Recent Posts

Categories

General - All Topics
Family Fun
- Culinary
- Farm Fresh
- Wine & Brew
- Camping
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Birding & Nature
- Boat Tours
- Erie Canal
- Kayaking & Canoeing
- White Water
- Waterfalls
- Rail Biking
- Museums
- Golfing
- Lighthouses
- Casinos & Resorts
- Horse Racing
- Handicapped Accessible
Photography
Holidays
- Fall Fun
Winter Sports
- Skiing
- Snowmobiling
- Ice Skating
Locations - Thousand Islands
- Adirondacks
- Finger Lakes
- Catskills
- Capitol-Saratoga Region
- Central NY
- Western New York
-Chautauqua-Allegany
- Hudson Valley

Download as PDF

Explore Agritourism Along the Seaway Trail

posted by Teresa Farrell at 2022-08-30 18:09:00

One of the best parts of being on vacation is the food—and it’s even better when you can find fresh, local products to sample and stock up on. In Upstate New York, agritourism, a combination of two of the state’s largest and most lucrative industries—agriculture and tourism—has gained popularity in recent years as more people begin to take an interest in buying local and being involved and aware of where their food comes from. And there’s arguably no better place to enjoy the fruits of this movement than along the Seaway Trail.


Spanning the shores of Lake Erie in the Chautauqua-Allegany region and Western New York, Lake Ontario’s shores through the northern Finger Lakes and up to the St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands, the Seaway Trail is a veritable treasure trove of food, fun and farms. You can sample the best they have to offer at one of the many farmer’s markets that pop up in towns along the way, or with a stop to the local farms themselves that offer on-site markets, farm stands, tours, tastings, and even pick-your-own options.



A trip along this rich agricultural area is best spent snacking, savoring, and seeing what’s out there. Get your fill of artisan cheeses, fresh meats and eggs, homemade ice cream and baked goods, and fruits and veggies still crisp and sun-soaked brought up from the fields out back just hours before your arrival. U-pick apples, berries, pumpkins and grapes put the local flavors right into your hands. Sweet treats, like homemade fudge, heavenly desserts, and honey and maple sugar products fall right into place alongside savory spices, marinades, dips and sauces to take home and experiment with in your own kitchen. You can even find handmade gifts made with local ingredients, like goat’s milk soap, wool garments, beeswax candles, and more.


In addition to the food, there’s an abundance of wine, craft beer, spirits and hard cider made from locally-produced fruits and grains at the many wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries that surround the Seaway Trail. Many craft beverage producers grow their own grapes, grains, and fruits right on site, offering tours and tastings that give the inside story of how these well-known products become our favorite beverages. Attending a special event or class, or just talking with a friendly tasting room attendant will teach first-time samplers and connoisseurs alike about how to find their personal perfect drink and how to pair it perfectly with local food selections, too.


When you’ve stocked up on food and drinks to your heart’s content, gather up your harvest find a spot to enjoy a picnic on the shores of one of the Seaway Trail’s many waterways—a perfect way to end a day spent exploring food and fun on the farm.


PHOTOS

Roadside farm photo credit Daniel Case
Apple orchard photo credit Tom Shockey
Burnap’s farm market photo credit John Farrell
Grapes photo credit John Farrell
Pumpkins photo credit George Fischer
 

---