Agritourism - a Step Off the Beaten Path

Agritourism is a cousin to ecotourism, and offers a fresh wave of activity options across the United States. A myriad of different styles of Agritourism exist, ranging from afternoon adventures, weekend excursions or even a whole week of getting your hands dirty. The advent of agritourism has also opened up a way for struggling farmers to supplement their agriculture business while sharing the "tricks of their trade" with the curious.

No matter what region of the country that you live in, there is surely an agritourism adventure waiting nearby. Tours of farms are the most common type of Ag-Adventure, and often involve learning about organic planting and land preservation. Tasting the crops grown on the farm after you have picked the ingredients seems to make the tasty experience extra succulent. Winery and brewery tours also fall into the afternoon excursion category. Seeing the process from the selection of ingredients to preparing for market is both educational and intriguing.

Weekend agritourism adventures often involve getting your hands at least a little dirty. Taking a tour of an animal preserve and aiding in the care of injured wildlife is enticing to multi-generational travelers. The kids will not even realize they are participating in an outdoor classroom when they are holding a baby alligator and learning how the creatures behave in the wild. Tour a working Cypress swamp in southern states and wade through varying eco-systems and learn how to harvest honey from Palmetto trees. Awaken every morning from your campsite or rental cabin to the soundtrack of "Mother Nature."

Embark on a weeklong working vacation within the boundaries of the United States, or grab your passport and explore the world on another continent. Working on a "Dude Ranch" is probably the first image which comes to mind when thinking about spending a week in the great outdoors. While traveling to a western state does offer a plethora of horseback riding and ranching adventures, there are a lot more possibilities awaiting Agritourists in the United States. Spend a hard working, yet fun-filled week of discovery at a sea life preservation area and help plant seagrass, swim with dolphins, feed stingrays and maybe even encounter a shark baby or two in the facility nursery.

In addition to the joys of outdoor discovery, agritourism adventures are generally less expensive than traditional vacations. If you do not need the luxury of a five-star resorts and commercialized attractions when traveling, then a step of the beaten path might just be the right answer for your next getaway.