EscapeMaker.com will offer the first-of-its-kind “Virtual Agritourism Conference” on its B2B site: www.EscapeMaker.biz, launching May 6th, 2019. The conference, presented by EscapeMaker.com and Fulton Stall Market, is not only the first digital conference focusing on the tourism and agriculture industries (agritourism), but also will be produced solely by women, 30% of whom are certified as an M/WBE (Minority Women-Owned Business Enterprise). Fourteen female industry experts will come together on one online platform to share insider tips, trends and best practices for preparing a business to capitalize on the rapidly changing travel landscape and to meet the demands of leisure, group, event and corporate travel markets. The interest in agritourism travel, i.e. visits to farms, wineries, craft beverage trails, bed and breakfasts, harvest festivals, farm-to-table events, etc., has greatly increased in recent years in the NYC metro area and everywhere as people get more interested in where their food comes from, how it’s made and sharing authentic experiences outdoors with their friends and families. Based on a survey produced by EscapeMaker for GrowNYC, many regional farmers and producers have PYO (Pick-Your-Own) operations or tasting rooms, but are still seeking education on marketing, event production, temporary on-site lodging, infrastructure improvements, insurance, liability risks, packaging and partnership opportunities, best practices in tourism and more. Each of the 12 digital presentations is 25-45 minutes long and includes access to information on financing from Kiva, plus additional workshop downloads and links to more resources. All combined, the conference is 6+ hours of education. Presented by EscapeMaker.com and Fulton Stall Market, the conference sponsors and partners include: Kiva, Edible Manhattan, New York Apples, Heritage Radio Network, Metro-North Railroad and Women in Hospitality United, all of which are organizations with a commitment to the advancement of the food, farm, beverage and agritourism industries and their stakeholders. The
EscapeMaker.com will offer the first-of-its-kind “Virtual Agritourism Conference” on its B2B site: www.EscapeMaker.biz, launching May 6th, 2019. The conference, presented by EscapeMaker.com and Fulton Stall Market, is not only the first digital conference focusing on the tourism and agriculture industries (agritourism), but also will be produced solely by women, 30% of whom are certified as an M/WBE (Minority Women-Owned Business Enterprise). Fourteen female industry experts will come together on one online platform to share insider
Revel in the fall foliage and orchards of Dutchess Tourism, Inc.and pick apples till the cows come home! The bus will make stops in the quaint town of Rhinebeck for lunch on your own. Then we’ll stop at the friendly petting zoo and get lost in the corn maze at local favorite, Kesicke Farm Cattle. Next, we’ll travel to historic Rose Hill Farm for apple picking. NEW for 2019, they have added a cider tasting room. We’ll then proceed to the idyllic Greig Farm for pygmy goat feeding, the indoor farmer’s market and café (and more apple picking if you wish.) Tour includes guide, farm entrance fees, corn maze and transportation. Pick up at 9am and return to Bryant Park on NW corner of 6th Ave. / 42nd St. by 7:30pm. $79/pp.
Revel in the fall foliage and orchards of Dutchess Tourism, Inc.and pick apples till the cows come home! The bus will make stops in the quaint town of Rhinebeck for lunch on your own. Then we’ll stop at the friendly petting zoo and get lost in the corn maze at local favorite, Kesicke Farm Cattle. Next, we’ll travel to historic Rose Hill Farm for apple picking. NEW for 2019, they have added a cider tasting
Revel in the fall foliage and orchards of Dutchess Tourism, Inc.and pick apples till the cows come home! The bus will make stops in the quaint town of Rhinebeck for lunch on your own. Then we’ll stop at the friendly petting zoo and get lost in the corn maze at local favorite, Kesicke Farm Cattle. Next, we’ll travel to historic Rose Hill Farm for apple picking. NEW for 2019, they have added a cider tasting room. We’ll then proceed to the idyllic Greig Farm for pygmy goat feeding, the indoor farmer’s market and café (and more apple picking if you wish.) Tour includes guide, farm entrance fees, corn maze and transportation. Pick up at 9am and return to Bryant Park on NW corner of 6th Ave. / 42nd St. by 7:30pm. $79/pp.
