NOTE:CUSTOMER letter link not correct

Chickens, and Goats, and Cows…Oh My!
FAMILY FUN FARM DAYS* Saturdays: August 16, 23, 30, 2008 Sundays: August 17, 24, 31, 2008

Reconnect to the region's rich agricultural heritage when you pick up the Dutchess County Farm Fresh Link Shuttle at the Beacon Station for stops at Sprout Creek Farm and Barton Orchards.

You'll start your day with a visit to Main Street Beacon, a renaissance city on the Hudson and home to a growing arts movement. Visit the area's many galleries, eateries and specialty stores, or learn about glass-blowing at Hudson Beach Glass, located in a historic 1890 firehouse. Between the two farm visits you'll have the opportunity to explore the city's restored historic districts. Take advantage of one the many fine eateries for lunch, or buy a picnic lunch and picnic in the park or by the Hudson River. Sample and shop Beacon Farmer's Market (10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sundays only) featuring an eclectic array of arts, crafts, and local produce.

Your second stop will be a tour of Sprout Creek, a 200-acre working farm complete with cows, goats and more. A model of sustainable agriculture, it's also known for its hand-crafted cheeses produced by a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America. Sample the creamery's mouth-watering creations made from the rich and creamy milk of the herd of grass-fed Jersey, Guernsey, Milking Shorthorn and Brown Swiss cows. These artisanal cheeses are made in the age-old tradition of European farmstead cheese which is made using a method that merely enhances the innate qualities of the milk. Give the buttery Toussaint or a young Barat a try! Sprout Creek's cheeses differ from cheeses made and ripened in the same way in another region. It is all about soil, seasons, grasses, breeds of cows and perhaps their mood while being milked!

End your day with a visit to Barton Orchards. Pick your own fruits and vegetables, and enjoy the many family-friendly activities including hayrides, a petting zoo and live entertainment. If you dare, explore the larger-than-life corn maze, and be sure to check out the 214 year-old white oak tree, the centerpiece of this 122 acre orchard, in the heart of the Hudson Valley.

The Dutchess County Farm Fresh Link Shuttle will stay with you all day, transporting you to the various locations and bringing you back to Beacon Station for the return trip home. Reservations for the Dutchess County Farm Fresh Link Shuttle are required in advance by calling 800-445-3131 and selecting "0" for an operator. Reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance. Once you've made your reservation, purchase your rail and shuttle ticket any Metro-North station with a ticket office, at all full-service Ticket Machines (except Beacon Station), or through WebTicket.

Some activities require an additional fee. For more information about these itinerary stops and other agricultural and culinary destinations throughout Dutchess County, visit www.dutchesstourism.com.

*Dutchess County Tourism has the right to substitute a farm or related itinerary stop to ensure the quality of the overall program and the individual getaway experience.

Price: From Grand Central or Harlem-125th Street: adults, $24; seniors, $17.50; children 5-11, $3.50; children under 5, FREE. Save an additional 5 percent on rail fare when you purchase your rail ticket through WebTicket.

Package Includes: Discount round-trip rail fare, and shuttle transportation to/from Beacon Station and all venues included in the package.

Where to purchase your tickets: Grand Central Terminal or any Metro-North station with a ticket office, at all full-service Ticket Machines (except Beacon Station), or through WebTicket.

Travel Information: Take the Hudson Line to Beacon Station. The bus will meet the train departing Grand Central Terminal at 8:51 a.m., arriving at the Beacon Station at 10:21 a.m. When you get to Beacon Station, your bus will be waiting on the land-side of the station. It will be the bus with a sign that reads "Dutchess County Farm Fresh Link".

IMPORTANT: Be sure to print a CUSTOMER LETTER, it contains important information about your trip. Also, make sure to print the itinerary schedule. At ticket offices, ask the ticket agent for a copy. When purchasing through WebTicket, you will automatically be linked to one.

One-Day (Outbound) Getaways