The picturesque property offers gardens, greenhouses, a lake, apiaries, forest trails, and refined accommodations that make it an extremely relaxing atmosphere for stressed-out city dwellers to learn about and reconnect with nature. Southall (Franklin, Tennessee)įor travelers who crave a little luxury, Southall is an upscale farm resort not too far outside of Nashville worth checking out. And nature-driven spa treatments round out the wellness offerings. Bathrooms here are stocked with hand-picked aromatherapy herbs. Guests can hunker down in cottages with fireplaces and clawfoot tubs. Expect house-made granola, wood-fired country bread, hand-churned butter, pressed juices, and hyperlocal honey. Gardener-led walking tours to see the plants, bees, ducks, and chickens are available.īabel, an old cowshed turned farm-to-fork restaurant, boasts one of the best and most bountiful breakfast spreads ever. One of the oldest Cape Dutch farms in South Africa, Babylonstoren has a huge garden with vegetables, stone fruits, citrus, herbs, and even a prickly pear maze. Hard work also has plenty of payoffs besides a sense of accomplishment-including the serotonin-boosting benefits of getting in touch with nature and animals, seeing where your food actually comes from (maybe even having a hand in that process), and escaping the tech-fueled daily grind.ģ. That means chores need to be completed-whether that’s feeding chickens, milking cows, pulling weeds, or harvesting crops-and guests have the option to join in, whether by collecting your own eggs for breakfast or pulling potatoes from the ground to make dinner. Unlike other types of nature-oriented tourism that are curated to fulfill a vacation fantasy, the agriculture component is the foundation of a true agritourism, and the tourism aspects come second. It’s also increasingly popular as a family vacation that teaches kids the importance of agriculture and treating Mother Nature with respect and, of course, lets them interact with adorable animals.Īgritourism is within the nature-centered-vacation canon of glamping, treehouse hotels, and immersive nature experiences, but with more of a focus on getting your hands dirty and learning practical skills in a rural setting. What environment is going to make us feel our best? When people start asking themselves these types of questions, many arrive at the idea of a farm with fresh air and beautiful scenery,” says Peyton Cypress, Farm Manager at Southall, in Tennessee. It ultimately comes down to our well-being. “Agritourism is becoming so in demand because of our collective desire to return to a slower, more natural way of life. It ultimately comes down to our well-being.' -Peyton Cypress, Farm Manager, Southall

And it appears to be here to say: According to market research, the nearly $6 billion market size of agritourism, as of 2021, is predicted to grow at a rate of 11.4 percent through 2030. Whatever vernacular you assign to the purpose-built experience, though, know that this booming part of the ecotourism sector delivers something from which so many of us could benefit: more time outside, and the opportunity to experience an agrarian way of life. The terms 'agritourism' and 'farm stay' are often used interchangeably.

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