Are you stuck in a vacation rut? Doing the same kinds of things season after season and year after year in an effort to relax? The next time you request time off work, consider breaking the mold. Instead of booking a hotel on the beach or a condo in the city, head to the Catskills for an authentic New York farm stay.
Farm stays are a great way to reconnect with nature, your loved ones, and even yourself! There are a surprising number of farm stays near NYC, many of which incorporate farm-to-table cuisine and animal encounters. Enjoy farm life from the sidelines, or try something new and jump into a hands-on experience. The peaceful scenery, the simple way of life, and the innocent joy brought forth by animals will leave you feeling far more refreshed than your average spa. Live, eat, and breathe clean for a few days with a Catskills farm stay.
Farm Stays Near NYC
Honey Hollow Farm Stay
The northern reaches of the Catskills provide a wide range of farm stay styles. Honey Hollow Farm Stay is a cozy two-bedroom barn apartment fully equipped with a modern kitchen, living room, and full bath. Add to the ambiance by lighting a fire in the wood-burning stove or, on a warm night, take advantage of the outdoor fire pit.
Elf Farm Guest House
Armstrong’s Elk Farm Guest House provides a rustic stay with an eclectic flair. A traditional bed and breakfast, the cabin has two bedrooms and a shared bath. Cook your own meals, or request the culinary expertise of the host. As you lounge and relax inside or on the grounds, keep an eye out for the elk herd grazing on the pristine 100 acres of pasture.
Hull-O Farms
Get a taste for true farm life at Hull-O Farms in Durham. After a good night’s sleep in one of their three comfortable guest homes, get your hands dirty in the morning milking cows, collecting eggs, and feeding the farm animals. Whether you choose to take part in the work or not, gather together at the end of the day for campfires and hayrides.
Dancing Horse Farm
Take your vacation up to a gallop at Dancing Horse Farm, a working horse farm with 360-degree mountain views. Two complimentary horse workshops are included with all stays in their huge, nine-bedroom lodge. Enjoy horseback riding and learning how to care for a horse at this unique farm stay.
Stony Creek Farmstead
This region of the Catskills is a great destination for those looking to spend a night away from the city. Located just two and a half hours outside of NYC, Stony Creek Farmstead is nestled deep in the Catskills, surrounded by rolling pastures, old barns, and grazing cattle. Take a winding country road to get there and then take a deep, fresh breath of relief. Unplug by staying in one of their rustic but luxurious platform tents. Harvest your own dinner, take a swim in the pond, or help out on the farm to experience a life unlike your own.
Stone & Thistle Farm
For a change of pace, enjoy life in the slow lane at Stone and Thistle Farm. Relax in the first-floor suite of their 1863 Greek Revival farmhouse or keep things simple with their Farmhand Cabin. Take a tour of the working farm and lend a hand for an hour or so to get the true farm vacation experience. While you stay, be sure to take advantage of the farm’s grass-fed meats and other farm-to-table items, all available in their small farm store.
Brigham Place
Have some one-of-a-kind fun at the funkiest farm stays in the Hudson Valley – Brigham Place. Located on an organic bison farm and featuring 250 feet of waterfront right out the back door, the quirky cottage fits four to six with two bedrooms, two baths, and a fully furnished kitchen.
Brookfield Farm B&B
Trade bison for Scottish Highland cattle (shaggy cows with long horns) at Brookfield Farm B&B. Their 20 acres contain grazing pastures, gardens, a pool, walking trails, and beautiful views, as well as three guest suites where you can find relaxation and rejuvenation. Your comfort is a top priority, so lounge around as much as you please in the morning – a picnic breakfast will be delivered directly to your suite!
The Homestead at Catskill Animal Sanctuary
For a twist on the classic farm stay vacation, consider The Homestead at Catskill Animal Sanctuary. They provide an oasis for you and rescued farm animals on 110 acres in Saugerties. Open year-round, their 1800’s guest house is a cozy place to gather with like-minded people. Lounge by the fireplace, start your day with a vegan breakfast, and bring along your own four-legged friend. A vacation with a cause, travelers must be a member in order to reserve a room.
Bethel Pastures Farm B&B
Vacation on a 52-acre organic farm where great hospitality, delicious farm-fresh breakfasts, and beautiful views can be enjoyed all year round. A popular Upstate New York farm to visit, Bethel Pastures Farm Bed & Breakfast features a former turn-of-the-century boarding house and several cozy cabins. Perfect for families, friendly farm animals will be happy to greet you, and you can lend a helping hand by collecting eggs or feeding the chickens and sheep.
White House
You can also ease into the farm stay experience with a trip to White House in Claryville. Set on the same grounds as a small organic farm, the house is part of a much larger estate. Its rustic scene includes old barns, a section of the Neversink River, and a small swimming hole. While access to the farm itself is limited, you can still enjoy views of the farm’s picturesque vegetable gardens, flower fields, and roaming chickens from afar.
Plan Your Trip
Farm stays in the Catskills give you the unique opportunity to relax and decompress while also experiencing an entirely new way of life. Use it as your own retreat, or introduce your family to something new. Embrace the slower pace, reconnect with nature, and find solace in the purity of New York farm life. Just a few hours from New York City, a Catskills farm stay will be a vacation unlike any other, and you’ll make one-of-a-kind memories to last a lifetime. Before you book your next vacation, explore these unique Catskill lodgings – we look forward to seeing you on the farm!
