Make your own itinerary! Plot your own day’s adventure on a hop on/off looping shuttle that picks you up at the Beacon Station and drops off at a variety of local pick-your-own Dutchess fruit farms. Revel in the fall foliage and apple orchards of the Hudson Valley! The bus will make stops at Fishkill Farms, Meadowbrook Farm, and Sprout Creek Farm, where you can spend your own time exploring fall harvest festivities in full swing, go apple picking, pet farm animals galore, and sample delicious local bites and sips. Reserve at EscapeMaker.com/FarmFreshTours.com, then BUY IT! Adults, $50; Seniors, $45; Kids 5-11, $17; Kids under 5, $17, available at ticket kiosks and full-service ticket vending machines. Ticket price also includes apple-picking entrance fee. Extra activities/tastings may require an additional fee. GET THERE! Take the Hudson Line to Beacon Station arriving at either 10:16 a.m. or 11:16 a.m. Our shuttle buses will meet both trains and transport you throughout the day.
Make your own itinerary! Plot your own day’s adventure on a hop on/off looping shuttle that picks you up at the Beacon Station and drops off at a variety of local pick-your-own Dutchess fruit farms. Revel in the fall foliage and apple orchards of the Hudson Valley! The bus will make stops at Fishkill Farms, Meadowbrook Farm, and Sprout Creek Farm, where you can spend your own time exploring fall harvest festivities in full swing,
Make your own itinerary! Plot your own day’s adventure on a hop on/off looping shuttle that picks you up at the Beacon Station and drops off at a variety of local pick-your-own Dutchess fruit farms. Revel in the fall foliage and apple orchards of the Hudson Valley! The bus will make stops at Fishkill Farms, Meadowbrook Farm, and Sprout Creek Farm, where you can spend your own time exploring fall harvest festivities in full swing, go apple picking, pet farm animals galore, and sample delicious local bites and sips. Reserve at EscapeMaker.com/FarmFreshTours.com, then BUY IT! Adults, $50; Seniors, $45; Kids 5-11, $17; Kids under 5, $17, available at ticket kiosks and full-service ticket vending machines. Ticket price also includes apple-picking entrance fee. Extra activities/tastings may require an additional fee. GET THERE! Take the Hudson Line to Beacon Station arriving at either 10:16 a.m. or 11:16 a.m. Our shuttle buses will meet both trains and transport you throughout the day.
Make your own itinerary! Plot your own day’s adventure on a hop on/off looping shuttle that picks you up at the Beacon Station and drops off at a variety of local pick-your-own Dutchess fruit farms. Revel in the fall foliage and apple orchards of the Hudson Valley! The bus will make stops at Fishkill Farms, Meadowbrook Farm, and Sprout Creek Farm, where you can spend your own time exploring fall harvest festivities in full swing,
I don't know about you, but with the holidays creeping closer and closer, I've got dessert on my brain! After my plentiful and autumnal shopping trip to the Union Square Greenmarket last week (check out the Overnight Oats post for all the details), my pantry and fridge were still spilling over with Breezy Hill Orchard apples and cranberries and Greenmarket Grains Project rolled oats. So I created a "part 2 recipe" from those leftover ingredients. A good tip to remember when shopping fresh and local at your neighborhood markets: one of the easiest ways to save money and reduce waste is to come up with multiple recipes from the same ingredients! This time I was totally inspired to make one of my all-time favorite treats: Cranberry Apple Crisp. It's gooey and delicious on the inside, crisp and buttery on the top, and those sweet apples and tart cranberries make the most perfect fall dessert...or breakfast, :). It's quick and easy to make and if you're somewhat baking-adverse (like myself), this takes way less precision than other technical baking. It's a great place to start, especially to gear up for all the baked goods, sweets and treats that are so fun to make (and eat) this time of year! Here's how I made it: INGREDIENTS: 1/2 C rolled oats 1/2 C + 3 tbsp all purpose flour, divided 1/2 C brown sugar (light or dark) 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp kosher salt 1/4 tsp ground ginger 1 stick butter, chilled and diced into small cubes 1/4 C granulated sugar Zest and juice of 1 lemon 4 apples, cored and sliced thin (I used a combo of Jonah Gold and Mutsu) 1 C fresh cranberries (or frozen, thawed) INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat over to 375F. In a mixing bowl, combine sliced apples,
I don’t know about you, but with the holidays creeping closer and closer, I’ve got dessert on my brain! After my plentiful and autumnal shopping trip to the Union Square Greenmarket last week (check out the Overnight Oats post for all the details), my pantry and fridge were still spilling over with Breezy Hill Orchard apples and cranberries and Greenmarket Grains Project rolled oats. So I created a “part 2 recipe” from those leftover ingredients. A
