Minnewaska State Park / Upstate New York

While on the road, I quickly realized that the pace I had set for myself—not staying anywhere longer than two days—was a bit much. That's why I had my heart set on spending the entirety of Labor Day Weekend in upstate New York. I had a four-night/three-day stay planned and, with only one interview scheduled, I knew I'd have time to explore, catch up on work and rest.

I interviewed Grace and Julia on that Saturday morning and afterwards they were kind enough to point me in the direction of some pretty amazing places to see while I was in the area. Grace has since put together an incredible list detailing all of the sweet/fun/beautiful/quirky spots to visit in Ulster County, so be sure to check it out!

I promptly left their stunning home (seriously, it's a dream of a house) to head to Minnewaska State Park and was greeted with green and blue as far as the eye could see! After having been in the car for so much of my trip, it was great to get out on some walking trails and take in a little fresh air.

The following day, I knew that I had to follow more of Grace and Julia's recommendations and hit up the Phoenicia Flea (which is fantastic) and Woodstock to check out the magical drum circle held every Sunday at 4 p.m (which is just as magical as you might imagine).

The flea market was full of amazing goods and people. I had the chance to meet people I've been following for some time (like Paul from Sweet Paul and Rosa from Young & Able) and new-to-me folks like Kate Orne from Upstate Diary. My short visit only solidified the need to spend more time in New York interviewing all of the creative souls in The Empire Sate.

I also couldn't help attempting to capture a bit of the vibe during the drum circle, but I'm not sure any photo can do it justice. Basically, if you have a chance to go, please don't miss it!