Revel in the fall foliage and orchards of Dutchess Tourism, Inc.and pick apples till the cows come home! The bus will make stops in the quaint town of Rhinebeck for lunch on your own. Then we’ll stop at the friendly petting zoo and get lost in the corn maze at local favorite, Kesicke Farm Cattle. Next, we’ll travel to historic Rose Hill Farm for apple picking. NEW for 2019, they have added a cider tasting
Hop on MTA Metro-North Railroad and revel in the fall foliage and orchards of Dutchess Tourism, Inc. and pick apples till the cows come home! The bus will make stops in the quaint town of Rhinebeck for lunch and then travel to historic Rose Hill Farm for apple picking. NEW for 2019: a cider tasting room! We’ll then proceed to the idyllic Greig Farm for pygmy goat feeding, more apple picking and the indoor farmers market and cafe. Last, we’ll explore the friendly petting zoo and get lost in the corn maze at local favorite, Kesicke Farm Cattle!
Hop on MTA Metro-North Railroad and revel in the fall foliage and orchards of Dutchess Tourism, Inc. and pick apples till the cows come home! The bus will make stops in the quaint town of Rhinebeck for lunch and then travel to historic Rose Hill Farm for apple picking. NEW for 2019: a cider tasting room! We’ll then proceed to the idyllic Greig Farm for pygmy goat feeding, more apple picking and the indoor farmers
Take a ride on MTA Metro-North Railroad and explore the culinary mecca and historic town of Rhinebeck and visit the bountiful pick-your-own berry and fruit farms of Dutchess Tourism, Inc.. Stops include Greig Farm, with its cozy café, indoor farmers market, pygmy goats and fruit fields and Rose Hill Farm, with its fruit orchards and – NEW for 2019 – a cider tasting room! Pending fruit availability, pick blueberries, blackberries, peaches and more to your heart’s content. Then we’ll explore the friendly petting zoo and stocked farm market at Kesicke Farm Cattle! Cap off your day with dinner in Poughkeepsie before you head home with your farm fresh bounty.
Take a ride on MTA Metro-North Railroad and explore the culinary mecca and historic town of Rhinebeck and visit the bountiful pick-your-own berry and fruit farms of Dutchess Tourism, Inc.. Stops include Greig Farm, with its cozy café, indoor farmers market, pygmy goats and fruit fields and Rose Hill Farm, with its fruit orchards and – NEW for 2019 – a cider tasting room! Pending fruit availability, pick blueberries, blackberries, peaches and more to your
Oh, the sweet life in Dutchess County! Join us on a wine and strawberry adventure from NYC! We’ll start the day at McEnroe Organic Farm in the midst of their strawberry season. Pick strawberries, shop on your own for yummy baked goods, pony up to the King’s Highway Cider Shack for a drink and bask in the summer sun on this gorgeous farm, known for its sustainability practices. Then, we’ll head to the renowned Millbrook Vineyards & Winery for a tasting of 5 wines as you soak up vineyard views and then get a tour of the winery. We’ll cap off the day with a visit to Clinton Vineyards for a tour, a wine tasting and a farm-fresh dinner, sourced from local ingredients. You’ll return to the city refreshed, renewed and feeling sweet! Price includes tours, wine tastings and dinner. Additional glasses or bottles can be purchased for a fee. Pick up at 10am and return to Bryant Park on NW corner of 6th Ave. / 42nd St. by 9pm. $149/pp.
