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, offerings and closures may vary. We recommend checking out orchards on social media and calling ahead to confirm apple varieties and availability. 1-2 Hrs from NYC: Outhouse Orchards (Salem, NY in the Hudson Valley) Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard (Salem, NY in the Hudson Valley) Stuarts Farm (Granite Springs, NY in the Hudson Valley) Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm (Yorktown Heights, NY in the Hudson Valley) Orchards of Concklin (Pomona, NY in the Hudson Valley) Kelder’s Farm (Kerhonksen, NY in the Hudson Valley) Apple Dave's Orchard (Warwick, NY in the Hudson Valley) Masker Orchards (Warwick, NY in the Hudson Valley) Woodside Orchards (Aquebogue, NY on Long Island) Harbes Family Farm (Riverhead, NY on Long Island) Giamarese Farm & Orchards (East Brunswick, NJ) Terhune Orchards (Princeton, NJ) Melick's Town Farm (Oldwick, NJ) Demarest Farms (Hillsdale, NJ) 2-4 Hrs from NYC: Barton Orchards (Poughquag, NY in the Hudson Valley) Cedar Heights Orchard (Rhinebeck, NY in the Hudson Valley) Golden Harvest Farms (Valatie, NY in the Hudson Valley) Mead Orchards (Tivoli, NY in the Hudson Valley) Montgomery Place Orchards (Red Hook, NY in the Hudson Valley) Rose Hill Farm (Red Hook, NY in the Hudson Valley) Prospect Hill Orchards (Milton, NY in the Hudson Valley) Greig Farm (Red Hook, NY in the Hudson Valley) Twin Star Orchards (New Paltz, NY in the Hudson Valley) Roger's Family Orchard (Johnston, NY
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,
Above photo: Eve's Cidery 2020 has sure been a wild ride. The holiday season is looking a little different this year, as we all know. But long after Small Business Saturday has passed, as we close out the new year and embark upon a new 2021 chapter, we encourage you to continue supporting the small local businesses, farmers, producers, and craft beverage makers who have kept you fed, happy, and well all year long. They need your support! Perfect for last minute gift ideas, holiday meal planning, new year indulging and simply treating yourself, check out some special ways you can support the folks surrounding NYC as we say goodbye to 2020. Catskill Brewery: Support this Sullivan Catskills gem when you snag the seasonal Spiced Winter Ale from Catskill Brewery! This beer is a winter warmer brewed with English malts, co-fermented with a Kviek yeast and house Freak Tractor yeast, and spiced with allspice, clove, star anise, vanilla, and orange peel. Stop by the Brewery before it is gone! Finger Lakes Cider: Pour yourself a glass of the Finger Lakes in person or at home! With 10 craft cideries within a 30 miles radio (the highest density of craft ciderines in NY state), visit Ithaca for the cider goods! All 10 cideries have their products online - check them out here. Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern: Ring in 2021 with a 3-night weekend stay in quaint Saugerties at Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern. Indulge in a festive all-inclusive package including 3 nights in a King Deluxe rooms, dinner for two on New Years Eve with champagne toast, Brunch on New Years Day & a special 3 Course dinner on New Years Day all for just $975! Dogwood Farms: This farm (new location in Liberty Corner) in Central New Jersey, has
Above photo: Eve’s Cidery 2020 has sure been a wild ride. The holiday season is looking a little different this year, as we all know. But long after Small Business Saturday has passed, as we close out the new year and embark upon a new 2021 chapter, we encourage you to continue supporting the small local businesses, farmers, producers, and craft beverage makers who have kept you fed, happy, and well all year long. They
A lot of folks are wondering if New York's annual traditional of picking apples in bucolic orchards among the fiery fall leaves and baked cider donuts is a safe activity for 2020. EscapeMaker founder & CEO Caylin Sanders joined Heritage Radio Network to answer that question. YES! Supporting local farms and farmers is so important right now, so as long as proper precautions (Wear a mask! Wash your hands! Social distance!) are taken, apple picking is officially on for this season. Check out the podcast below for details on these questions and then continue down for a list of apple orchards across New York State. Heritage Radio Network's The Big Food Question: Is it Safe to Go Apple Picking? U-PICK FARMS IN NEW YORK STATE Please note that hours, offerings and closures may vary, so we recommend checking out orchards on social media and calling ahead to confirm availability. 1-2 Hrs from NYC: Outhouse Orchards (Salem, NY in the Hudson Valley) Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard (Salem, NY in the Hudson Valley) Stuarts Farm (Granite Springs, NY in the Hudson Valley) Wilkins Fruit & Fir Farm (Yorktown Heights, NY in the Hudson Valley) Orchards of Concklin (Pomona, NY in the Hudson Valley) Kelder’s Farm (Kerhonksen, NY in the Hudson Valley) Woodside Orchards (Aquebogue, NY in Long Island) 2-4 Hrs from NYC: Barton Orchards (Poughquag, NY in the Hudson Valley) Stone Ridge Orchard (Stone Ridge, NY in the Hudson Valley) Cedar Heights Orchard (Rhinebeck, NY in the Hudson Valley) Mead Orchards (Tivoli, NY in the Hudson Valley) Montgomery Place Orchards (Red Hook, NY in the Hudson Valley) Rose Hill Farm (Red Hook, NY in the Hudson Valley) Prospect Hill Orchards (Milton, NY in the Hudson Valley) Greig Farm (Red Hook, NY in the Hudson Valley) Roger's Family Orchard (Johnston, NY in Central
