Published on : 07 July 20207 min reading time
Hay! How about a visit to the backyard ole for your next getaway? Hotels on active farms allow you to leave the hectic life of the city – at least for the weekend – and hit the country to hone your farming skills. But don’t worry. The farm tastic resorts that make up our list offer all the amenities of a chic hotel. It is more like they just managed to encourage customers to increase with the cocks as well. With so many animals wandering and so much open land to explore, you may want to take the reins of your texting habit and take a digital break during your stay. (Again, don’t worry – you don’t have to.) Just make sure you pack the overalls, buckaroo – your hands can get dirty!
Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort, California
Located on a 10,000 acre work ranch in California’s Santa Ynez Valley, Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort is the kind of place that raises cowboys. It’s a step back in the old west, but with all the amenities. Expect the charm, western style rooms, and lots of ranch activities. At Barn Yard, you can help feed goats, calves, miniature horses and bottle-fed sheep. Animal lovers can also collect eggs, groom and exercise animals in the corral. Cart rides with miniature horses are a favourite among the young guests, while adults can ride at sunset on one of the property’s beautiful thoroughbreds.
The farm of the round barn, Vermont
The hostel now at “La ferme de la grange ronde” is actually an old 19th century horse barn and farmhouse. The former milking parlour and hayloft can now be used as a wedding reception facility, but there are still signs of a working farm on site. The organic farm offers lots of vegetables for the catch, and this charming B & B offers an incredible view (over 245 acres) and lots of fresh air. It has a resolutely romantic atmosphere, with rooms that have a whirlpool bath; some have work fireplaces.
Ferme Amee, Vermont
This Old McDonald’s style farmhouse offers the complete storybook experience: There is a large rustic barn, 40 acres to walk, skippin ponds, a waterfall and farm animals grazing in the fields (adorable goats are a major attraction). The neighbouring farm sells fresh eggs, goat cheese and seasonal vegetables. The rooms look directly onto an interior design magazine, with an almost perfect combination of rustic, warm, picturesque and elegant touches. An advantage here is an inviting wrap-around porch with Adirondack chairs to admire the scenery. Prepare to take shelter and eat on site, like Pittsfield, Vermont has little more than a general store to offer.
Lawcus Farm Guest House, Ireland
Ireland’s welcoming Lawcus Farm Guest House, nestled between two medieval villages, gives Wannabe farmers the ultimate practical experience. Guests can experience the property to the fullest through outdoor activities that include fishing on the river and feeding goats, sheep and chickens. There is not much else in the region, and the prices are reasonable enough for this level of comfort. This rustic property is a solid choice for travellers looking for a slice of traditional pastoral Ireland.
Hidden Pond, Maine
This station is a treehugger’s dream. Spreading over 60 acres in Maine, Étang caché has 36 bungalows similar to suites and two-bedroom cottages. Guests here are encouraged to get their hands dirty and tear out the vegetables and flowers from the organic farm on the property. Guests will also be able to discover a tree house built about eight feet above the ground, which serves as a luxury spa resort. This charming high-end hotel attracts couples with its quiet surroundings and high-end restaurants, as well as families with its chalets that include a full kitchen. The hotel also offers a free shuttle to the beach, which is only a five-minute drive away.
Blackberry Farm, Tennessee
This magnificent farm hotel is a haven of peace and serenity for gourmets and nature lovers. You can immerse yourself in the beauty of the Appalachians by enjoying the 4,200 acres of land and all the activities offered. The Barn restaurant offers a real culinary experience between the farm and the table, as most of the products are picked in the garden of the establishment. Since the farm is known for its food and beverages, there are many culinary activities to participate in, such as wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, brewery tours and gardening.
Inn at Serenbe, Georgia
The Four-pearl Inn at Serenbe is a charming retreat surrounded by vast farms and hiking trails in the Georgian countryside. A small vegetable garden is located next to the hostel’s main swimming pool and The Farmhouse restaurant uses its products. It also produces products from the large 25-acre organic farm, which you can visit for an additional fee, and buy products at local farmers’ markets. The rooms are chic in the countryside, and a tree house and animal village are just outside, and there are shops, restaurants, stables and wellness facilities within the larger Serbian community.
Agroturismo Sa Vinya d’en Palermo, Ibiza
Located in a farmhouse about 10 minutes by car from the port of Sant Miguel in Ibiza, Agroturismo Sa Vinya d’en Palerm is a natural choice for those seeking peace and quiet. The restaurant serves a healthy breakfast of fresh produce from the farm and vegetable garden on site every morning. It is open for lunch and dinner on request. A livestock farm, a vegetable garden and a vineyard are part of the same estate.
Loma Jungle Lodge and the Chocolate Farm, Panama
Loma Jungle Lodge and Chocolate Farm is a mid-range property with 57 acres stretching through tropical and cocoa forests, bananas and coconut groves. All meals are included and prepared with organic ingredients from the garden on site. You can enjoy free visits to chocolate farms. Everyone is encouraged to get involved and get their hands dirty here, whether it’s digging up vegetables and catching snappers for dinner, or pulling rubber boots to help harvest and crush cocoa.
Villa Azalea, organic farm and inn, Mexico
Villa Azalea is a top-of-the-range, environmentally friendly seaside resort and organic farm located on more than 4 hectares of land on the outskirts of Puerto Vallarta. The greenhouses grow several varieties of lettuce, tomatoes, chives, lemongrass, chicory, mint, basil and dozens of other exotic herbs. In outdoor gardens, crops include jackfruit, mangoes, papayas, avocados, banana trees, corossols and different kinds of coconuts. A grove of agave plants is used to make organic tequila, which can be sampled and purchased indoors. There is an open-air hen house where the hens lay fresh eggs.
Masseria Torre Coccaro, Italy
Masseria Torre Coccaro is a charming 33-room farmhouse located in the rustic Italian countryside of Apulia. The chefs organize cooking classes for guests, walking around the estate’s organic farm to pick fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs before returning to the kitchen to learn how to make traditional dishes and homemade pasta. In addition, children can also participate in cooking classes and olive harvesting during the season.
Hotel Fazenda Dona Carolina, Brazil
Located in the countryside between Itatiba and Braganca Paulista, Hotel Fazenda Dona Carolina is a high-end establishment in the countryside. It has an isolated location and many recreational opportunities. Located in a coffee plantation dating back to Portuguese colonial times, built in 1872, the hotel evokes South America. The hotel produces its own coffee and cachaça, the rum-shaped distilled alcohol used in caipirinhas, the Brazilian drink par excellence, on site.