Day Trip to Stone Barns in Sleepy Hollow

4/24/13 - By Katie McKnight

I hate admitting this…but I’m not an avid animal lover.  Nope, when I think animals, I think slobber, muddy paws, fur flying everywhere, more slobber, and ummm….other doggy waste.  But naturally, my kids love animals, and I don’t want to deprive them of an animal filled childhood, so we try to visit area farms when we get the chance – especially in the spring, when the baby animals are cute and cuddly.   This year, we decided to head over to Sleepy Hollow’s Stone Barns for a day – well worth the 45-minute drive from our home in Fairfield County.

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For starters, Stone Barns is in the Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown area.  As in THE Sleepy Hollow…Ichabod Crane, the Headless Horseman - you know the place.  We took the kids to the cemetery featured in the legendary story, and checked out the historic Old Dutch Church (built in 1685 by Dutch farmers), which was amazing. Now, granted – the kids were not thrilled with this part of the trip.  But I loved it, and it gave us a chance to talk about the history of the area in the midst of a 300-year old building.  Pretty cool.  When we arrived at the church, my 10-year old was complaining; by the time we left she was begrudgingly interested.  Also pretty cool.  I would recommend reading the Legend of Sleepy Hollow with them beforehand (or perhaps telling the younger kids an abridged version).

Next we moved on to Stone Barns Agricultural Center.  I can’t think of a single thing about this place that isn’t awesome.  Number one, it’s all about creating a sustainable and educational agricultural experience.  Number two, it's spectacularly beautiful. You can choose to take a tour, or tour the grounds with a map (which we did).   After seeing the produce growing, you can purchase amazing food at the Blue Hill Café, including coffee and fantastic local breads.  If you have a chance to eat at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, their more formal dinner restaurant, grab it. 

Stone Barns is constantly offering programs, tours, lectures so that adults and children can learn about sustainable farming, the animals and the growing processes.  This weekend, for example, you can visit the new lambs at the Sheep Barn between 10:30am and 12:30 pm and learn all about their lives on the farm.  Who knows, you may run into us there, as the kids are already clamoring for a return visit.  Now that's a successful outing!

 

 

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