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
Select your own Dutchess farm fresh stops via our hop on/off looper shuttles! The shuttle will run on both days so you can plan your own day trip or weekend itinerary! Take in the blossoms and warm breeze of early June while visiting the charming Village of Millerton. Explore McEnroe Organic Farm, its garden and cider bar; sample award-winning wines at Millbrook Vineyards or Cascade Mountain Winery; tap into sweet samples and learn about maple syrup-making at Soukup Farms or Crown Maple Estate; or sign up for an animal sanctuary tour at Lucky Orphan’s Horse Rescue. Stay overnight! Weekend lodging packages at Amenia House, Blue Barn B&B and the Inn at Pine Plains are bookable through the EscapeMaker.com website and based on availability. Reserve at EscapeMaker.com/FarmFreshTours then BUY IT! Adults, $55.75; Seniors, $48; Kids 5-11, $17; Kids under 5, $17. Available at ticket kiosks and full-service ticket vending machines. Tours, riding and tastings will be available at an additional cost. GET THERE! Take the Harlem Line to Wassaic Station where the shuttle buses will meet the trains arriving at 9:52 a.m. and 11:52 a.m.
Select your own Dutchess farm fresh stops via our hop on/off looper shuttles! The shuttle will run on both days so you can plan your own day trip or weekend itinerary! Take in the blossoms and warm breeze of early June while visiting the charming Village of Millerton. Explore McEnroe Organic Farm, its garden and cider bar; sample award-winning wines at Millbrook Vineyards or Cascade Mountain Winery; tap into sweet samples and learn about maple
Select your own Dutchess farm fresh stops via our hop on/off looper shuttles! The shuttle will run on both days so you can plan your own day trip or weekend itinerary! Take in the blossoms and warm breeze of early June while visiting the charming Village of Millerton. Explore McEnroe Organic Farm, its garden and cider bar; sample award-winning wines at Millbrook Vineyards or Cascade Mountain Winery; tap into sweet samples and learn about maple syrup-making at Soukup Farms or Crown Maple Estate; or sign up for an animal sanctuary tour at Lucky Orphan’s Horse Rescue. Stay overnight! Weekend lodging packages at Amenia House, Blue Barn B&B and the Inn at Pine Plains are bookable through the EscapeMaker.com website and based on availability. Reserve at EscapeMaker.com/FarmFreshTours then BUY IT! Adults, $55.75; Seniors, $48; Kids 5-11, $17; Kids under 5, $17. Available at ticket kiosks and full-service ticket vending machines. Tours, riding and tastings will be available at an additional cost. GET THERE! Take the Harlem Line to Wassaic Station where the shuttle buses will meet the trains arriving at 9:52 a.m. and 11:52 a.m.
Select your own Dutchess farm fresh stops via our hop on/off looper shuttles! The shuttle will run on both days so you can plan your own day trip or weekend itinerary! Take in the blossoms and warm breeze of early June while visiting the charming Village of Millerton. Explore McEnroe Organic Farm, its garden and cider bar; sample award-winning wines at Millbrook Vineyards or Cascade Mountain Winery; tap into sweet samples and learn about maple
For those of you who weren't able to make it to Union Square Greenmarket for EscapeMaker's 2nd annual Maple Fest, you were missed! But for those of you were were able to attend and returned home with gallons and gallons of local maple syrup, you might be wondering...what to do with all this sweet, sticky goodness? Although the New York Maple Weekends are over, there are a few festivals still going on in Vermont (check the event calendar) and a few of them in or near towns off Amtrak's Vermonter, like the 51st Annual Maple Festival in St. Albans! And even if Maple Weekends are coming to a close in and around New York, the liquid gold is still flowing! We've got a few ideas for what to do with it: Maple Glazed Carrots: In a large skillet, combine 3 lbs sliced carrots, ¼ cup maple syrup, 2 tbsp butter, ½ cup water, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Boil, then reduce heat and simmer 12-15 minutes.(Crown Maple) Maple Stout Float: Divide 1 pint maple ice cream into 4 pint glasses. Pour beer (24 oz stout divided) slowly into each glass until full. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of maple syrup in each glass. Grab spoons and enjoy! (Vermont Maple) Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette: Place ½ cup balsamic vinegar, ¼ cup maple syrup, 2 tsp Dijon mustard, salt and pepper (to taste) into a blender. Pulse to combine, then add 1 cup olive oil in a steady stream with the motor running. (Crown Maple) Banana-Nut Pancakes: Combine dry ingredients (1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup whole wheat flour, 2 1/2 t baking powder, 1/2 t baking soda, 1/2 t salt, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans) in a large bowl and toss to mix. In a separate bowl, beat 2 eggs until frothy, then whisk
For those of you who weren’t able to make it to Union Square Greenmarket for EscapeMaker’s 2nd annual Maple Fest, you were missed! But for those of you were were able to attend and returned home with gallons and gallons of local maple syrup, you might be wondering…what to do with all this sweet, sticky goodness? Although the New York Maple Weekends are over, there are a few festivals still going on in Vermont (check
It's maple season, Escapemakers! When cold wintry days start to transform into spring, northeasterners know that this short and sweet (yes, pun intended) season is upon us. This rings especially true for the state of Vermont. Vermont maple syrup -- rich in flavor, rich in heritage -- is a signature agricultural product in the Green Mountain State. The sugar makers of Vermont care deeply for the high quality maple syrup products they create, building relationships with their communities and their customers. Vermont maple syrup is so much more than a topping for pancakes. Its unique flavor is unparalleled and allows it to be used in baked goods, savory foods, and many different cuisines. And it's as a healthy a sweetener as you could hope for, easily surpassing cane sugar, corn syrup, or honey in its level of macronutrients and antioxidants! Get up to Vermont via Amtrak this spring to experience the sugaring season for yourself!