A lot of folks are wondering if New York’s annual traditional of picking apples in bucolic orchards among the fiery fall leaves and baked cider donuts is a safe activity for 2020. EscapeMaker founder & CEO Caylin Sanders joined Heritage Radio Network to answer that question. YES! Supporting local farms and farmers is so important right now, so as long as proper precautions (Wear a mask! Wash your hands! Social distance!) are taken, apple picking
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
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 is brimming with beer. For decades, craft beverage makers have taken a locally-focused, earth-to-bottle approach in creating award-winning liquid gold. They take advantage of the regional climate, perfect for growing hops. Check out Westchester County gems Broken Bow Brewery, Peekskill Brewery and Yonkers Brewing Co. Take a tour, chat with brewmasters and quench that summer thirst! A few of our faves in Dutchess County are 2 Way Brewing Co., Hudson Valley Brewery, and Hyde Park Brewing Co. Want to enjoy a little history alongside your brew? Book our Dutchess Pints & Political Figures Tour on July 21 or 22 for a trip to some historic homes of famous political figures, all washed down with local brews from Hyde Park Brewing Co. Get up to the Hudson Valley via Metro-North Railroad and stay for the weekend -- lodging options here and here. Drive up to the gorgeous Catskills region in Sullivan County for a brew-filled weekend. Head over to Roscoe, NY - aka Trout Town, USA - for a little fly fishing along with your cold ones. Check out the new 1,600 sq foot store front, self-serve tap wall, tasting bar and lounge at Roscoe Beer Co. Make your own beer trail (with a designated driver, of course) and stop by Catskill Brewery and Callicoon Brewing Co. Make a weekend getaway out of it with one of these gorgeous luxury
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
When Memorial Day comes around each May, the excitement is palpable. Summer is here and our lists of plans and dreams for the warm months ahead bounce from pool parties to vacations to summer Fridays to sandy beaches and BBQs with friends. But the true meaning of the holiday is sometimes buried by the summer season kick-off. This Memorial Day, take some extra time to remember those who have selflessly served their nation, those whose lives have been lost. New York State is rich with the history of soldiers fighting for their country, soldiers fallen, battles won and lost. The monuments, memorials and especially cemeteries tell amazing stories of strength and bravery. While you're spending long summer weekends eating, drinking, relaxing and playing in the Hudson Valley, the Catskills, the Finger Lakes, etc., spend a warm afternoon walking through one of the many cemeteries or memorials open to the public, inviting nature lovers, history buffs and deep thinkers to wander in and explore the past. Check out the list below: Youngs Memorial Cemetery in Long Island, a steep, lush, grassy hill, was the final resting place of Theodore and Edith Roosevelt. At certain times of year, when the grand maples have lost their leaves, you can look out at the glistening waves of Oyster Bay while standing beside T.R.'s grave. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, NY (Hudson Valley Region) was established in 1847 by Washington Irving. In addition to Irving, many other notable figures are buried across the 100 acres in Westchester County, such as William Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Walter Chrysler, and many more. Oakwood Cemetery in Troy, NY (Capital-Saratoga Region) is a place to honor loved ones, contemplate nature, explore art and architecture, and discover the rich history of Upstate New York. Founded in 1848, Oakwood is one
When Memorial Day comes around each May, the excitement is palpable. Summer is here and our lists of plans and dreams for the warm months ahead bounce from pool parties to vacations to summer Fridays to sandy beaches and BBQs with friends. But the true meaning of the holiday is sometimes buried by the summer season kick-off. This Memorial Day, take some extra time to remember those who have selflessly served their nation, those whose
If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that by the time we've endured the long and frigid month of January, we NEED A VACATION! Even if we're still shivering into February across the Northeast, there are so many warm and cozy getaways just a short train ride or road trip away. If you're anything like us, you might agree that Valentine's Day in and around NYC is (ahem) overrated. The crowds, the costs, the Mission Impossible-level reservation making...it certainly doesn't always lay the groundwork for happy-go-lucky-love, am I right? Flip the holiday on its head, and rather than fight the crowds to make mid-week, balloon-covered plans this Valentine's Day, set up an escape later this month or even later this season! A weekend getaway beats an overpriced, overcrowded meal any time of year! We've got big ideas for a snuggly and romantic trip, whether it's with your boo, your fam or your bff! Nothing says cozy, romantic weekend getaway like winery-hopping! Spend a weekend in Ithaca where you can visit the oldest and longest running wine trail in America, the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. You can hop around to over 25 wineries, with tours departing from various locations throughout Ithaca. Make your road trip upstate via ReachNow and meander around the breathtaking Finger Lakes region! Who says you need lots of activities for a weekend getaway? Simply curling up by the fire in a charming B&B, tucked away in a small town is sometimes better than making any plans at all. Plan a romantic escape to Central New York, which is chock full of villages, quaint inns, elegant local restaurants and more. If you haven't already, download the ReachNow app, book your BMW or MINI, and drive up to The Colgate Inn, an overnight favorite in Madison County. Book a romantic
