Living in Downtown Jersey City or Hoboken, finding a great escape within the trees and mountains can seem impossible. Well, with our Airbnb and travel series, The Hoboken Girl has found the place for you — especially if you have a big group and fancy the outdoors. Grab up to 18 of your closest friends and drive about two hours north by car to an amazing Catskill escape called the Norsdale, an Airbnb owned and operated by two Jersey City locals. Keep reading for more about this amazing private property getaway, including a motel for your guests to stay in. (Yes, this seems like a Schitt’s Creek dream).
(Photo credit: @chellisemichaelphotography)
The Property
Originally built in the 1950s, the original owners built a little inn for family and friends who visited. Today, the whole property is available for rent — both the main modern home, as well as the inn, or CMYK Motel, as Shane and Jess named it.
(Photo credit: @chellisemichaelphotography)
Outside you’ll find a great area to hang out and have a picnic, a firepit for the cold nights (or winter days), and a hot tub perfect for any time of year. There are 10 acres to explore and the property is at the base of a mountain.
Every room and building provides a new color scheme to feast your eyes on. When you rent this Airbnb, you get the entire property, so don’t worry about picking the colorful room you want — and leave it up to drawing up names out of a hat if you can’t decide.
(Photo credit: @chellisemichaelphotography)
The motel includes four separate rooms, each decorated with a different color. The motel is called the CMYK Motel for Cayan, Magenta, Yellow, and Kay, each a different color used in printing. It pays homage to the printing industry which is so incredibly unique.
(Photo credit: @chellisemichaelphotography)
The main house is no different with the vibes, though it is filled with more patterns with rooms that are green, purple, red, and more. While Jersey City isn’t the focal point of the rental, the vibes in the motel and house are “playful and diverse,” just like our beloved Jersey City.
Read More: The Coolest Catskill Hotels That You Need to Book STAT
From Jersey City to Phoenicia, NY
Owners Shane and Jess Cooper wanted to find a getaway and purchased a piece of property in upstate New York to create a place for friends, family, and really everyone to visit and recharge. After getting married in August 2022, they decided to make the jump into owning another property in Upstate New York.
(Photo credit: @chellisemichaelphotography)
Shane’s family friends have lived in the Phoenicia area for more than 40 years, so they were very familiar with the area, especially since it’s not super far from Woodstock, NY, another important locale for the couple and highly-coveted Catskills town. They worked with friends Jove Meyer, Nick Harris, and Tim Harrison to completely decorate the space, so there is a new Instagram opportunity in every room (no seriously, each room is a different color, but more on that later).
(Photo credit: @chellisemichaelphotography)
Even though the couple both have day jobs, they want to ensure guests enjoy their stay. “We want to help provide anything [our guests need] to make the best weekend possible,” said owner, Shane Cooper. From in-home yoga sessions to the best hiking for fly fishing in the area, they’ve got ideas galore.
Dining in Phoenicia
The center of Phoenicia is just a few minutes down the road and Kingston is about 30 minutes away. The best way to get around really is by bringing a car, but there are also taxi services Shane and Jess can help you book in advance.
For breakfast from Friday to Monday, try Sweet Sue’s Phoenicia, located at 49 Main Street, Phoenicia. The pancakes and coffee are crowd favorites. Then, head to Woodstock Brewing’s tap room located at 5581 New York 28, Phoenicia, to taste the local brews. When the weather allows, there are great tables to post up. Just make sure to visit Thursday through Sunday, because they are closed the rest of the week. And don’t worry, there is a food menu to try as the drinks keep flowing.
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For dinner, try Sportsman’s Alamo Grill. This local watering hole serves up some great staples and even better local beer options. Located at 70 Main Street, Phoenicia, customers can dine inside or on the patio on a nice day. For a fancier night on the town, try The Phoenicia Steakhouse, located at 10 Main Street in Phoenicia. Then of course, there’s the world-renowned Phoenicia Diner that is a staple to any Catskills visit.
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See More: Getaway Guide: Our Visit to PostBeamLove in the Catskills
Things to Do Nearby
While you really never need to leave the property, there are also a number of great activities in the area. During the winter, Hunter Mountain and Windham Mountain are go-to’s for skiing, snow tubing, and other snowy activities. During the summer, there are plenty of water holes to swim at. Shane and Jess can help you find the best option.
