Oh, sweet summertime, how we’ve been longing for you! With your bright shining sun, long days and – most importantly – your seasonal produce! Is it just me, or does your diet automatically become healthier come warmer months? I’m just constantly surrounded by fresh ripe berries, bright leafy greens, colorful summer squash, and more. The raw deliciousness is a no-brainer. So while perusing the market this week, I was inspired by an abundance of colorful

Summer is here and we all know what that means: FESTIVAL SEASON! Whether it’s rock music, our nation’s independence or BBQ, there’s always something to celebrate come summertime. Check out a roundup of fests coming up just outside NYC, perfect for a weekend getaway! Bethel Lakeside Summer Concert Series: Pack a snack and a blanket and cozy up on the lawn for weekly Thursday concert series at Kauneonga Lake Gazebo Park in Sullivan County. From

Dear EscapeMakers – Escape to the mountains! Kaatsbaan Lodge, in Saugerties, is located 100 miles north of NYC along the western edge of the Hudson River, at the base of the Catskill Mountains. Mid-Week rates for an all-inclusive* double room are up to $200 less for a 2-night stay than weekend rates! *(lodging & all meals included) Kids under 3 stay FREE! Kids 4-12, add only $25 per night/child Kids 13-17, add only $50 per

Dear EscapeMakers — Less than an hour from NYC in Somerset County, New Jersey, Duke Farms will be all aglow at the Firefly Festival! On Friday July 13th & Saturday July 14th, experience the magic of fireflies at the Firefly Festival – at one of the world’s most renowned environmental destinations! During this family-friendly event, you’ll meander along a self-guided 1.5-mile loop through woodlands and meadows to get a glimpse of fireflies in action. Stop

Dear EscapeMakers — Join us this July! DUTCHESS PINTS & POLITICAL FIGURES TOUR (VIA DIRECT BUS TO THE HUDSON VALLEY FROM BRYANT PARK) Saturday, July 21st & Sunday, July 22nd — Included: Lunch & dinner, tours of Eleanor Roosevelt’s Val Kill Cottage, the FDR Home “Springwood Estate” and Hyde Park Brewery, plus a beer sampler and a crash course in brewing! RESERVE NOW! DUTCHESS FRUIT FARMS & BERRY PICKING (VIA METRO-NORTH RAILROAD FROM GRAND CENTRAL

Dear EscapeMakers — Check everything off your summer bucket list with the ultimate vacation to the Central New York Vacation Region. Creating your own outdoor adventure has never been easier, whether you’re reaching for the beach bag or a hiking pack. With eight counties of excitement to explore, there truly is something for everyone in CNY. Find solace in spending a night under the stars at one of many private campgrounds throughout the region. Set up

When the weather heats up, nothing cools us down quite like a crisp, chilled, local beer. With a surplus of brewery options these days in and around New York, it’s impossible to pick just one hoppin’ spot to visit. Check out a list of some of our favorite breweries – new and old – below and plan your weekend getaway to hit one, two or ALL of these delicious spots this summer! The Hudson Valley

June has ARRIVED! We are celebrating summer in the best way we know how around here…and that is with endless orchard visits and berry-picking/eating. Check out some of the juicy farms near you and plan a berry-picking weekend escape (see below). Or, if you’re looking for a berry-picking escape all packaged up for you, hop on our Dutchess Fruit Farms & Berry Picking Weekend with hop on / hop off shuttle! Explore the culinary mecca and

Dear EscapeMakers — Less than an hour from NYC in Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial Park Gardens is the place to be on June 9th! Their annual Rose Day Festival celebrates one of the first signs of summer. Roses in Bloom! In the heart of the park, the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden displays thousands of roses of many varieties, with both modern and historic significance. Stroll through the gardens, enjoying music and

Jordan Karp left behind his career as a political consultant in Boston and New York City to become Adirondack Distilling Co.’s master distiller. He joins Dr. Bruce Elwell and attorney Steve Cox, who all want to be a part of a movement brewing in Central New York – a growing need for people to reconnect with their food and drink. “There’s a renaissance of the upstate culture and the demand for local products,” Jordan says.