Have you ever experience agritourism? If not, you’re really missing out.
This unique type of tourism involves visiting farms across the country and getting a true understanding for how each one works and where our food comes from. In some instances, agritourism might mean picking your own fruit or veggies; in others it could mean milking a cow or experiencing a wine tasting.
In all cases, this is a wonderful and unique kind of travel that everyone should try at least once.
To make a good thing even better, agritourism and RVing go hand in hand. After all, if you’re going to be traveling in your RV, you might as well check out what each area has to offer in terms of local foods. Plus, because RVing tends to take you to rural areas, you might even find that there are a few farms mere minutes from your favorite camping spots.
Wondering how you can jump into this amazing new world? Below we’ve compiled a list of awesome options. Try these ideas this summer for a rewarding and delicious camping season.
Head to a U-Pick Farm
By far the best kind of agritourism for kids, “U-pick” farms can be found in almost every state. A visit to one of these farms is super rewarding thanks to the fact that you get to take home whatever you pick, and because the only cost is that of the food you pick, you can even wrap your visit into your grocery budget.
Want to do more than just pick fruits or vegetables? Look for a farm that has additional activities. Many will offer pony rides, hayrides, bounce houses, and more. This is especially true of pumpkin farms, which tend to have all kinds of kid-friendly activities during the fall months.
Take a Dairy Farm Tour
Many dairy farms are happy to offer tours to visiting guests, and these tours are incredibly interesting. Some will allow you to milk a cow, and most at least give you an opportunity to check out the incredibly complex cow-milking machines.
If you’re lucky, you may even be able to find a dairy farm that gives visitors an opportunity to see end products begin made. These might include ice cream, butter, or cheese.
Visit a Winery
If you’re a fan of wine, visiting a winery is a great option. Most wineries will share their process with you, and almost all of them give wine tastings. Want to bring the younger campers along? Be sure to ask beforehand. Some wineries do allow children to attend tastings, and some might even provide grape juice for the younger palates.
Wineries can be found in many different states. That said, some of the very best wineries and vineyards are located in California. Therefore, if you’ll be in this area, you will want to be sure to add a winery to your agenda.
Invest in a Harvest Hosts Membership
Those that want an even more in-depth view of what goes on each day on a farm should invest in a Harvest Hosts membership. This super cool camping membership allows RVers to park their rigs at farms and vineyards all over the country, giving them lovely boondocking spots for the small price of a yearly membership.
Many hosts allow guests to participate in daily farm chores and activities, making this an ideal way for campers to get up close and personal with the world of farming.
These are just a handful of the ways a person can join the world of agritourism. Why not give them a try? If you love the experience, you can seek out other amazing opportunities to check out local farms!
About the author: Chelsea Gonzales
Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.
You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.
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