Named "The Irish Alps" many years ago when large numbers of Irish descendants "declared" this a special place in Upstate New York to visit, enjoy, and live.  This area of the Catskill Mountains is always fun and very beautiful all year long.  But it really comes alive when the Irish and the "Irish Wannabees" descend on East Durham, NY and the surroundings to enjoy the lively holiday of St. Patrick's Day.

There a numerous Irish-themed bars, taverns, restaurants, live music venues, and resorts for you to enjoy.  As you can see by this list, it would be hard to enjoy it all in a single day.

If you are making a dinner reservation or even a room reservation at any of the resorts, camping areas, or motels in the area, be sure to book well in advance.  This place really catches an "Irish buzz" around the middle of March.

So come and do a jig, have some soda  bread and a perfectly poured pint of Guinness beer, and make some new friends.

The Catskill Irish Alps are calling you!

(The center of the Irish Alps is East Durham, NY in Greene County.  From here you are under an hour from Albany,

This St. Paddy's Day Visit "The Old Country" in the Catskill's Irish Alps!

The Catskill Mountain region of Upstate New York has been home to different groups from all walks of life over the years. While it was well known that many Jewish families made this their second home over a century ago with cottage communities and glamourous hotels (the famed "Borscht Belt"), it has also been a sort of a homeland for many Irish families from metropolitan New York. Both these groups (and others) chose the Catskills to escape the heat and crowded confines of New York City for a vacation land and place for fun and enjoyment. The Irish Alps are settled around Greene County and the heart of this area is East Durham, New York. This is a gallery of places to check out of you choose to visit the Irish Alps this St. Patrick's Day weekend!

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

21 of the Best Submarine Sandwich Shops in Upstate New York

The original "meal in itself," submarine sandwich shops have been ubiquitous in Upstate New York for well over 50 years. Every small town has a sub shop or restaurant that sells subs, and many have the familiar franchises that dot the Upstate landscape. Here are a 21 great sub shops for your consideration. Some of them are in Upstate's big cities, and others, well, you may have to refer to your GPS to find them. But they are all worthy of a visit from you. Soooo delicious!

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

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