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EscapeMaker’s Guide to Cutting Your Own Christmas Trees

November 15, 2023 November 15, 2023
Staff
Blog Post, Featured Farmer / Producer
long island, westchester county, new york, christmas tree, dutchess county, day trip, new york state, local, holiday, christmas, farm, visit a farm

At last, the holiday season is upon us! We’ve composted our farm-picked pumpkins and gourds, cleared off our Thanksgiving tables, and now it’s time to start checking off that December bucket list. First up, picking out and cutting down your very own Christmas tree! It’s not as daunting as it may seem – New York state is filled with Christmas tree farms within a couple hours from the city. Grab some hot cocoa, jump in

Bullthistle Brewing

Sherburne, New York, is a one-stoplight town. But, that red circle isn’t the only reason for pause. It’s not unusual for drivers to make a U-turn when they see the large sign that reads “BEER” on the side of Bullthistle Brewing Co. And those otherwise passers-through are rewarded for their efforts. There’s nothing trendy about the craft beer Charlie Anderson makes here or the creative dishes Co-Owner Brad Taft creates. It’s simply food and beverage

It’s almost fall, y’all! This quintessential New York season brims with changing leaves, steaming cider, crumbly donuts, and apple picking galore. There are endless farms and orchards that you can escape to from NYC, whether you’re looking for a quick day trip or a relaxing weekend getaway. Check out the list below and make sure your next getaway includes a visit to one of these fabulous farms. U-PICK FARMS AROUND NYC Please note that hours,

Pick-Your-Own Berries

Summer can’t come soon enough! Escape to the beautiful farms outside NYC this summer and pick fresh, local berries. Right now is prime strawberry season and soon the farms will be booming with blueberries, raspberries, cherries and more. Check out this list below of some berry-picking favorites and make plans to escape this weekend for some farm fresh fun. Please note that U-Pick is available at farms until the crop runs out, so please check

New Jersey Craft Beverage Getaways by Train

March 20, 2023 March 21, 2023
Staff
Escape to the Maker, Blog Post, Featured Farmer / Producer

No Car? No Problem! The new “Sip & See Somerset Craft Beverage Trail” stops are ALL accessible by train and within 90 minutes of NYC! Check it out! Here are THREE mass transit-focused itineraries we’ve put together to visit three breweries, a cidery, and a distillery. Participate in their Passport Program, stay overnight and make a weekend out of it! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO Sip & See Somerset was

Where to Cut Your Own Christmas Tree

‘Tis the season for hot cider, warm fires, giving thanks and, of course, decking the halls. Don’t miss out on a favorite winter agritourism activity, cutting (or digging up to replant!) your own Christmas Tree. There are endless farms around NYC that are perfect for a pre-holiday day trip or weekend getaway. Check out a handful of our favorites below. Please note that hours, offerings and closures may vary. We recommend checking out farms on

History of Sloppy Louie’s

Learn about the history of Fulton Stall Market – once the annex to the famous Sloppy Louie’s Restaurant and the Fulton Ferry Hotel. Watch FSM’s Chef Paul Dorr recreate Louie’s famous Fish Stew recipe decades later in the same space that was once occupied by the restaurant. Recipe: Ciuppin di Pesce INGREDIENTS: 1 medium Carrot, sliced 2 medium Onions, sliced 1 clove Garlic 4 Tbsp Olive oil 3 lbs Fish in season, cooked and boned

Plate & Escape: Roasted Fennel & Potato Salad

Hello, EscapeMakers! Welcome to another edition of Plate & Escape! We are thrilled to share this digital cooking series with you, which aims to connect the dots between shopping locally, cooking seasonally, forming relationships with your local farmers, and ultimately taking a trip to see for yourself where your food comes from. Follow along as we shop for fresh ingredients from NYC Greenmarkets, cook and share simple and delicious recipes, and provide information on when

EscapeMaker.com Reinvents Local Travel Destinations with Augmented Reality

As flight cancellations plagued international summer travel, many cooped-up locals took to the road and rails to explore, despite gas prices and fee surges. EscapeMaker.com, a veteran local travel marketer since 2000, rolled out its AR (Augmented Reality) development and content production services to its longtime agritourism, craft beverage, and special event clients this summer to help them get the edge on attracting their share of the increasing local travel market. EscapeMaker's AR clients will offer various engaging augmented reality experiences to incentivize travel and onsite visits, whether through historical walking or craft beverage tours, food menus, scavenger hunts, or exclusive musical and theatre performances. "Static tour apps are old news," says Caylin Sanders, President and CEO of EscapeMaker. "Travelers want more fun, memorable and interactive experiences. With our custom AR apps launching later this year, visitors will engage with a destination like never before as they aim their mobile phones at select sites to see unique content." EscapeMaker relocated north from Brooklyn, New York, to the Hudson Valley during the pandemic. Upending their usual playbook, they invested in technology rather than traditional social media and old-school brand building to offset pandemic losses and weather the uncertainty of the local travel and special event market. Although visitors bureaus and destination marketing organizations (DMOS) tightened their budgets once the pandemic hit, their marketing and advertising spending is finally returning to pre-2020 levels. According to Sanders, though, budgets previously diversified have been allocated mainly to Facebook or Google pay-per-view advertising, cannibalizing many marketer's client lists. But as Facebook's subscriber base declines, advertisers now realize those likes don't always translate into in-person visits. "Over the years, we found creative marketing solutions by adding event production, tour guide distribution, bus tours, and packaging in response to our destination client's specific needs. It became apparent,

As flight cancellations plagued international summer travel, many cooped-up locals took to the road and rails to explore, despite gas prices and fee surges. EscapeMaker.com, a veteran local travel marketer since 2000, rolled out its AR (Augmented Reality) development and content production services to its longtime agritourism, craft beverage, and special event clients this summer to help them get the edge on attracting their share of the increasing local travel market. EscapeMaker’s AR clients will

Craft Beverage Getaways this Fall

Above photo: Vermont Tourism Fiery leaves, crisp air, cozy sweaters, road trips….ah, the beauty of fall. There’s no better time to get out and explore the gorgeous regions around NYC. Grab your pals, pack up the car and escape for a day trip or weekend getaway to one of the endless agritourism destinations within reach. Don’t sleep on the endless breweries, vineyards and distilleries that dot the area! Sitting around a fire pit sipping a

EscapeMaker’s Guide to Cutting Your Own Christmas Trees

Bullthistle Brewing

Where to Go Apple Picking Just Outside NYC

Pick-Your-Own Berries

New Jersey Craft Beverage Getaways by Train

Where to Cut Your Own Christmas Tree

History of Sloppy Louie’s

Plate & Escape: Roasted Fennel & Potato Salad

EscapeMaker.com Reinvents Local Travel Destinations with Augmented Reality

Craft Beverage Getaways this Fall

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