If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that by the time we’ve endured the long and frigid month of January, we NEED A VACATION! Even if we’re still shivering into February across the Northeast, there are so many warm and cozy getaways just a short train ride or road trip away. If you’re anything like us, you might agree that Valentine’s Day in and around NYC is (ahem) overrated. The crowds, the
This time of year, I run into two cooking woes. 1) What to make when I'm too tired and lazy to chop and prep and use every one of my pots and pants, and 2) what's a quick and easy bite to make/bring to one of the many holiday parties popping up on my calendar? This quick, easy, farm-fresh dish is the perfect solution to both! It takes 10 minutes, makes very little mess, and is an absolute crowd-pleaser! Enter: The Pawlet & Honey Crostini. During my Saturday shopping excursion at McCarren Park in Brooklyn for my Honey Roasted Carrots, I picked up a few additional items for my crostini. From Vermont's Consider Bardwell Farm, I perused a variety of delicious cow and goat cheeses. I was specifically searching for something that was soft and easy to melt, so I was directed to the "Meltlet" cheese, which is a version of their Pawlet. It was nutty and mild and perfect for a sweet and savory recipe. I bought 1/4lb ($5). I picked up a fresh baguette ($3) from New Jersey's Baker's Bounty. The outside felt nice and crusty, but the inside was soft and pillowy. The perfect type of bread for a crostini! The honey, which I picked up for my Honey Roasted Carrots last week, came from Nature's Way ($6.25/honeybear). There's something about fresh cheese that brings on an unstoppable craving for wine, am I right? Luckily, Borghese Vineyard was set up just across from the cheese stand, so I made my way over to pick my poison :). They had so many delicious bottles straight from their Long Island vineyard, but I settled on an easy-drinking red wine, the Petit Chateau ($17). Time to head home and assemble my delicious and festive treats! Here's how
This time of year, I run into two cooking woes. 1) What to make when I’m too tired and lazy to chop and prep and use every one of my pots and pants, and 2) what’s a quick and easy bite to make/bring to one of the many holiday parties popping up on my calendar? This quick, easy, farm-fresh dish is the perfect solution to both! It takes 10 minutes, makes very little mess, and
It always feels like there is a very short period after that Thanksgiving feast where you can rest and fill up on detoxifying veggies and wholesome foods in preparation for the onslaught of holiday cookies, cocktail hours, treats, and sweets that descend upon you each December. I try to take advantage of the wintry assortment of vegetables the NYC Greenmarkets have to offer this time of year. My go-to dish is roasted root vegetables. Warm, toasty, juicy, and satisfying, you can mix and match any root veg with an array of spices and flavorings to trick you into thinking you're eating something rich and sinful. I took a walk through Brooklyn's McCarren Park Greenmarket on Saturday and was immediately drawn to the vibrant orange carrots from Garden of Eve Farm. Parked right next door was Nature's Way Farm, with all of its delicious local honeys and honey products. The perfect (and absolute simplest) recipe came to mind: Honey Roasted Carrots. I grabbed a bunch of carrots ($4) and a honey bear jar of honey ($6.25) and I had everything I needed! You won't believe how easy this recipe is... INGREDIENTS: 1 bunch whole carrots, peeled salt & pepper to taste approx. 2 tbsp honey (you may use more or less for desired sweetness) 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 350F. Place washed and peeled whole carrots onto a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, salt & pepper. Toss to coat carrots evenly and spread them out into a single layer. Drizzle the surface of the carrots with honey. Bake until desired tenderness, 40 - 50 minutes. Cooking up these honey-roasted carrots will surely inspire you to get out there and support these amazing farmers who bring you fresh, flavorful carrots, sweet sticky honey, and
It always feels like there is a very short period after that Thanksgiving feast where you can rest and fill up on detoxifying veggies and wholesome foods in preparation for the onslaught of holiday cookies, cocktail hours, treats, and sweets that descend upon you each December. I try to take advantage of the wintry assortment of vegetables the NYC Greenmarkets have to offer this time of year. My go-to dish is roasted root vegetables. Warm,
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.
