is also home to mountains, lakes, forests, and trails that stretch into quiet horizons. The Catskills are proof of that, and for me, they hold some of my most cherished travel memories.
Back in 2019, my wife and I took several trips to the Catskills as part of the Fire Tower Challenge, a hiking route that takes you to a series of mountaintop fire towers across the region. Each hike had its own character — some steep and rugged, others gradual and winding — but all ended with breathtaking views. Standing atop those towers, the trees stretched out below like a living ocean, reminding me that beauty can be found in places people often overlook.
The challenge itself was part adventure, part ritual. Packing our gear, driving into the hills, following the trail to where sky meets timber — it became a rhythm of exploration and discovery. The Catskills taught me to see New York differently. Not as a single place defined by the noise of the city, but as a vast state full of landscapes that invite quiet reflection and wonder.
Those hikes were more than exercise. They were lessons in perspective, reminders of how easy it is to overlook the treasures in our own backyard. For me, the Catskills are a place I carry with me, a reminder that home is always larger and more beautiful than we think.
— Written by William Edward Villano
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