Old-Fashioned Inn in the Heart of the Catskill Mountains

There's a sense of a communal atmosphere at the family-operated Gavin's Irish Country Inn. Eight cottage-like buildings are grouped in a circle around the pool out back, and each cottage’s wooden deck looks out to the Catskill Mountains.

Two of this deal's options include two home-cooked meals each day. Freshly baked blueberry or chocolate-chip muffins are featured in the lavish breakfast spread, which also includes french toast, eggs, and fruit. At night, a three-course meal might have roast beef, baked salmon, or chicken marsala. Head to the onsite pub, where live Irish music plays and guests dance into the night, and retire to a standard or deluxe room with views of the pool or the countryside.

East Durham, New York: "The Emerald Isle of the Catskills"

Sometimes called "The Emerald Isle of the Catskills," East Durham is a little unincorporated town surrounded by mountains in the southeast corner of New York. It's covered in green and has undulating terrain, similar to the Irish countryside; in fact, thousands of vacationing Irish families visit every year. There's even an Irish-themed village in the town, which holds summer and fall festivals with actors in period costume and live music.

East Durham is located within a few miles of several state forests, among them Manorkill, Bates, and Catskill Park, all of which attract hikers and campers to their lofty peaks. East Durham is mostly a rural area, and that peaceful seclusion is part of its charm; the closest city, Albany, is 35 miles away.