Above photo: visitithaca.com We're cold, we're cooped up, we're worn out....who else needs a change of scenery this winter? Clear your head, reset your relationships, escape the noise, and breathe in some fresh air! Surprise your loved ones with a romantic (and socially distanced) escape for Valentine's Day and reenergize in the beautiful, snowy outdoors. Need a couple ideas? Look no further. Embark on a craft beverage journey through the Sullivan Catskills! Travel through the countryside on the Good Taste Artisanal Beverage Trail and sample the distinct flavors of the region's brewmasters, distillers, vintners, and cider makers. Try a Callicoon Brown Cow Porter at the Callicoon Brewery or Devil’s Path IPA from Catskill Brewery. How about organic Sparkling Rambling Rose from Bashakill Vineyards? Prefer a Gin & Tonic? The Catskill Distilling Company in Bethel features Curious Gin. And Rock Valley Spirits infuses its Vodka with wild, hand picked berries! This delicious craft beverage trail is your oyster. Remember to drink responsibly and designate a driver. Treat your special someone to this Valentine's Day with a surprise romantic getaway at Diamond Mills in the historic village of Saugerties, NY. Nestled between the mighty Hudson River and the majestic Catskill Mountains, Diamond Mills offers a hotel and culinary celebratory experience like no other in the region. Guests who visit Diamond Mills are welcome to enjoy some of the many activities the region has to offer this time of year, including hiking, farm and wine touring, antiquing, waterfalls, skiing, and more. Package includes a two night (Saturday & Sunday) weekend stay at the Hotel and dinner for two in the Tavern on Sunday, February 14, 2021. Go birdwatching in Central New Jersey! New Jersey’s bald eagles produced a record 307 offspring in 2020, a remarkable 23% increase over the prior year. Even more impressive
Above photo: visitithaca.com We’re cold, we’re cooped up, we’re worn out….who else needs a change of scenery this winter? Clear your head, reset your relationships, escape the noise, and breathe in some fresh air! Surprise your loved ones with a romantic (and socially distanced) escape for Valentine’s Day and reenergize in the beautiful, snowy outdoors. Need a couple ideas? Look no further. Embark on a craft beverage journey through the Sullivan Catskills! Travel through the countryside
The holiday season has arrived and it's time for giving, joy and festivities! There are tons of festivals and celebrations taking place just outside NYC this season. Spend a little extra quality time with your loved ones this year sipping cider and spirits, participating in icy competitions, shopping for local gifts, and more! Check out some of the featured events coming up in December and have yourself a merry little weekend getaway. Taste fresh Wassail and learn how to create this festive holiday beverage that warms your home and soul at Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard's Wassailing Weekends. The Central New York celebrations will take place from 10am - 4pm most weekends in December (Dec. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, & 23) leading up to Christmas! More on lodging here. No car? Grab an Amtrak up to Schenectady, NY and rent a car for a gorgeous 1.5 hour drive to the Mill. Or, book a ReachNOW and enjoy a road trip with family and friends! Ithaca Ice Festival returns to the Ithaca Commons, December 7-9, 2017! Ice Fest is an annual tradition in Downtown Ithaca! What holiday season would be complete without a celebration of cold weather and cold weather sports...like ice carving. Witness the nation’s finest ice carvers as they compete during a breathtaking competition in Downtown Ithaca. The festival features impressive display sculptures, fire demonstrations, and the ever-popular Ice Bar: an outdoor bar made entirely of ice, serving beer, wine, and hot cocoa, and a tasty Chowder Cook-off. Road trip upstate via ReachNOW or book a seat on Amtrak to Syracuse, rent a car and meander around the gorgeous Finger Lakes! Spend the weekend exploring the chilly and festive outdoors in Ithaca, lodging info here. Spend a festive holiday weekend in Dutchess County in the Hudson Valley, just a couple hours outside NYC.
The holiday season has arrived and it’s time for giving, joy and festivities! There are tons of festivals and celebrations taking place just outside NYC this season. Spend a little extra quality time with your loved ones this year sipping cider and spirits, participating in icy competitions, shopping for local gifts, and more! Check out some of the featured events coming up in December and have yourself a merry little weekend getaway. Taste fresh Wassail
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.
