Tourism is a multibillion-dollar industry in the Hudson Valley — and agritourism is a big piece of that pie.
There was a time when “coming up to the country” was a novelty for big-city residents.
Barely a decade ago, the idea of heading to the Hudson Valley and visiting a working farm meant nothing more than spending a couple of hours picking apples for folks more attuned to picking out an open parking space.
That was then.
This is now, where tourists come for days at a time — weeks, even — to settle into a culture where they can pick apples high off a tree, or bend down to scoop up strawberries. Where they can bottle maple syrup, and pick and cut their own Christmas tree. Where they can make candles, and buy specialty cheeses. Where they can listen to live music while tasting wine, or buy a gourmet hot dog at a food truck. Where they can pick pumpkins while their kids navigate a corn maze — or where they become kids at heart and wander the maze themselves.
