Monticello is the county seat for Sullivan County and is where the Monticello Raceway and Casino is located. It attracts a 35+ adult crowd that is drawn to both gambling and nightlife, with live bands often performing cover tunes. Open daily from 6am to 12am, it is a big attraction for many in the region who want to socialize. If horse trot-racing is your pastime, there is also a full raceway with races taking place every month, over 206 days each year.
Situated along the Delaware River, Sullivan County also offers up a many options for river sports, attracting families and groups, large and small, of all types. Camping is enjoyed by all kinds of people, creating a great mix of old and young across the countless campgrounds, including the Boy Scouts of America located on Ten Mile River in Narrowsburg. From naturalists to city dwellers who bring boom boxes, the camp sites have an eclectic mix of folk.
Some of the most dedicated garage sale shoppers I know are from the Catskills and they never miss a good deal or the scores of antique shops in the area. For visitors who want to join in the fun of collecting heirlooms or just some period pieces, Sullivan County Visitors Association keeps a great list to add to your trip planner.
When it comes to hunting season, suddenly the woods are filled with men (primarily) who come for their annual guys weekend. It's not like summertime when town or the roads are busier. These folks tend to hunker down in the woods where you don't exactly see them. But, you can feel their presence and if that isn't enough, you can certainly hear the gun fire! It can be a bit scary in some places if you're not used to it, but they are situated on large private properties and hunting clubs with enough distance from others. Bow and arrow hunting starts as early as September and then rifle hunting begins in November. The season is also categorized by big game, turkey and furbearer. Hunting sure does attract an altogether different segment of the population!
I know many people who enjoy cruising on their motorcycles and there are famous routes that they ride. One of these famous rides that many bikers enjoy is along Route 97, near Pt. Jervis, NY. When you enter into Sullivan County from that side, it places you along a high perch above the Delaware River along a winding road at Hawks Nest. From there you not only get some of the best river views, you can also catch hawk and eagle sighting. There is enough room for a dozen cars or motorcycles to pull over and capture the beauty of this scenic spot. From May until October you can not only see but often hear the roar of the motorcycles driving along 97 on their ride up into the Poconos. Even that group of people is highly diversified, all ages and lifestyles represented.
The Catskills attract people of all types for all kinds of purposes and activities. While I mainly enjoy quiet hikes and kayaking, the area is loved by so many for so many reasons. I love that race, politics, sexual orientation and general lifestyles are not driving the feel of the area or in any way dictating the vibe overall. I see people of all types not only enjoying what the area has to offer but integrating in a way that is normal, nice and easy. There is even a large Hasidic community sprinkled throughout the region. I don't doubt that there are those who may have their own mixed feelings about others, but I do not see it interfere with the tourism and second homeowner communities, which really lends for the tolerance that we hope, where ever we go.
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