Food Worth a Drive in New York State: Trails

Food worth a drive in New York State is spread across a state larger than many countries, from the Hudson Valley's apple farms to the Finger Lakes' small producers, the Catskills' converted farmhouses and the Adirondacks' lake lodges. The state's Taste NY program has organized much of it into food and beverage trails.

Taste NY lists regional trails, which helps a visitor decide where to go. Many farm stands do not take cards, so bring cash and small bills.

What is food worth a drive in New York State?

The short answer is a trail. The state's Taste NY program lists regional food and beverage trails, including the Cooperstown Beverage Trail, the Catskills Beverage Trail, the Warwick Valley Apple Trail and the Adirondack Lakes Cuisine Trail. Each links farms, producers and restaurants along a route.

A trail map is a good way to avoid wandering. Pick one trail, plan two or three stops and leave room for surprises.

What can you eat on a Finger Lakes road trip?

On a Finger Lakes road trip, expect wine, apples, farm stands and small cheese makers. Taste NY lists a Finger Lakes Ice Cream Trail, and guides suggest enjoying local food outdoors in summer, beside the lakes. Call ahead to confirm tasting hours, since small makers keep short schedules.

Pack a cooler for cheese. Add crackers, fruit and a knife, and you have a picnic.

What about Catskills food?

Catskills food has become a destination. A converted farmhouse restaurant where a chef who previously worked at Le Bernardin cooks with Catskills ingredients is a good example. The Catskills Beverage Trail links breweries, cideries and distilleries.

The region is mountainous, and roads are winding. Allow extra time between stops, and check seasonal hours.

Weather shapes the northern part of the state. Snow can close mountain roads in winter, and a summer thunderstorm can empty a lake lodge in minutes. Check conditions before you leave, keep the tank full and carry a blanket and water. Small restaurants in lake towns may close for weeks in the off season, so call ahead to confirm that a kitchen is open on the day you plan to arrive.

Where are Adirondack restaurants?

Adirondack restaurants are scattered through small lake towns. The Adirondack Lakes Cuisine Trail is the main official guide. In summer, lake lodges and diners serve visitors on their way to hiking and boating. In winter, ski towns have warm, hearty menus.

If you plan a trip, check the trail's website and ask locals for current favorites.

How do you find New York farm stands?

New York farm stands appear along back roads in the Hudson Valley and beyond. A stand in New Paltz offers fresh produce. In autumn the stands sell apples, cider and pumpkins, and in summer they overflow with corn, berries and tomatoes.

Stands vary in how they take payment. Bring cash for the smaller ones.

What is Cooperstown known for?

Cooperstown is known for baseball, and its beverage trail adds beer to the story. A Cooperstown brewery offers baseball-themed beers, such as a pale ale named for a famous slugger. A visit to the village can combine a museum, a lunch and a tasting.

Cooperstown is small and fills up on summer weekends, so book lodging early.

How should you plan a road trip?

New York is big. A route from the Hudson Valley through the Catskills to Cooperstown and then to the Finger Lakes takes days. Pick a region for a weekend and save others for another trip. Check a map for distances, and add an hour to each estimate for rural roads.

Mid-week travel is quieter. Autumn is the most beautiful and most crowded season.

Plan a simple two-day outline to see how the pieces fit. On the first day, choose one trail, such as the Warwick Valley Apple Trail in autumn, and visit two or three farms before lunch. Eat in a small town, then spend the afternoon at a cidery or a farm stand. On the second day, drive toward the Catskills or the lake country for a long dinner, and keep the morning free for a market or a bakery. Leave gaps in the schedule so that a good find does not break the plan.

What to bring

A cooler, cash, a paper map or offline map for areas with poor signal, and a sense of curiosity. A reusable bag for farm purchases is helpful. A thermos of coffee helps on early starts.

Check hours, since many small producers close on Mondays and Tuesdays, especially outside the summer.

What else should you read around New York?

The New York fall food guide for apple picking and cider donuts covers autumn in more detail, the New York holiday markets guide covers winter and the Virginia wine country and Blue Ridge food guide continues south. The US guides page lists more cities.

For the rest of the state, start at the Food in New York State page.

How do you plan a New York State food drive?

Catskills farms, Hudson Valley orchards and Finger Lakes tables sit far apart. Rate each stop by the dish, tag the best ones Worth the Trip and write the region.

A New York State list sorted by region makes the next trip a short plan.

A road trip leaves a pile of receipts and a handful of good memories. Get the Mosey app, rate each cheese, cider and meal you try, and build a New York State list so that the next trip starts with a short list of favorites.