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For anyone who feels a bit more adventurous, try the Rail Explorers: Catskills Division, where visitors can ride a stretch of the railroad on a pedal-powered vehicle to see the area. Meandering the main street in Phoenicia, hitting up the Westkill Brewery, town-hopping the Western Catskills, or heading on any number of hikes nearby is another great way to spend a few hours.
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Some good trails include Mount Tremper Trail (5.9-mile hike) or the Tanbark Loop (2.1-mile hike).
This place really is the best way to spend a week (or weekend) with friends, or even host a cozy and cool bachelor/bachelorette party. It’s “kind of like our mini Schitt’s Creek,” said Shane, and it’s definitely quite a colorful gem in the beautiful Catskills mountains.
New Korean Skincare Medspa, Hello Skin, Opens in Hoboken
This article is sponsored by Hello Skin Medspa.
Korean beauty has become the holy grail of skincare and Hoboken is finally getting in on the action. Hello Skin Medspa, located at 129 Washington Street in Hoboken, is a luxury medspa that combines the best of Western and Korean beauty practices. From custom facials, tox + fillers, and laser hair removal to the Korean Titanium Lifting Treatment (more on that later) this spot is truly serving up a distinct and different menu of beauty services in town. Keep reading to learn more about Hello Skin Medspa, a Korean skincare medspa in Hoboken, New Jersey.
What’s on the Menu? (Pro-tip: try it all)
Hello Skin provides a wide range of spa treatments that address all sorts of needs — fine lines, acne, weight management, etc. The most highly coveted treatment available — and the most exclusive — is the Korean Titanium Lifting Treatment. Hello Skin is the only medspa on the East Coast to have this option available — it’s an advanced laser treatment that lifts, slims, and brightens the face + neck.
While the Titanium Lifting might be the most exclusive treatment, it’s certainly not the only one:
- Injectables: smooth out fine lines with neurotoxins or add volume and correct facial asymmetry with fillers with minimal downtime.
- Skin Treatments: lasers and photofacials to address sun damage, pigmentation, texture and uneven skin tone, along with RF micro needling to increase collagen and elastin production.
- Laser Hair Removal: the Titanium Laser uses an advanced technology called Ice Plus to cool the skin during a laser hair removal treatment. Packages for small, medium, large, and full areas are available, which includes 6 sessions and 2 free touch-up appointments.
- Facials: customizable facial options include dermaplaning, hydra-dermal treatments, Glo2 facials, deep pore facials, and more.
- PRP Treatment: works by using your own body’s healing power to treat aging skin, scars, and pigmentation of the skin to stimulate natural hair growth or rejuvenate collagen production.
- PDRN Treatment: popularized by Kim Kardashian, also called the Salmon Sperm Facial, Polynucleotides help rewind the skin's age.
- Semaglutide: reduce appetite, improve cravings, burn fat, and help to lose 2-4 pounds per week while boosting energy.
For a full list of treatments, check here.
Membership Perks for the Ultimate Glow
For those who want to maintain their glow long after their visit, Hello Skin Medspa just launched its membership program. For $139 per month, members get their choice of one of four facials, $9 per unit of tox, plus 20% off all skincare products, annual services, and enhancements. Oh, and did we mention you’ll get a $50 birthday credit? Plus, with fresh, new promos every month, you can always try something new to help you keep that glow long after you leave the medspa.
“We’re excited to welcome more clients into Hello Skin Medspa,” shared the team. “We’re looking for skincare enthusiasts who are ready to invest in their skin, achieve their glow goals, and feel their absolute best.”
By blending a cocktail of science and innovation — accompanied by medical-grade skincare and luxurious Korean Beauty skincare products — Hello Skin Medspa is truly upping Hoboken’s beauty game… and that’s saying a lot.
Don’t forget, new clients can receive 50% off their first Titanium Treatment as well as $10 per unit of tox when you mention ‘Hoboken Girl’ at checkout.
Hello Skin Medspa is located at 129 Washington Street in Hoboken. For more information or to book an appointment, call 201-430-8741 or email [email protected].
