The Irish Alps is a subset of the Jewish Alps/Borscht Belt. It is the Catskills equivalent of Breezy Point, etc. The Irish Riviera. I don’t know the exact boundaries of these places, thought I think beer is favored over borscht.

hi Jim…no Wegman’s anywhere near there…closest I think is Syracuse….E.Durham is close to the Catskill Game Farm…and a water park called Zoom Flume (I believe)…also close to Hunter Mtn…there’s usually a big festival Labor Day Wknd…also..all the Irish pubs..etc..in E. Durham and Leeds…makes for merriment at night…..in Saratoga…of course the flat track which is open thru Labor Day…closed on Tuesdays…tons of trendy restaurants…funky shops…Racing Hall of Fame, over in Troy…there is a single A baseball team that plays called the Tri-City Valley Cats…part of the Astro’s franchise…they may be in town…and that is also close to a great BBQ joint called Mo’s BBQ…Lake George is 30 min north of Saratoga…so there’s plenty to do and if $$$ is no object…as you will be here during track season…I’m sure you’ll have fun

I never heard the term "Irish Alps". I always have heard the Catskills refered to as the "Borscht Belt" (not just the resorts, but the whole area).

If you pass through Albany (which you probably will on the way to Saratoga), you should check out BOB AND RON’S FISH FRY if you like fried fish, and my personal favorite buffalo wings in the world, THE WASHINGTON TAVERN. There’s also a wonderful bakery that sells the thickest, doughiest slice of pizza you’re ever gonna see on the East Coast. Check out SOVRANA GROCERY on North Lake Street. My 4 years of college in Albany were fueled by that stuff.

I think Catwoman’s advice is good….Woodstock is worth a side trip. Good restaurants, interesting shops and an entirely new category of the "Alps": This region I would call the Yuppie Alps.

You may or may not want to stop in the Albany area. The NYS Museum is always an interesting and inexpensive destination. The Albany Institute of History and Art is also an interesting family destination. Lodging is fairly inexpensive in Albany, much cheaper than Saratoga during track season. If you are looking to save money you might want to try staying in one of the hotels/motels on Wolf Road in Colonie, NY. It is only a half hour drive to Saratoga from there. As far as food in Albany, I will only suggest two places:

Jack’s Oyster House at the end of State Street in downtown Albany. The executive chef here is recognized as one of a handful of chefs in the nation that have earned the very highest culinary honors. Atmosphere is formal but very attentive. If the wait staff was in the military, they would be considered elite troops. The food is excellent, of course, but you do pay for all this excellence.

Inga’s Diner: A true Roadfood diner. So you spent too much at Jack’s and it is early morning, you want some real Roadfood near the Northway so you can get to Saratoga. Inga’s located at 39 Fuller Road which is a stones throw from the Northway is a real gem. Inga’s is an old fashioned diner created out of an old trolley car, atmosphere is down-home and very friendly. The food is hearty and good. It is also very inexpensive. My usual Saturday fare is the Truckers Special; three eggs any style, bacon, ham or sausage, home fries done to order, toast and endless coffee refills. Current price for this feast is $5.35. Being a true Roadfood place, Inga’s has limited hours. They open around 6AM and close at 2:30 PM week days. Saturdays they close at noon, Sunday they are not open at all.

Unless you are a true fan of horse racing, I would avoid Saratoga completely during track season. It is really crazy and hardly worth it. This is not to say Saratoga isn’t a great destination. It is very nice and a lot less expensive in the Fall after track season

Jimeats,

Do not pass up the dinners if you can help it , besides its included in the package .

Also you can get a bag lunch each day for your side trips .

Have fun

Benzee

Hello all ,

Durham is the big Irish town up there .
Many nice Irish restaurants and Lodging motels .
As a member of our local AOH we used to go to Gavins for a 3 day weekend every Sept.
The group would rent the entire motel , and eat , drink and be merry .
Ahhh " The Irish Alps "
Worth the trip , best bangers and mash I’ve ever had

Benzee

The Irish Alps refers to the area around Durham NY. The road that goes along the Ashokan watershed is Rte 28. If you are up in the mountains a great place is in Tannersville NY near Hunter Mountain called Last Chance Cheese and Antiques. Yep eat and shop at same time . Good food, extensive beer list and you can even have fondue. http://www.lastchanceonline.com/customer/help.php?section=visit&show=menu. If you want vegan Woodstock ( the town) is the place to go. Little Bear Cafe just outside of Woodstock (Bearsville) is an old fashion Chinese Rest. with a nice view of a stream food pretty good. I never ate here but always stopped to admire the view http://www.pointlookoutinn.com/. Hope this helps.
>^..^<

quote:

Originally posted by WVHillbilly

I really need to travel through there again soon. I remember the bakery clearly but couldn’t tell you the name. It seemed like it was in the middle of nowhere, but the Asokan (my mistake in prevoius post in saying Schoharie) Res. was behind the trees that were across the road. We’d stop there for a pastry, coke and a loaf of bread to take to the camp (if my dad had an extra buck or two in his pocket that week). My dad knew where all the good cups of coffee were. Speaking of which, is the Cairo Dinner still open? I’ll never forget the short order cook there. Tall skinny guy and he’d stand there talking to my dad at the counter with his foot up on something and it looked like his knee was up over his head from where I sat on the stool.
Great sliders.

Pineview bakery, had breakfast there this past May on the way to the Newburgh Airport and back to Florida. Do not know about the Cairo diner as I have not been there in many, many, years.

John

I really need to travel through there again soon. I remember the bakery clearly but couldn’t tell you the name. It seemed like it was in the middle of nowhere, but the Asokan (my mistake in prevoius post in saying Schoharie) Res. was behind the trees that were across the road. We’d stop there for a pastry, coke and a loaf of bread to take to the camp (if my dad had an extra buck or two in his pocket that week). My dad knew where all the good cups of coffee were. Speaking of which, is the Cairo Dinner still open? I’ll never forget the short order cook there. Tall skinny guy and he’d stand there talking to my dad at the counter with his foot up on something and it looked like his knee was up over his head from where I sat on the stool.
Great sliders.

quote:

Originally posted by seafarer john

Yes, send me an e-mail when you are coming and we’ll go to Dallas hot Wieners.- the cruddy old place on N Front St, not the cleaned up newer place (nee Uncle George’s) on mid- town Broadway.

And, in case any of our fellow roadfooders are traveling up this way with children, The World’s Largest Kaleidoscope near Phoenicia is a very worthwhile destination – plus a gift shop for the shoppers among us and also the Spotted Dog Cafe on the same site is children friendly – hot dogs hamburgers and such and fire engines to climb around on.

Cheers, John

I remember the orignal on N. Front St, it was about a block left if facing the present location. Made this one shine, good thing I was a kid, would not go into it today.

John

quote:

Originally posted by NYNM

Just a comment….I thought the "Irish Alps" & surrounding area was a rather obscure spot….apparently not, with all this RF response..

LOL, but all of the posts have been from three guys that live/lived there.

John

I think the term Irish Alps must be as widespread in usage as the term Irish Riviera, which I always took to refer to the area around the northern Jersey beach town of Spring Lake.

Just a comment….I thought the "Irish Alps" & surrounding area was a rather obscure spot….apparently not, with all this RF response..