My last blog was all about warm December days and family beach excursions. Well, the recent snow showers in Philadelphia unlocked the urge to escape to a cabin on a frosty mountain to hear the birds and drink hot cocoa by the fire.

Unfortunately, I’m writing this blog from my creaky desk chair in my home office and not said cabin. While I figure out this year’s getaway, join me in reminiscing celebrating life in nature’s winter wonderland last year.

Almost two years ago — wow, time flies — my fiancé and I went glamping in the Catskill Mountains in New York in late April; it was the perfect mix of real camping with a few luxuries that made me fall in love with the experience. So for his last birthday, I wanted to keep the yearly tradition and booked us a Getaway House in the Eastern Catskills. This time we opted for true glamping — each Getaway House comes packed to the brim with everything you need to feel comfortable in the woods without taking away from the connection to nature. I was slightly hesitant when booking because each Getaway campground hosts quite a large number of houses, but it was a surprisingly private experience, and I never felt inundated by anyone else’s enjoyment of the space.

We drove north through New Jersey and into the Hudson River Valley on a Tuesday at the end of February last year and arrived at our little home for the weekend mid-afternoon. Having learned from our trip last year, we decided to relax for our first night and simply grab some dinner from town. I’m not sure what it is about the two of us and our ability to find Dominican food wherever we go, but somehow we yet again managed to stumble upon some of our comfort food staples. Carting some large bags filled with stewed chicken and rice and fried sweet plantains, we spent a wonderful night enjoying our cabin and playing parcheesi, sipping Champagne and listening to an excellent retro radio station.

Of course, we didn’t drive all that way just to sit inside. My fiancé wanted to start off his 34th year in nature — so nature he got! We set out Wednesday morning bundled up in hiking boots; long underwear; and many, many layers of clothing to find Kaaterskill Falls between the hamlets of Palenville and Haines Falls on the eastern side of the Hudson. Towering 260 feet in the air, Kaaterskill is formed of two cascades falling over a horseshoe-shaped ledge and into Spruce Creek. Now because this was only March 1, the entire park was covered in snow and ice; and although it was serene and beautiful, it was also a little scary. Some of the pathways to different observation decks were just smooth slopes of ice with no purchase points whatsoever. We made it to the main part of the falls and got to feel the thunder through our bodies but could tell warmer parts of the year hold even more stunning views and opportunities in the park. This video does not do this beautiful place any justice.

Under the Falls

What’s the first thing almost every hiker wants after their hike? That’s right, carbs! We made a beeline straight to Saugerties to stop at Buns — the Hudson Valley’s own little burger chain — for some burgers and a beer (or two) to take the edge off our hunger. We couldn’t fill up too much, though, as we had big plans for dinner that night. I may be crazy, but I was determined to make a delicious dinner, so I brought all the fixings for stewed short ribs with mashed potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts and onion. Again, cooking outside is not for the faint of heart! But boy does it yield some wonderful results. What’s a birthday without some cake? Somehow, someway, I managed to sneak some in the cooler and the surprise wasn’t ruined. With our bellies full and our bodies exhausted from the hike, it was easy to knock out that night.

The Spotty Dog Books & Ale

Sadly, this was a quick trip, and before we knew it, we were already packing up. Luckily, we were able to take advantage of the daylight and took the scenic route home. We drove down along the Hudson on Route 9A on the way home and meandered through the different towns lining the grand river. Though cold, it was a sunny day, and we felt warm enough to visit the book store, record shop, apothecary and, of course, the local coffee house. One of the things I enjoy most when visiting small towns is being reminded of the beauty found in community and a slow-paced life.

We’re trading the snowy mountains for palm trees and humidity this year; I’ll let you know how that goes.

— Yasser Ogando, executive director, media