Leisure and Travel Blog

"I absolutely love Owera Vineyards - it is the perfect afternoon pitstop any time of year but

The Arts & Culture and Historical sites of Madison County are joining sites across the nation to celebrate Preservation Month this May by holding numerous events centered on historic preservation and heritage tourism.

And here are some of the Preservation Month activities planned in Madison County:

READING the LANDSCAPE of the GERRIT SMITH ESTATE 
Where:  Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark, 5304 Oxbow Road, Peterboro
When:  Saturday May 1 at 2pm

The Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark invites the public for a guided spring walk on the seven acres of the historic property to examine the

Are you looking for a barn like Wolf Oak Acres’ climate-controlled, 8,000 square-foot barn that’s set amid rolling green pastures? How about a rustic barn set on a historical site, like the one at Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum? Or possibly the Heritage Barn, a 300-person event venue located on the 200-

Many outdoor wedding venues in Madison County can accommodate parties of all sizes. The private lawn at Ray Brothers Barbeque is perfect for small weddings (they cater

Madison County is home to some of the best historic wedding venues in New York. From historic hotels, such as the Colgate Inn, to Madison Hall, a Greek

We’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this weekend with traditional dancing, food and music! Things

Tap into one of the sweetest events of the year, New York State’s Maple Weekend. The event takes

"I highly recommend FoJo's in Hamilton. The coffee is amazing as well as the food and bakery (they

By Mike Jaquays

Throughout the year, antique and collectibles shoppers visit the world-famous Route 20 corridor from Madison to Bouckville, many becoming quite friendly with vendors and fellow shoppers alike. The resident dealers, shop and showfield owners, and the visiting vendors who come in for larger show events, have built up quite a community spirit with their clientele. “It’s almost like family coming back to visit,” said Craig Williams, owner of Butternut Hill Antique Showfield.

That makes shopping along and around Route 20 as much a social experience as a quest for the perfect

Malt, Hops, and History

By Jamie Bogner (Adapted from “Beercation: ‘Brew’ Central New York,” originally published in Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine® and on beerandbrewing.com)

Thanks to the efforts of smart industry leaders, sympathetic politicians, a tight connection between agriculture and brewing, and creative brewers themselves, the center of the Empire State is becoming a beer destination in its own right. A hundred years ago, the hills of Central New York—from Syracuse to Cooperstown and beyond—were covered in hops farms. For a significant time in the American history of brewing, it was the place to grow the bines that produce those bitter little cones. Then something horrible happened—