Hi Folks! The place where we spend our summers is a cool, old-fashioned, very Free-Range bungalow colony, about an hour and 15 mins from New York City. We’ve been renting a cottage here for the past 11 summers and we love it. In fact, we love it so much I’m helping to spread the word: Cottages are still available for August and, of course, there’s next summer, too! Here’s a little video my husband and I made about the place. Here’s even more info. And here’s its Facebook page. If you want to visit — come up this Saturday, Aug. 4. We’re having a party and you are invited, from 1:30 p.m. on. Just RSVP below. Bring a bathing suit, stay for a bbq and we show movies outside after dark! Happy summer to you wherever you may be. (And happy winter, Australia!) – L
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVsh-It4eAc?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
12 Comments
Wow, I thought the concept of bungalow colonies faded away when all the city folks bought houses and moved to Long Island and Westchester! Monroe, in Orange County is the “edge” of what folks used to call “the country”. I recall the colonies of SouthFallsburg, Loch Sheldrake, Monticello etc… Sullivan County was THE place… even lifeguarded at the old Nevele Hotel. and the Homowack.. yes, crazy word, Iroquois I think that means bend in the river.
I actually ended up going to high school in PIne Bush, just past Middletown up 17… Lived in Wurtsboro too.. Say hi the “Gunks” for me!
That looks like how we live every day. But I’m sad to say, we are the only people in our neighborhood who regularly enjoy the outdoors more than the indoors.
It’s super-nice having a country property with a creek out back for the kids to explore. (Well worth the stress we went through to secure it.) It wasn’t so much, though, back when none of my four children could swim, but for me, that was the only “danger” — even alligators occasionally sunning on the shoreline.
FreeRange kids are the best — best-mannered, best chore-doers, best bug-identifiers, best fruit-pickers, best students…
Lenore, I rather enjoyed your string of videos!
Are pets allowed?
Oh, don’t I wish, LOL! But happy summer to you anyway :-). Hoping to get one of those this year….I think we managed a fine weekend the last one.
Now that I remember, my family went to a cottage resort like that one for a few years in a row. My brother and I were allowed to go to the playground by ourselves, but that was it–we weren’t allowed to swim without an adult (because we went there when I was I think 8-9ish, and my brother was three years younger), and the rec hall, which was right next to our cottage, had a rule of “adult supervision under age 16 or 18” for some reason (I forget which). But, it was a novelty for us, because we weren’t allowed to go to the playground by ourselves at home, EVEN though our house backed into said playground.
Oh, such memories! My grandparents got out of Brooklyn every summer by heading to the bungalows, and when I wasn’t spending the entire summer at sleep away camp in Sullivan County, I was hanging out with my grandparents learning to play all sorts of cards!
OK..Just found out, by way of the Arizona Republic, that my son, who will be a sophomore at Chaparral High School in the Scottsdale School District next week, will need not to carry his ID anymore…No, he will need to WEAR it!!! EVERY DAY. EVERY CHILD in the district, K-12!!! Yup, kindergarten students have to WEAR their ID cards!!!!
I am at a loss for words.
Oops..I meant to post that in response to the School Check-in. Please read as such!! LOL
Summer cottage resort 90 minutes from Manhattan…sounds wonderful! let’s just hope NYC legislators don’t outlaw them as they have NYC vacation rentals!
I have very fond memories of vacationing in cottages. In fact, was telling my 10 year old about it today as we traveled back from our beach vacation. It’s a different experience for him – staying in a condo at the beach. But it has its similarities. He had great freedom to come and go, which was great for all. I did try to monitor his pool time somewhat – more because of the fear of someone complaining about a child being unsupervised (there were always plenty of people around).Thankfully, he made numerous friends and they felt comfortable coming and going. Met some other great parents, too! All is not lost!
Wow, it must be nice to be that rich!
IF you live in PA, NJ, DE – even a few NYers come… We have a weekend long event “Fall Fling” for the whole family that is just like the bungalows but with folk music. Sept 21-23. All ages. All inclusive. Held at a summer camp near Longwood Gardens, PA. Come and sing or bring an instrument, and let the kids have the run of the place. http://www.pfs.org/seasonal-retreats/fall-fling Also look out for “Spring Thing” held at Camp Canadensis!