At last, the holiday season is upon us! We’ve composted our farm-picked pumpkins and gourds, cleared off our Thanksgiving tables, and now it’s time to start checking off that December bucket list. First up, picking out and cutting down your very own Christmas tree! It’s not as daunting as it may seem – New York state is filled with Christmas tree farms within a couple hours from the city. Grab some hot cocoa, jump in the car, crank up your favorite holiday tunes and make a day out of it! See below for a list of farms just a hop, skip and a jump from NYC. POSSIBLE TREE SHORTAGE: Please visit the individual websites and/or call ahead for farm hours, tree availability, and tree-cutting regulations. DUTCHESS COUNTY Battenfield’s Christmas Tree Farm 856 Rte 199, Red Hook, NY 845-758-8018 Primrose Hill Farm 203 Fiddlers Bridge Rd, Staatsburg, NY 845-889-4725 Saltsman Tree Farm 214 Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 845-876-8801 WESTCHESTER COUNTY Stuart’s Fruit Farm 62 Granite Springs Rd, Granite Springs, NY 914-245-2784 LONG ISLAND Dart’s Christmas Tree Farm 2355 Main Bayview Rd, Southold, Long Island, NY 631-765-4148 Elmwood Pumpkin and Christmas Tree Farm 1500 E Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, NY 631-368-8626 Lewin Farms 812 Sound Ave, Calverton, NY 631-929-4327 Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm 30105 Main Street, Cutchogue, NY 631-734-8641
At last, the holiday season is upon us! We’ve composted our farm-picked pumpkins and gourds, cleared off our Thanksgiving tables, and now it’s time to start checking off that December bucket list. First up, picking out and cutting down your very own Christmas tree! It’s not as daunting as it may seem – New York state is filled with Christmas tree farms within a couple hours from the city. Grab some hot cocoa, jump in
Though your Labor Day Weekend plans may look a little different (and more distant!) than normal, there are still endless ways to escape for the weekend and explore the amazing treasures just outside New York City. From cozy B&Bs to sunflower picking to hiking and biking and craft beer tasting, mark the end of summer with an agritourism experience fit for everyone! Need some inspiration? Look no further. Visit Saugerties, NY! A quaint mill town, Saugerties is home to farms and wineries open for outdoor fun, tastings and pick-your-own-fruit. Stay for the weekend at the Diamond Mills Hotel and Tavern. Be it a romantic country getaway or family fun vacation, the hotel offers clean and elegant accommodations that everyone will love. Only 2 hours from NYC, south of the Catskill Mountains, this historic site overlooks the Esopus Creek where it meets the Hudson River. Within a short walk, you can rent kayaks, hike the gorgeous Falling Waters Preserve, go fishing or swimming. Call to reserve your stay. Explore Hudson, NY! Plan a weekend getaway to Hudson, NY and cozy up at The Barlow Hotel! Blending historic charm and modern touches, The Barlow reflects Hudson’s unique personality of funky charm and creative design. Located in the center of Hudson’s main thoroughfare, the hotel is just a short walk to everything there is to do, see and taste. Book direct at The Barlow website for best rates and availability! Visit a farm in Central New Jersey. Located within 1 hour of NYC, and steeped in agricultural history, Central New Jersey is known for its farms, canals, farm fresh food, wine and pastoral beauty. The area is filled with family farms, orchards, farm stores, delicious farm-to-table restaurants, and outstanding wine, cider and spirits makers. Escape for the weekend and explore them all! Check
Though your Labor Day Weekend plans may look a little different (and more distant!) than normal, there are still endless ways to escape for the weekend and explore the amazing treasures just outside New York City. From cozy B&Bs to sunflower picking to hiking and biking and craft beer tasting, mark the end of summer with an agritourism experience fit for everyone! Need some inspiration? Look no further. Visit Saugerties, NY! A quaint mill town,
This past spring, the US Department of Agriculture released results from the 2017 Farm Census, which is taken every five years. For the first time, the survey allowed farming families to list more than one “principal” farmer. Couples who own farms no longer must designate one person—usually a husband—as the principal farmer. As a result, women as a percent of farmers has risen by 26% nationwide and by 36% in New Jersey. Some of this increase may be real—more women involved in farming than in 2012. But most of it is surely due to the methodology change, which finally gives women credit for their work in agriculture. You can support and celebrate these innovative, hard working, resilient women by visiting their Central New Jersey farms, farm markets, farm stands or dining in farm-to-table restaurants or farm-to-fork events where their foods are sourced. Nina White, Farmer & Master Baker at Bobolink Dairy Farm & Bakehouse operates her multi-faceted regenerative farm along with her husband Jonathan. Nina heads the wood-fired bakery, while working with Jonathan to run their cheese, beef, and whey-fed pork production. In addition to making bread and pastries with heirloom grains in a wood-fired oven and selling all of their products at farmer’s markets in the NYC metro area, they offer 1-hour farm tours, on farm special events and concerts, hands-on bread-making, cheese-making and charcuterie classes. Check out the rest of the Central New Jersey women who tirelessly work to put food on our table. Download the NEW agritourism map over at DiscoverCentralNJ.com and start planning your farm escape! And if you’re car-less, many of these farms are just a quick cab ride away from the nearest bus or train stop via NJ Transit or Transbridge Bus (New Brunswick, Frenchtown, Somerville, Princeton) with service from NYC.
This past spring, the US Department of Agriculture released results from the 2017 Farm Census, which is taken every five years. For the first time, the survey allowed farming families to list more than one “principal” farmer. Couples who own farms no longer must designate one person—usually a husband—as the principal farmer. As a result, women as a percent of farmers has risen by 26% nationwide and by 36% in New Jersey. Some of this
Duke Farms is a leader in environmental stewardship and inspires visitors to become informed stewards of the land. It is a place of education, enjoyment and research that enhances the environmental health of the region. Through the beauty of its natural setting, the diversity of its wildlife, and the scope and quality of its educational programs, demonstrations and research, Duke Farms inspires people to transform their approach to conservation and to start building a more sustainable future. James Buchanan (J.B.) Duke transformed more than 2,000 acres of farmland and woodlots into an extraordinary landscape known as Duke Farms. Consisting of nine manmade lakes, over 18 miles of roads, over 45 buildings and a bucolic landscape, Duke Farms is a testament to J.B.’s ingenuity, resourcefulness and determination. After J.B.’s death in 1925, his fortune was inherited by his daughter, Doris Duke. Doris Duke was an environmentalist long before it was fashionable. She demonstrated an especially keen interest in conservation and horticulture. In her will, she envisioned that Duke Farms should serve to protect wildlife as well as be used for agriculture, horticulture and research. Inspired by Doris Duke’s guidance, Duke Farms opened to public visitation in May 2012, with a mission to be a leader in environmental stewardship and to inspire visitors to become informed stewards of the land. A visit to Duke Farms is an opportunity to experience Central New Jersey's native landscape at its finest, and to engage with it however you’d like. Located in Hillsborough on a 2,740-acre property, where over 1,000 acres are open to the public for self-discovery, outdoor activities, and education and research related to ecological sustainability. Check out their upcoming events here. Make a weekend getaway out of it and take advantage of all that Central NJ has to offer! Lodging details here.
Duke Farms is a leader in environmental stewardship and inspires visitors to become informed stewards of the land. It is a place of education, enjoyment and research that enhances the environmental health of the region. Through the beauty of its natural setting, the diversity of its wildlife, and the scope and quality of its educational programs, demonstrations and research, Duke Farms inspires people to transform their approach to conservation and to start building a more
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
