Wow. Threw me for a loop. "Countryside of New York" is not a phrase you'd ever hear a native New Yorker use, so I got a giggle out of it. All kidding aside, I grew up in New Jersey and my entire family--including me--is originally from one of the five boroughs of The City of New York--Manhattan (what is typically thought of as "New York City," although technically it includes all of these), Bronx, Staten Island, Queens, or as in my case, Brooklyn.

When I was a kid, we used to go to what my Grandmother called "The Country." And even that was funny to hear. Most of us just said "to The Mountains." and it was understood. There used to be a booming resort business in a bunch of places in The Catskill Mountains. Hotels included The Raleigh, Kutcher's, The Nevele and Grossinger's. It was an experience I had a few times as a kid. Eat, swim, eat, ski, eat, mini-golf indoors, go to a banquet before a show, sleep and do it all over again.

"Once famous as America’s wilderness, it’s no wonder that a region so vivid with natural beauty, so enticing to the senses, so abundant in the fullness of each passing season, should weather changing tastes and fancies to rise, in one renaissance after another, to become the destination of choice. Seekers of inspiration, reflection, creativity, authenticity, challenge, fortune, and beauty have, time and again, been drawn to the Catskills.

The Catskills provide the perfect environment in which to find yourself, or lose yourself. Rediscover history in the stone houses of Hurley. Lose track of time flyfishing at Beaverkill Stream. Catch your breath at the snowy summit of the diamond slope at Belleayre Mountain. Abandon your inhibitions along the Shawangunk Wine Trail. Add to your collection with a treasure from the Mountain Culture Festival. Check out, turn off the cell phone and soak up a treatment at one of the region’s many spas and resorts.

Even now, the proximity to New York City and easy accessibility from other major Eastern cities makes the Catskills an ideal refuge from the daily grind. Find rejuvenating solitude, plan a romantic escape, give the family a thrill, or, as in centuries before, meander through the villages rubbing elbows with the famous."

Many famous comics of the 40s, 50s, 60s and even 70s and 80s got their start or appeared in what was called "The Borscht Belt" (because so many Jewish families vacationed there). There were also review shows such as in the movie "Dirty Dancing," although I don't know if they actually filmed there or not. See the video for an idea of the exact atmosphere of the type of place, although I remember the theater at The Raleigh being much bigger--but that was 25 years ago. The fictional resort in the movie is named Kellerman's.

I also remember skiing Hunter Mountain, and one summer my camp even spent a week at a dude ranch--all in The Catskills. Check out their website for more info.

There is also (gotta give it a promo) the entire State of New Jersey, also known as The Garden State. I lived not far from and in high school worked directly across the street from the main gates of Princeton University, only about an hour from New York.. Depending on when you're there, it can be gorgeous and relaxing just to walk through the campus. Certainly an architectural mix of very old and very new. A very old building is pictured, and a link to NJ Tourism is provided. in sources.

The caption on the photo: : "Blair Hall, the University's first collegiate Gothic dormitory, was built in 1897. It was a Sesquicentennial gift of railroad tycoon John Insley Blair. Phlianthropic Blair served as trustee of Princeton from 1866 to 1899."

There's always the beach in NJ. Just have to get it at the right time of year. Link provided.

You've also got Connecticut--the last portion of the three in "The Tri-State Area." Mystic Seaport is a quaint, little town. See their website.

Whew! That's what you get from a former concierge!