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
When January 1st arrives, we often make resolutions to focus on health in our lives. But just because you're eating cleaner, and looking to be more active and increase wellness, that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your cravings for travel and adventure! With so many spas, wellness centers, and active winter sports just a short drive or train ride from NYC, you can still plan your weekend escape while staying true to those resolutions. So for all of you looking for healthy and adventurous escapes, check out our weekend getaway inspiration below: Spas & Wellness in the Hudson Valley: The Hudson Valley is dotted with peaceful spas, wellness and healing centers where you can go to relax and unwind. Grab a quick Amtrak to Rhinecliff (+ quick cab)to visit the IZLIND Integrative Wellness Center & Institute, complete with tailored experiences for groups and individuals looking to increase wellness, whether that be via acupuncture, Chinese herbal therapy, massage, meditation, life coaching, tai chi and more. Or, plan a wellness retreat with yourself, your friends, your family, or your colleagues to Rhinebeck's Linwood Spiritual Center. Overlooking the Hudson River, Linwood's programs feature silent, guided workshops, spiritual direction and exercises, yoga, arts programs and more. Hop off at the Poughkeepsie stop via Metro North Railroad and make a spa crawl out of the many day, massage and facial spas like Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa or Oasis Medi-Spa. Want to learn more? Click here for a list of spas and wellness centers in Dutchess County. Outdoor Sports in Westchester: If you're looking to stay close for a 1 night or weekend getaways, Westchester, just a short Metro North Railroad ride away from Grand Central Station, is a great escape for some winter sports. Whether you prefer challenging cross county skiing trails through wooded areas, scenic outdoor ice
When January 1st arrives, we often make resolutions to focus on health in our lives. But just because you’re eating cleaner, and looking to be more active and increase wellness, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your cravings for travel and adventure! With so many spas, wellness centers, and active winter sports just a short drive or train ride from NYC, you can still plan your weekend escape while staying true to those resolutions. So for
The weather is changing and the scarves and mittens have come out of hibernation. So when it’s too cold to frolic through orchards or hike through the hills and valleys, where should our much needed winter weekend getaways be spent? We’ve got lots of great ideas for fun and cozy trips that will keep you out of the cold! Hudson Valley Culinary Crawl: The Hudson Valley is known for its abundance of delicious food. Whether we're talking fine dining, casual brew pubs, road-side bbq, farm fresh shops and restaurants, retro diners, cozy coffee shops, etc., dining in Dutchess county offers an unlimited road map for delicious eats. Specifically looking to crawl your way across the local joints supporting the local farmers and producers? Hop from Farm Fresh place to place for some warm, home-cooked goodness this winter! Catskills Artistanal Beverage Trail: The Catskills are a perfect mountain retreat when the snow is falling and the temperatures are down. Cozy up in an inn or cabin by the fire and keep your activities indoors via the Artisanal Beverage Trail of Sullivan Catskills. Most locations -- distilleries, breweries, wineries, etc. -- feature daily tastings and tours, which highlight an educational look into just how these craft beverages are concocted. Finger Lakes Craft Beverage Trail: Winter is a perfect time to travel leisurely along one of the many craft beer trails the Northeast region has to offer. The Finger Lakes Beer Trail, New York State’s Premier Craft Beer Destination, has dozens of tastes and locations for you to check out. Whether you're looking for beers from breweries named New York State's "Best Craft Brewery" for 2014, exciting events like the Heritage Village Craft Beverage Expo, Hot Glass Cool Brew, and the Finger Lakes Beer Festival, or live music, great food, and
The weather is changing and the scarves and mittens have come out of hibernation. So when it’s too cold to frolic through orchards or hike through the hills and valleys, where should our much needed winter weekend getaways be spent? We’ve got lots of great ideas for fun and cozy trips that will keep you out of the cold! Hudson Valley Culinary Crawl: The Hudson Valley is known for its abundance of delicious food.
