The monastery was built through the blessings and inspiration of His Holiness the 16th Gwalya Karmapa, the Head of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. It is an authentic Tibetan Buddhist monastery for the study and practice of the Buddha's teachings. The main shrine room is dedicated to Shakyamuni Buddha and features one of the most beautiful statues of the Buddha in the world.

Saugerties, New York is a stone's throw from Woodstock and is a slice of American pie. Quaint tree-lined streets wind the way to a downtown business district that is a bustling antique mecca. There are great places to buy all types of furnishing from re-usables to high-end gallery pieces. Donny Malone's Auction Gallery has wonderful things for sale most Saturday nights starting at 7 pm. When you get hungry try a bit of "Zabar's" in the country and stop in to Anne Marie's at the corner of Main and Partition Streets. If your palette prefers more simple fare try Dallas Hot Wieners across the street. Their "dogs with everything" just can't be beat.

At the summit of Mead's Mountain Road you'll find the trail head to Overlook Mountain. The trail is maintained year-round, but I prefer the trek in the spring and fall. Prepare for a strenuous walk that will take at least 2 hours. You'll discover the ruins of The Overlook Mountain House which loom from the forest like the bones of an ancient dinosaur. An "earth friendly" exhibit of photos are mounted on the decaying walls and remind all visitors of the retreat's former grandeur. The views from Overlook are breathtaking.

Half way between Woodstock and Saugerties is an environmental bluestone sculpture rising out of an abandoned quarry which covers more than six acres. Opus 40 was built over a thirty-seven year period by sculptor Harvey Fite. Visitors are astonished by the amount of stone that was quarried, dressed and moved into place to form the plateaus, steps and monolith. Stones curl around the trees, pathways wind around fountains and wishing ponds abound. The site is perfect for picnics and in the summer the "Sunset" concerts feature jazz, classical and folk music. Open May through October.

If you want to try tubing, wait until the mercury hits about ninety degrees and head to Phoenicia, NY to spend the day along the banks of the Esopus Creek. This is a great activity for older kids as well as adults who will enjoy bouncing along the rapids in a large inner tube.

This sweet and small state park just outside of Woodstock village has a shallow lake with a lovely sandy beach. I prefer the one mile ribbon of blacktop that winds it's way through a beautiful pine forest. My son and I rollerblade these paths - and it can be quite challenging. The park is cradled in the hills of Wittenburgh and is a meditative place to spend the afternoon. Pick up some sandwiches at the local market and enjoy!

Cheap eats at Taco Juan's - home of the world's best black bean burritos.
Coffee and pastries at Bread Alone.
Filet Mignon with stilton cheese at The Bear Cafe.
Chinese "Appetizers for Two" at The Little Bear.
Tuesday night buffet at Mountain Gate Indian Restaurant.
Cajun string beans and Thai Salmon at New World Home Cooking.
Deli sandwiches and pasta salad from Woodstock Meats.
Vegan tasties at Sunflower Natural Foods Market
White pizza with sautéed eggplant and lotsa garlic at Catskill Mountain Pizza Co.
Sushi and Miso soup at Wok n' Roll Cafe.
An Israeli Smorgasbord and sweet potato fries at Joshua's Restaurant.
Any beer on tap and The Raw Bar at The Landau Grill.
Hot caramel apple sundaes at Robby's kiosk on Tinker Street.
Milk chocolate raspberry cremes at Chez Grandmere.
Fresh fruit smoothies and a mozzarella sandwich at Sunfrost Farms.