Oh, the sweet life in Dutchess County! Join us on a wine and strawberry adventure from NYC! We’ll start the day at McEnroe Organic Farm in the midst of their strawberry season. Pick strawberries, shop on your own for yummy baked goods, pony up to the King’s Highway Cider Shack for a drink and bask in the summer sun on this gorgeous farm, known for its sustainability practices. Then, we’ll head to the renowned Millbrook
One of the most special parts about living in New York is the quick access to so many different Northeast regions, famous for their fresh air and utter beauty. Spend the weekend in Central New York, where you can take off on a rare adventure below ground at the Howe Caverns! 156 ft below the earth's surface, your journey will wind through limestone corridors, cavernous galleries, under massive boulders, until you discover a subterranean riverbed carved over countless millennia. Deep in the cave, solid rock appears fluid: creating strange formations, flowing sheets and dripping stalactites. Mysterious grottos lead off into distant, unexplored passages. Shadows hide secrets in deep cracks and crevices. The well-worn path twists and turns descending into the depths, downward to the glassy surface of an underground lake that trails off into the absolute darkness of the cave’s Eastern Terminus. An amazing experience for all ages! Visit Garden of Eve in Riverhead, NY for their Sunflower Festival Weekends (July 21 & 22, 28 & 29 9am - 6pm). For just a $5 admission fee, enjoy Fun Fields admission with 100,000 flowers, one sunflower to take home and you can cut your own as you explore the Sunflower Path (additional stems are $1 each), hayrides, farm animals and more! The farm café will include Sunflower specials and locally produced organic sunflower oil tasting! U Pick blueberries and other berries available! Get there via LIRR from Penn Station in NYC! If you can't get enough Sunflowers at these Festival Weekends, head up to Dutchess County to Hudson Valley Cold Pressed Oils. This year, they are offering U-Pick sunflowers in addition to their variety of sunflower oil products. Plan your visit for U-Pick fun from August 7 - August 12. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram for updates! Get there via Metro-North Railroad
One of the most special parts about living in New York is the quick access to so many different Northeast regions, famous for their fresh air and utter beauty. Spend the weekend in Central New York, where you can take off on a rare adventure below ground at the Howe Caverns! 156 ft below the earth’s surface, your journey will wind through limestone corridors, cavernous galleries, under massive boulders, until you discover a subterranean riverbed
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 produce: tuscan kale, speckled zucchini, plump blueberries and peaches. What could I make that was satisfying and delicious, while still preserving the raw, ripe flavors? Enter: the Summer Farmers Market Smoothie Bowl. After stumbling across a bag of crispy, golden local granola, I knew this was the answer. I scooped up one giant zucchini ($1.50), a quart of peaches ($3), one bunch of tender kale ($3), one container of blueberries ($4.50) and a small bag of granola ($6) and off to the blender I went! Now, I know leafy greens in your smoothie are a tale as old as time these days. They create a superhero-esque green hue and pack a punch with protein and vitamins. But you may be wondering: what the heck are you doing with a zucchini? Let me tell you. An absolute perfect way to bulk up your smoothies without adding the extra sugar and fat of additional fruits like banana or avocado: steamed zucchini! When you get it home from the market, wash it and chop it (into coins or spears, whatever you prefer) and cook in a steamer basket for 5-10 minutes over a pot of boiling water. Then let the zucchini cool and pop it in the freezer in an even layer. Once it's frozen, throw it in an airtight container or bag. Then next time you're looking
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
Every March, maple farms across New York State invite visitors to their sugar houses to see for themselves how local, pure maple syrup is made. Weekend activities include tours, pancake breakfasts, shopping and, of course, tasting. These weeks are absolute treats for the whole family! So mark your calendars for March 17-18 and March 24-25 and make your escape up to one (or several) of these sweet destinations. Need a ride? Download the ReachNow app, grab a car share, and enjoy a road trip from the city in some fresh MINI or BMW wheels. Drive up to the Catskills for breathtaking views, delicious fresh air, and maple houses galore! GrowNYC farmer Roxbury Mountain Maple in the lush Delaware County is nestled in the midst of some of the most idyllic scenery in the state. Tour their brand new sugar house and recent expansion to 24,000 taps and 200 miles of pipeline. Visitors can watch demos of syrup, candy, maple cream and granulated maple sugar making. Bring the kids and hang out the with farm animals while sampling delicious maple goodies! Want to hop around to a few? Check out the other Delaware County Maple Weekend celebrations here. Pop over to Sullivan County in the Catskills for maple weekend at The Catskill Mountain Sugar House or Justus Asthalter Maple Syrup Inc. Just a 2.5 hour drive from the city, there is so much to eat, do and explore in the area, you'll want to indulge in way more than the pure, golden syrup. A bit closer to the city, you'll find dozens of maple farms and sugar houses in the bucolic Hudson Valley. Check out Dutchess County's Soukup Farms. This family farm offers guided tours where you can see firsthand how maple syrup is made. Stick around for the night or the whole weekend and enjoy
Every March, maple farms across New York State invite visitors to their sugar houses to see for themselves how local, pure maple syrup is made. Weekend activities include tours, pancake breakfasts, shopping and, of course, tasting. These weeks are absolute treats for the whole family! So mark your calendars for March 17-18 and March 24-25 and make your escape up to one (or several) of these sweet destinations. Need a ride? Download the ReachNow app, grab a