It’s maple season, Escapemakers! When cold wintry days start to transform into spring, northeasterners know that this short and sweet (yes, pun intended) season is upon us. This rings especially true for the state of Vermont. Vermont maple syrup — rich in flavor, rich in heritage — is a signature agricultural product in the Green Mountain State. The sugar makers of Vermont care deeply for the high quality maple syrup products they create, building relationships
DID YOU KNOW over half of the country’s maple syrup comes from Vermont and New York State? Celebrate the maple sugaring season this March at a Maple Weekend, Open House or festival near you via Amtrak, Metro-North, Zipcar or bus! Hudson Valley, New York: Crown Maple at Madava Farm Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.crownmaple.com White Oak Farm + Hilltop Hanover Farm Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.whiteoakfarm1.com Soukup Farms Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.soukupfarms.com Finger Lakes, New York: Wellspring Forest Farm & School Maple Weekend: 3/18-3/19 www.wellspringforestfarm.com Catskills, New York: Roxbury Mountain Maple Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.roxburymountainmaple.com Vermont: Smugglers’ Notch Resort MapleFest: 3/18 – 4/2 www.smuggs.com/maple Woodstock Village Green Maple Madness: 3/25 – 3/26 www.woodstockvt.com/upcoming-events St. Albans, VT Vermont Maple Festival: 4/28-4/30 www.vtmaplefestival.org Town of Poultney MapleFest Craft Fair: 3/25-3/26 www.poultneyvt.com Sugarhouses Statewide Maple Open House: 3/25-3/26 www.vermontmaple.org/openhouse
DID YOU KNOW over half of the country’s maple syrup comes from Vermont and New York State? Celebrate the maple sugaring season this March at a Maple Weekend, Open House or festival near you via Amtrak, Metro-North, Zipcar or bus! Hudson Valley, New York: Crown Maple at Madava Farm Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.crownmaple.com White Oak Farm + Hilltop Hanover Farm Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.whiteoakfarm1.com Soukup Farms Maple Weekends:
Dear EscapeMakers — Got a sweet tooth? BYOW (Bring your own waffles)! Join us for our first event of the season, Maple Fest, at the GrowNYC Union Square Greenmarket on Friday, March 17th from 10am to 4pm. This event is FREE for all ages! Stop by for free samples, live music, maple samples, maple flavored products and more! Sample maple syrup, maple-infused coffee, maple candies, maple yogurt, maple lollipops, and witness maple tree tapping demos from maple producers like Deep Mountain Maple Roxbury Mountain Maple, Consider Bardwell Farm, Ronnybrook Farm Dairy, Soukup Farms and more! Plus, pick up free info from our local travel getaway partner agritourism destinations like Sullivan Catskills, Amtrak, Vermont Tourism, Westchester County Tourism, NY, Dutchess Tourism, Inc., Ithaca & Tompkins County Tourism, and more! Additional GrowNYC Greenmarket farmers and producers sampling to be announced! Check back for updates in the coming weeks. Find more details here!
