Less than a day's drive from New York, Boston or Philadelphia, here are magical wilderness preserves, teeming with wildlife. Over 5,000 square miles of forests lakes and mountains, the Adirondacks are among the most beautiful preserves in the world. Much closer to the urban centers, the Catskills offer deep gorges, magnificent waterfalls, heavily forested mountains and some of the best fishing streams in the state. They are an unsurpassed playground for adults and children, where you can choose hiking, golf, canoeing, skiing, hunting, horseback riding – even shopping on a full-time basis! Here is the best guide to these mountains, replete with tales of the early Indians who roamed the forests, the first explorers, and the ceaseless wars among the French and British, then the American colonists, for control of the land. But the book is primarily a guide to enjoying the Adirondacks and Catskills today. Following sections on how to get there, the quickest and most scenic routes to and through the parks, the author details the places to stay, everything there is to see and do, the public and private campsites, and the best hiking trails. You will also find expert advice on fishing, hunting, trapping, wildlife photography, or simply relaxing by a pristine mountain lake.