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.
It all began in 1998 when Ken and Kimm Schick bought an old dairy farm with over 200 acres in Fultonville, NY. They came from Northwestern NJ, a farming community that was slowly being sold off to developers and built up. They went to upstate NY to escape the noise and traffic that came with this development and get back to the country living and fell in love with this piece of heaven that has since become Hummingbird Hills Winery. They are the first active winery in Montgomery County and are proud to say that all of their wines are produced right at the winery. The fruits used to produce the wine are also grown right on the farm: grapes, elderberries, apples and let’s not forget Dandelion! Hummingbird Hills offers several specialty wines, such as Eldeberry Delight, Lions Tooth Blend, several varieties of apple and many delicious grape wines. They use as little preservative as possible to bring out the natural flavor of the grapes or fruit in the fermenting process. The vineyards do not use chemicals on or around the grape vines. The fields having once been cow pastures were well fertilized and there are some weeds to contend with. Their name Hummingbird Hills comes from their love affair with the hummingbirds and they have many that keep them company at the winery. Their tag line is “Escape from the Normal” and they mean it. Hummingbird Hills Wine is not like most wines you will taste, they have many unique blends and flavors. The atmosphere is very rustic and homey; you will enjoy spending an afternoon among friends pulled up to the bar. Learn more at www.hummingbirdhillswinery.com. VISIT: Visit the winery in Central New York for a weekend getaway! The winery is open Saturday and Sunday from 11am
It all began in 1998 when Ken and Kimm Schick bought an old dairy farm with over 200 acres in Fultonville, NY. They came from Northwestern NJ, a farming community that was slowly being sold off to developers and built up. They went to upstate NY to escape the noise and traffic that came with this development and get back to the country living and fell in love with this piece of heaven that has
Tax season is, at last, behind us...now what to do with that lovely refund? Treat yourself to a little R&R with a weekend getaway. Our craft beverage packages offer scenic views, artisanal eats and endless craft brews, ciders, wines and spirits. With so many amazing regions and places to visit, check out our escapes and pick what works for you! The Hudson Valley Region, located 1-2 hours from New York City by Zipcar, Amtrak or Metro-North Railroad, is known for its trendy restaurants, celebrity chefs and innovative cuisine. Home to a number of cutting-edge culinary educational institutions like Westchester County's Stone Barns Center and the Culinary Institute of America, the area has seen a rise of a new crop of malting houses, breweries and distilleries. Book packages to visit Dutchess County's Rhinebeck, Red Hook or Hudson and get a taste of the local ingredients, artisanal eats and craft brews and bubbles the area has to offer! A few must visit spots: WM Farmer & Sons, The Crimson Sparrow, The Rhinecliff Hotel, and Daughters Fare and Ale. You could also plan a getaway to the Sullivan County Catskill Region, 2-3 hours from NYC by car or by bus, and known for its tranquil beauty, rugged outdoor recreation and craft beverage trails! The area has become seriously popular for outdoor enthusiasts and beer and spirit lovers in search of a new adventure. Check out the Roscoe NY Beer Company and Prohibition Distillery! Book your vaca here. Want to check out the beautiful and bustling Capital of New York State? Book a trip to Albany County, just 3 hours from NYC. The bucolic farms (i.e. Indian Ladder Farms), scenic landscapes (check out the Glen Sanders Mansion) and rolling countryside are the perfect pairing for a warm weekend getaway to sip craft brews from
Tax season is, at last, behind us…now what to do with that lovely refund? Treat yourself to a little R&R with a weekend getaway. Our craft beverage packages offer scenic views, artisanal eats and endless craft brews, ciders, wines and spirits. With so many amazing regions and places to visit, check out our escapes and pick what works for you! The Hudson Valley Region, located 1-2 hours from New York City by Zipcar, Amtrak or
Bovina Valley is a collection of regional, family-run businesses that have come together with a shared heritage and common purpose. Dating back to 1817, the 30 cow Jersey dairy farm, Cowbella, is home to 5th, 6th, and 7th generations of Danforths to have grown up and live on the farm. Shannon Mason grew up as the 6th generation on the Danforth Jersey Farm when it was run by her Grandpa George. After his passing in 2004, the farm called her back from city life to her roots. The Jersey herd she inherited is one of the longest running in the country, and she started Cowbella Creamery on the farm in 2010 to share the amazing qualities of Jersey milk with her neighbors. Love for her children and family drives her, the legacy given to her by her ancestors inspires her, and she is passionate about preserving what her 200 year old dairy and all small dairies give and represent in our world. Dan Finn returned to his roots in the Catskills in 2000 and reconnected with his family’s heritage of award-winning cheesemaking. Largely self-taught, the lure of cheese making was calling out to Dan through that old family history, and the desire to make a small farm viable again in these challenging times. The fond memories of growing up surrounded by Bovina’s once thriving dairy community is a recurring theme in his adult life. His Great Grandfather had a reputation for his White Rose Cheddar cheese making in the early turn of the century and left a legacy of award-winning cheeses. VISIT: Visit the bovine ladies in the Great Western Catskills for a weekend getaway! Open Sunday 9AM - 5PM, or by appointment. PUBLIC TRANSIT: AMTRAK to Hudson Station + car rental for 1 hr 20 minute drive.
Bovina Valley is a collection of regional, family-run businesses that have come together with a shared heritage and common purpose. Dating back to 1817, the 30 cow Jersey dairy farm, Cowbella, is home to 5th, 6th, and 7th generations of Danforths to have grown up and live on the farm. Shannon Mason grew up as the 6th generation on the Danforth Jersey Farm when it was run by her Grandpa George. After his passing in