Dear EscapeMakers — Got a sweet tooth? BYOW (Bring your own waffles)! Join us for our first event of the season, Maple Fest, at the GrowNYC Union Square Greenmarket on Friday, March 17th from 10am to 4pm. This event is FREE for all ages! Stop by for free samples, live music, maple samples, maple flavored products and more! Sample maple syrup, maple-infused coffee, maple candies, maple yogurt, maple lollipops, and witness maple tree tapping demos
Shoppers at GrowNYC’s Union Square Greenmarket will be greeted with a special treat on March 17th, 2017 when EscapeMaker.com, New York’s guide to local getaways and farm escapes, hosts its second annual Maple Fest. The event will run from 10am – 4pm on the north side of the square and will feature maple product samples, dancing maple trees, competing pancakes and more. Attendees will get to taste maple yogurt, maple candy, icy local treat “sugar on snow,” and compare a variety of syrups at a maple tasting bar. The event kicks off the 2017 series of agritourism-themed events designed to promote Greenmarket farmers, producers and winemakers within a day’s drive or train ride of New York City. EscapeMaker will be on hand with general agritourism info on how to visit farms, farm stores, breweries and wineries whether by car, bus, ZipCar, Metro-North Railroad or by Amtrak. Beginning at 10am, market-goers can listen to live music, watch maple-inspired cooking demos, and enjoy free samples of a variety of local maple products from New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. There will also be an opportunity to learn about agritourism getaways through literature and conversations with the representatives from a number of tourism regions. Attendees can find information about Maple Weekends via Amtrak in Vermont, craft beverage trails in the Finger Lakes, charming bed & breakfast stays in the Hudson Valley, Farm Fresh Tours via Metro-North Railroad in Dutchess County, and more. “We’re thrilled to be back for our second year of special agritourism-themed events with GrowNYC,” said Caylin Sanders, President and Founder of EscapeMaker.com since 2000. “Our 2016 events were a huge success in terms of interacting with Greenmarket shoppers, providing agritourism education and inspiring local getaways and vacation packages. We look forward to building upon that enhanced shopping experience – beginning with
Shoppers at GrowNYC’s Union Square Greenmarket will be greeted with a special treat on March 17th, 2017 when EscapeMaker.com, New York’s guide to local getaways and farm escapes, hosts its second annual Maple Fest. The event will run from 10am – 4pm on the north side of the square and will feature maple product samples, dancing maple trees, competing pancakes and more. Attendees will get to taste maple yogurt, maple candy, icy local treat “sugar
It's the sweetest time of the year, EscapeMakers! Every spring for a few short weeks, maple sugarmakers across the Northeast open the doors of their sugarhouses for maple weekends, inviting visitors to discover the sweet flavors and traditions involved in making maple syrup. Between Vermont and New York State, more than half of the country's maple syrup production takes place just a train ride away from NYC via Metro North Railroad or Amtrak! And with the days getting warmer, now is the time to start planning for your escapes to the long list of sugarhouses within reach. Vermont is the nation’s leading producer of maple syrup. Producing over 1.3 million gallons of syrup, Vermont generates 42% of the country’s maple syrup from more than 1,500 sugar houses statewide. In 2014, Vermont produced 1,230,000 gallons of the sweet, sticky goodness. Vermont Maple Open House Weekend takes place this year on March 25-26. The sites and activities at the many sugarhouses in the region range from tours to pancake breakfasts to maple tapping demonstrations to samples of maple syrup, candy, creams and more. Check out some hot spots like Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm, Corse Maple Farm, or Green Mountain Sugar House...or get the full list of all participating Vermont sugarhouses here and plan your maple weekend escape! New York is second leader in maple production in the USA, following Vermont. In 2014, New York produced 546,000 gallons of maple syrup, which makes up over 17% of the entire country's supply. With locations at approximately 160 farms and museums, Maple Weekend across New York State takes place March 18-19 and March 25-26. Visitors will find sugarhouse tours, free samples, activities and so much more! Check out Roxbury Mountain Maple in the Catskills (Sullivan County), or the Hudson Valley's White Oak Farm (Westchester County),
It’s the sweetest time of the year, EscapeMakers! Every spring for a few short weeks, maple sugarmakers across the Northeast open the doors of their sugarhouses for maple weekends, inviting visitors to discover the sweet flavors and traditions involved in making maple syrup. Between Vermont and New York State, more than half of the country’s maple syrup production takes place just a train ride away from NYC via Metro North Railroad or Amtrak! And with
The winter blues have officially set in and we're all looking for a little something to look forward to. What better time to get away for some R&R than Valentine's Day? Whether it's a trip with your honey or a getaway with your besties, we could all benefit from a little cozy weekend escape come February. Or -- better yet -- give the gift of a weekend getaway this year! Mom, Dad, sister, boyfriend, wife...a Northeast escape is the perfect gift for ALL of your loved ones this February 14. Purchase one of EscapeMaker's vacation packages via Amtrak or Metro North Railroad and present it as a gift on the big day. Or, allow us to offer some inspiration on cozy bed & breakfasts, sexy local restaurants and romantic outings within a few hours of NYC for you independent travel planners out there. Venture out to Dutchess County in the gorgeous Hudson Valley. There are so many things to do and see, you'll have to come back again and again. Check out some date ideas that won't break the bank; get your cibo e vino fix in Mount Carmel, Poughkeepsie's own "Little Italy"; wander around the historic & eclectic village of Millerton's antique shops, glass-blowing studios, retro milkshake counters and more. Or, if you're looking to hang onto that sweet New York apple goodness throughout the winter, hit one (or several!) of the amazing Hudson Valley cider and apple spirit makers! There's also a statewide map of cider opportunities offered by the New York Apple Association, if you decide to venture further from New York City! Sticking inside the magical Hudson Valley, go get your cultural buzz on in Westchester County -- the Hudson River Museum, the Neuberger Museum of Art, and the Katonah Museum of Art offer special exhibits
The winter blues have officially set in and we’re all looking for a little something to look forward to. What better time to get away for some R&R than Valentine’s Day? Whether it’s a trip with your honey or a getaway with your besties, we could all benefit from a little cozy weekend escape come February. Or — better yet — give the gift of a weekend getaway this year! Mom, Dad, sister, boyfriend, wife…a
