It has been a year spent in lockdown with the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, and it feels so amazing to finally book our first family vacation: an amazing farm vacation in New York’s Catskill Mountains.
As a kid, my parents would take us to a small farm in Pennsylvania where we could help with barnyard chores like milking the cows and feeding the chickens. My siblings and I still talk about our childhood memories visiting that farm and the unforgettable adventures we had exploring the farm property.
I’ve been dreaming of finding a similar place for our two boys (age 3 ½ and 2) to help them develop a love for the mountains and outdoors.
And I finally found the perfect place: Mountain View Dairy in Bloomville, NY.
We rented a three-bedroom home on the 260-acre property for a long weekend. This home was a complete escape and a true taste of farm country, with tractors rolling by and clear night skies for stargazing.
The house was very clean and well-kept with a fully equipped kitchen where we cooked all of our own meals. Here’s how we enjoyed our stay at this amazing farm property:
Day 1: Arrival / Exploring the Farm Grounds
We scheduled our getaway for April because we have a baby on the way in May. We expected it would be cooler weather but never did we expect SNOW! We arrived at the house and spent some time getting settled and letting the boys look through the puzzles and games left by the farm owners.
We then went for a quick wet walk up to the farm and to get a view of the picturesque countryside and breath in the fresh air.
Day 2: Hiking the Catskill Scenic Trail & Farm Tour
We woke up to a snow-covered countryside, but the sun peeked through early and we had a beautiful day ahead of us. We cooked up some pancakes and bacon, then headed out to hike the Catskill Scenic Trail.
The trail starts in Bloomville, a few short minutes from the farm, and runs 24.9 miles toward Stamford, NY. We walked about 2.5 miles out/back and the terrain was flat and easy for our two toddlers to manage. There were several benches to rest and several bridges where they loved throwing stones. This would make for a great running or biking trail with mountains and farmland running on both sides of the trail. It made for a very peaceful start to the day.
We headed back to the farm for lunch. My wonderful parents joined us for the trip so I was able to get some rest while they took the boys to explore more of the farm property where they were thrilled to spot some cows and ducks.
The house had an outdoor firepit so we planned to make a bonfire in the afternoon, but the snow made that an impossible task. Luckily the home comes with an outdoor grill so the boys were content with roasting marshmallows that way.
Mountain View Dairy is a working dairy farm that milks their cows twice daily. We met with one of the owners, Katrin, at 5 p.m. for the evening milking. The operation is incredible to see in person and they produce 7,500 lbs of milk every other day. Katrin was so generous in taking the time to show us the ins and outs of running the farm 365 days a year. She even let the boys bottle feed a 1-week-old calf. It’s a memory they will never forget.
We headed back to the house for a BBQ. We didn’t take advantage of it, but you can buy fresh farm eggs, pork, beef and milk from the farm. Next time we would definitely plan to support their business.
Day 3: Until next time…
Unfortunately, we had another day with crummy weather, so we packed up the house and took one final quick walk of the property. I would definitely recommend coming in warmer weather when the cows are out to pasture and you can enjoy so much more the farm has to offer…
- Taking a bike ride
- Gazing at the mountain foliage in bloom
- Stargazing and making s’mores
- Fishing in the nearby pond
- Berry picking in the summer
What to Pack: This Air BnB really does come fully equipped with most everything you will need but don’t forget the following:
- Hiking / Rain Boots
- Bug spray / sunblock
- Fishing poles & bait (we love these fishing poles for our boys)
- Folding campfire chairs (our boys love their own little folding campfire chairs)
- Firewood
- Jugs of water and groceries (there is a Price Chopper about 20 minutes from the farm in Delhi)
I spent weeks researching to find a place for the right price and in the right location that lived up to my childhood memory of our family farm vacations, and this place really did deliver for us. It was clean and comfortable, but also laid-back and a great place for our kids to play and explore.
Here are some other well-reviewed, amazing farm vacations in New York’s Catskills to consider:
The Gifford: Located in the beautiful Catskill Mountains, this two-story Cape Cod is on a seventh-generation bicentennial family farm where you are welcome to participate in activities or ‘chores’ during your stay such as feeding the animals like rabbits, goats, pigs, sheep and cows.
Hubbell Family Farm: The Bunkhouse at the Hubbell Family Farm in Margaretville, NY is great for families and offers on-site farm tours and a variety of outdoor activities, including fishing, hiking and swimming.
BuckBrook Alpacas: This apartment rental in Roscoe, NY sits above the barn with over 100 alpacas, Angora rabbits, chickens and a potbelly pig.
Beaverkill Valley Farm House: This hidden farm house is a true oasis with 13 acres of manicured fields and just a short walk to Beaverkill Covered Bridge and swimming hole, the inspiration for Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.
Hollow Brook Farm: This 1920’s farmhouse sits at the base of Diamond Notch Mountain and features nearby hiking, a bonfire pit and even a wood playset for children.
Overlook Cottage near West Point: This quaint little house trailer in Fort Montgomery, NY is less than 10 minutes from West Point and is a nature lovers paradise with an outdoor deck, fire pit and hiking trails right out the front door.
The Guest House at Merrill’s Farm: This cozy guest house is located on a tranquil 400+ acre hillside farm with streams, ponds and over 150 acres of cleared pastures and hay fields to explore.
Reindeer Run Farm: This rustic farm is nestled in the foothills of the Shawangunk Mountain Range where you can enjoy time with their majestic horses, lovely alpacas, foxes and pony. You can also enjoy Tillson Lake for kayaking or visit the various wineries or Angry Orchards nearby.
Chalet Sasquatch: Owned by two great friends of ours, this gorgeous home is just minutes from Hunter, Windham and other Catskills highlights. Enjoy peaceful, private surroundings and explore the property pond.
This is such a beautiful part of our country, and I hope you leave inspired to consider one of these 10 amazing farm vacations in New York state your kids will never forget.
Looking for other kid-friendly vacations? Check out our trips to Shenandoah National Park and Ocean City, MD.
I’d love to hear about your favorite things to do and see in the Catskill Mountains. Please share in the comments section below.
Happy exploring!