Hey, EscapeMakers! These past few summer/fall seasons, our team has had the privilege of posting up in the Greenmarkets across NYC and chatting with all of you about farm escapes, green travel, weekend getaways and more. We absolutely love hearing from you and getting your feedback on what you're searching for when it comes to the perfect escape. After having several people come to us with specific inquiries about local destinations that were wheelchair accessible and suitable for persons with limited mobility, we decided to put together a list!* We can't thank you all enough for smart questions and engaging conversations that inspire our content. While some agritourism destinations in the region are difficult to navigate or are still in the process of retro-fitting or getting ADA-compliant with things like adding accessible means of egress and power-assisted doors, many have identified readily-achievable barriers for removal and have made it convenient for everyone in your family to enjoy. Check out a few of these spots below and plan your escape this fall and next spring when growing season starts again!** 1-3 HOURS FROM NYC: Hawthorne Valley Farm Store (Columbia County, Hudson Valley): Hawthorne Valley is a biodynamic farm & store filled with beautiful Hudson Valley products. They strive to offer as many locally grown or produced fruits, vegetables, grocery products, and household items as possible and are committed to supporting local farmers and artisans. Their 18-year old cow Kohlrabi is featured in EscapeMaker's upcoming (and first-ever!) Agritourism Ambassadors Calendar for 2018, which benefits the farm. You can purchase yours here! For more on area lodging, click here. Crown Maple Estate (Dutchess County, Hudson Valley): Crown Maple Estate is located on 800 acres of pristine land at Madava Farms in Dutchess County, New York, and truly sets the standard of excellence in maple production and flavor. From bark
Hey, EscapeMakers! These past few summer/fall seasons, our team has had the privilege of posting up in the Greenmarkets across NYC and chatting with all of you about farm escapes, green travel, weekend getaways and more. We absolutely love hearing from you and getting your feedback on what you’re searching for when it comes to the perfect escape. After having several people come to us with specific inquiries about local destinations that were wheelchair accessible
Take any road through Dutchess County, head in any direction, and eventually, you'll pass a farm. More likely, several. Agriculture is a driving economic force in the Hudson Valley, and a way of life. To get the complete Hudson Valley Farm Fresh experience, avail yourself of the many opportunities to enjoy its bounty. Many family-owned farms welcome you to pick-your-own produce, make purchases from their farm stands, or join them during family-oriented festivals. Vineyards will invite you to taste their vintages from local grapes, and perhaps stay for a picnic or concert. Reserve your spot NOW for the Dutchess County Farm Fresh Tours, beginning September 2nd through October 29th on Saturdays and Sundays. Explore quaint Hudson Valley towns, pick apples, tour distilleries, visit farm animals and more on a variety of tour itineraries. Book your spot before they sell out!
Take any road through Dutchess County, head in any direction, and eventually, you’ll pass a farm. More likely, several. Agriculture is a driving economic force in the Hudson Valley, and a way of life. To get the complete Hudson Valley Farm Fresh experience, avail yourself of the many opportunities to enjoy its bounty. Many family-owned farms welcome you to pick-your-own produce, make purchases from their farm stands, or join them during family-oriented festivals. Vineyards will
There's no better time than summer to get out there and plan an outdoor adventure! Did you know that exciting treasure hunts await just outside your door? One amazing way to get out there and explore your surrounding areas -- the Hudson Valley, Catskill Mountains, Finger Lakes and more -- is geocaching. Haven't tried geocaching before? Geocaching.com, guide to all things geocache, defines the game as a "real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location." It's simple! Sign up at Geocaching.com -- even simpler, download the Geocaching App -- and you can follow virtual treasure maps wherever you are to uncover clues and items planted in plain sight all around you. You can even make a day trip or weekend getaway out of it! Need inspiration? We've got you covered... Take Metro-North Railroad up to Westchester County and explore the number of hidden geocaches in the area. Maybe even leave your own! Rent a car near the Croton Harmon train station and explore the area, which is rich with agriculture, sweeping landscapes and farms to visit. While enjoying your treasure hunt, stop by and visit Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center -- bucolic, 187-acre farm with pastures, crop gardens, historic buildings and forests dating to the 1600s. Pick vegetables, have a picnic, and hike the woodland trails! After that, head a couple miles down the road to out Meadows Farm and load up on sweet corn, fresh vegetables and herbs at their farm stand to take home with you. Finish up your adventure at Faraway Farm Alpacas -- located on a beautiful hilltop farm. You can schedule a visit to meet the alpacas and friendly Icelandic horses. Learn about
There’s no better time than summer to get out there and plan an outdoor adventure! Did you know that exciting treasure hunts await just outside your door? One amazing way to get out there and explore your surrounding areas — the Hudson Valley, Catskill Mountains, Finger Lakes and more — is geocaching. Haven’t tried geocaching before? Geocaching.com, guide to all things geocache, defines the game as a “real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices.
