A Guide To Eating, Drinking And Sleeping In The Catskills

There's no better way to welcome fall and all its Technicolor glory than with a weekend of driving, eating and drinking in the Catskills. Below, we've plotted out the perfect Saturday-Sunday itinerary, with a handy map too. All that's left for you to do is get in the car and hit the gas.

1. Tuthilltown Spirits About two hours into your drive, you'll hit this Hudson Valley distillery, where you can stretch your legs and stock up on Baby Bourbon Whiskey and Spirit of the Hudson Vodka, which is made from local apples. On your way out, make sure to buy a bag of charred-oak bourbon barrel pieces for cooking at your final destination. 14 Gristmill Ln., Gardiner; 845-633-8284 or tuthilltown.com

2. Fleisher's Meats Visit the folks who trained Tom Mylan and Julie Powell at their full-service butcher shop. Pick up house-made sausages for breakfast or any other beef, pork, lamb or poultry cut you can dream of. 307 Wall St., Kingston; 845-338-6666 or fleishers.com

3. Pakatakan Farmers' Market No offense to the Union Square Greenmarket, but this weekly farmers' market–located in a giant circular barn–takes the cake. Stop at the Shandaken Bake stand for chocolate-dunked cider doughnuts and coconut-pecan-walnut-caramel shortbread "trail bars" for your woodsy hike. Then visit farmer-author Shannon Hayes of Sap Bush Hollow Farm for a pasture-raised chicken and some cooking advice and recipes. Round Barn, State Highway 30, Halcottsville; 845-586-3326 or pfmarket.org

4. Stony Creek Farm Drop your bags and take a restorative nap in your plush tent at this farm, which is part of the Feather Down program. For dinner, cook your collected spoils on top of the wood-burning stove, then enjoy a glass of your Tuthilltown whiskey around the fire. In the morning, go on a tour of the fields with friendly farmers Dan and Kate Marsiglio before packing up for the drive home. 1738 Freer Hollow Rd., Walton; 512-524-1817 or featherdown.com and stonycreekfarm.org

5. Sweet Sue's Before the long haul back to the city, stop by this café in sleepy Phoenicia for some old-fashioned fuel. Sit outside for a view of the mountains and choose from 25 kinds of plate-size pancakes; our favorite is the crunchy cornmeal with local maple syrup and coffee served in a big, hand-warming mug. 49 Main St., Phoenicia; 845-688-7852