Are you looking for a chance to swap your New York City Slicker attire in favor of some overalls and mud boots? Gather the family and head to a nearby farm and experience some fresh air, fresh food, and a chance to work and rest hard. These farms are just a stone’s throw away from the city, and they welcome family visitors, whether they want to help out in the workload or just relax and enjoy country life for just a little while. Read on for our favorite farm stays for families in and around NYC!
Big Picture Farm
This farmhouse isn't meant for single-family stays. Instead, it's a chance to collaborate with other families to form a group and all visit together — stays are reserved for over 16 people at a time. For a fee easily split between a few families, this trip gives you access to the entire house, complete with nine beautiful bedrooms, a yoga room, and a number of rooms with great views out.
The website calls itself "agriturismo-style boutique lodging" — in other words, you'll be getting an upscale, farm-like experience, rather than a gritty down-to-earth one. A perfect option if you have a lot of like-minded friends and want to experience the beauty of nature and fam life without having to make any sacrifices.
$720/night
1600 Peaked Mountain Road
Townshend, VT
Online: bigpicturefarm.com
Stony Creek Farmstead
Go off the grid at this Walton farm, where you stay at intentionally offline canvas tents with comfy wooden floors. Tents are equipped with a stove, bed, small cabinet for belongings and a flushing toilet, so you won't be entirely roughing it.
Mornings begin with cow milking, a fresh-from-the-chicken egg and the option to buy freshly made loaves of bread along with local goodies like cheese. Certain days have scheduled events, like morning tours and brick oven pizza nights. Staying here requires a minimum of two nights, but discounts are available for staying even more nights.
$305/night on weekends (Fri-Sun), $345/night weekdays
1738 Freer Hollow Road
Walton, NY
Online: stonycreekfarmstead.com
Catskills Hull-O Farms
For a real farm experience, visit Hull-O Farms, where visitors can take part in everyday activities around the farm. Watch or help the farmers go through their daily tasks and meet the animals, like cows, lambs, chickens and even kittens (which the kids are sure to love). Kids are allowed to (and encouraged to!) feed and help care for the animals under supervision of the friendly staff. There's something to do any time of the day!
Other activities include fishing, hayrides, nightly campfires and more. Once you've worked up an appetite, enjoy home-cooked, locally sourced meals.
There are a number of options for accommodations, from private rooms to a more communal experience. This year the farm is celebrating 25 years of being a farmstay, so you can snag special offers through their newsletter. (We went! Read our full review here!)
Inquire for price
10 Cochrane Road
Durham, NY
Online: hull-o.com
Better Farm
Looking for a longer stay? Better Farm has the option for a longer-term reservation for anyone who wants to stay more than a few days. Book a cozy private room or cabin for a summer month (or two!) and enjoy the gorgeous views of this 65-acre sustainable solar-powered organic farm and animal sanctuary. (Winter stays are available here as well!)
While you can take part in typical farm activities here, another big draw is the art-centric environment. Workshops, events, galleries, and performances mean you can enjoy some art in an idyllic location.
$50-$120/night; $35/night for loft spaces
31060 Cottage Hill Road
Redwood, NY
Online: betterfarm.org
Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary
Although it's no longer actually located in Woodstock, this spot is a great getaway if you're looking for a more "boutique" farm experience. Opening in April 2019, the Grey Barn offers visitors brand new, modern accommodations with private terraces and beautiful common space. As a bonus, each booking comes with a vegan breakfast made from local ingredients and a private tour of the grounds.
Visitors are encouraged to explore the sanctuary's 150 acres and get to know its 350+ resident animals. Proceeds from the room fee go into maintaining the sanctuary and continuing its nonprofit rescue and outreach work.
Each room has a maximum of two people, so be aware that larger families will need to book multiple rooms.
$250/night
2 Rescue Road
High Falls, NY
Online: thegraybarn.org
Catskill Farm Animal Sanctuary
Stay with nearly 300 rescued animals at the Catskill Farm animal sanctuary by booking a room or suite at the Homestead. This pre-Civil War house has been renovated with eco-friendly methods and materials but keeps its unique look and style. Stays include a vegan breakfast, seasonal tours, and plenty of space and activities to keep anyone busy.
Many farm animals make the sanctuary their home, from cows and horses to chickens and pigs. Every rescued animal has background information available about it on the sanctuary's website, so you can truly get to know the story of every critter you come across.
This location is dog-friendly (for well-behaved dogs!) but your furry friend won't be allowed to visit the rescued animals with you. As a Homestead visitor, though, you'll have the freedom to wander the grounds of the sanctuary without an accompanying tour guide, a privilege which day guests don't get!
$135-$295/night
316 Old Stage Road
Saugerties, NY
Online: casanctuary.org
East Hill Farm
Welcome to East Hill, where you can stay at one of the 65 rooms, all of which have private bathrooms and are pet-friendly! This is one of the more active stays, with a huge variety of activities happening every day. Children's programs, night-time family-friendly events, a tennis court, indoor and outdoor pools, paddleboats and so much more will keep you and the little ones busy. You'll also find some more unique activities, like massage/reflexology and dodgeball.
Of course, there are also farm animals and activities to enjoy, like horseback riding, wagon rides and egg collecting.
Rates are per person and include 3 meals. Children get discounted rates, and kids under two stay free!
$148-$170/person per night
460 Monadnock Street
Troy, NH
Online: east-hill-farm.com
Verdant View
Start the day at Verdant View Farm at 8:30 with the farm's crew for a home-grown breakfast, then choose your adventure for the day. You can choose to stay on the grounds and play with the animals, including the farm's animals and friendly border collie, pygmy goats, bunnies, calves and chickens. All visitors are welcome to join in and help out with the daily farm tasks.
You can also choose to explore the surrounding area, which is located in the middle of Amish country. Visit museums, restaurants, local markets and attractions and more.
$99-$199/night, with additional fees for more than 2-4 guests (depending on the room)
429 Strasburg Rd.
Paradise, PA
Online: verdantview.com
Kinderhook Farm
Visit this farm in the summer and fall for a quaint farmstay experience on a working farm. There's no WiFi or television, so be prepared to experience the environment as it's meant to be! Help out on the farm or relax in a hammock then take a dip in the cottage pond. Farm activities include feeding the animals, egg collecting and joining the cows and sheep on the pasture. There are also plenty of books, board games, and outdoor activity equipment available to borrow.
The accommodations are less like a hotel and more like renting out a vacation house, including a fully stocked kitchen and outdoor barbeque. This location is very child-friendly — cribs, high chairs, baby pool, stroller and other child goodies are available for the farm's youngest visitors.
$300-$350/night
1958 Co Road 21
Valatie, NY
Online: kinderhookfarm.com
—Yuliya Geikhman
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