In Letters to a Young Farmer, the first book from Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Westchester County, some of the most influential farmers, writers and leaders of our time share their wisdom and insight in an anthology of 36 essays and letters. Stone Barns' seeds were planted in the 1990s by the Rockefeller family, together with conservation planners, organic farmers and many others who came together to set a common vision and purpose for the land. Their goal was a working farm practicing resilient, transparent, four-season agriculture and open to the public as a hub of learning, creativity and experimentation. They envisioned a place where people could connect with the land and farmers; a place that would help to inspire people to grow and eat sustainably produced food. For more info on visiting Stone Barns and the surrounding area for a day-trip or weekend getaway from NYC, visit www.visitwestchesterny.com.
In Letters to a Young Farmer, the first book from Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Westchester County, some of the most influential farmers, writers and leaders of our time share their wisdom and insight in an anthology of 36 essays and letters. Stone Barns’ seeds were planted in the 1990s by the Rockefeller family, together with conservation planners, organic farmers and many others who came together to set a common vision and
We had the pleasure of spending the day with travel blogger The Culture Collective during our Dutchess County Farm Fresh Tour FAM Trip in June. Check out her thought provoking musings on the importance of traveling and eating local here. And get a sneak peek at some of her gorgeous photos below! Check her out @KelleyTravels. Feeling inspired to sample and explore the infinitely delicious offerings of the Hudson Valley? You can experience these gorgeous farms, sweeping vistas and delicious craft beverages yourself. Book your Farm Fresh Tour for the fall today at EscapeMaker.com/farmfreshtours.
We had the pleasure of spending the day with travel blogger The Culture Collective during our Dutchess County Farm Fresh Tour FAM Trip in June. Check out her thought provoking musings on the importance of traveling and eating local here. And get a sneak peek at some of her gorgeous photos below! Check her out @KelleyTravels. Feeling inspired to sample and explore the infinitely delicious offerings of the Hudson Valley? You can experience these gorgeous
Hardscrabble Cider is a micro farm-cidery founded in 2014 in North Salem, NY. The cidery, currently the only one in Westchester, is the brainchild of three nature-loving brothers with firm horticultural backgrounds – Alex, Kevin and Ben Covino of Brewster, NY. Farmers, scientists and businessmen all around, the brothers found inspiration in the words of local hero, Theodore Roosevelt, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”; and (Mother Nature willing) apples they have a plenty. Their family, who has a history in commercial tree farming, acquired a local apple orchard in early 2011, Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard in North Salem, NY. The brothers, having all recently graduated with Horticulture degrees from the University of Rhode Island, immediately took to the new operation and began revamping the farm, planting thousands of apple whips and consolidating for more growing space. The entire family, along with an extremely dedicated crew, works together tirelessly to run this orchard and expand its offerings each year. The hard cider operation is the newest expansion as of Summer 2015, and has launched Brothers Covino to the forefront of the craft cider scene here in New York. Hardscrabble Cider is the epitome of a hand-crafted, farm-to-bottle beverage. All stages of the process take place on the farm – from growing, picking and cleaning the apples, to pressing, fermenting and bottling the final product. The cider is pressed from a blend of all 10 apple varieties grown on site. Fermentation is meticulously monitored and filtering takes place several times to create the cleanest, freshest taste possible. In the end, the cider is hand-bottled and capped and then batch pasteurized to ensure stability. Their process makes for a handful of long days but also makes, as they like to say, “Cider worth drinking.” Learn more
Hardscrabble Cider is a micro farm-cidery founded in 2014 in North Salem, NY. The cidery, currently the only one in Westchester, is the brainchild of three nature-loving brothers with firm horticultural backgrounds – Alex, Kevin and Ben Covino of Brewster, NY. Farmers, scientists and businessmen all around, the brothers found inspiration in the words of local hero, Theodore Roosevelt, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”; and (Mother Nature willing) apples
Head up to the Great Western Catskills in Delaware County for the 6th Annual Bovina Open Barn & Studio Tour. Meet the local artists, makers and farmers who make Bovina the perfect environment for creation and collaboration. Visit cometobovina.com to learn about the participating studios and farms, schedules and more. Video courtesy of Mark Foster of Foster Built Coffee. For more information on where to stay, eat and play while in the region, visit //www.greatwesterncatskills.com.
Head up to the Great Western Catskills in Delaware County for the 6th Annual Bovina Open Barn & Studio Tour. Meet the local artists, makers and farmers who make Bovina the perfect environment for creation and collaboration. Visit cometobovina.com to learn about the participating studios and farms, schedules and more. Video courtesy of Mark Foster of Foster Built Coffee. For more information on where to stay, eat and play while in the region, visit //www.greatwesterncatskills.com.
