Agritourism is a trend that allows travelers, both rich and poor, to experience “life on the farm” in a resort getaways setting. Travelers can learn how to milk a cow, gather eggs for the morning breakfast, and start off their day from bed with a rooster’s call. Hugely popular in Europe for decades where travelers would book rooms on working farms, the “agritourism” scene is starting to catch on in the United States as well. While most agritourism locales have modest accommodations, there are a select few “luxury farm retreats” that provide a far more upscale way of living. These “luxury farm retreats” offer customers the “whole experience” of “life on the range” without giving up the “creature comforts” that many tourists may be so used to back at home. The Blackberry Farm from Tennessee for example, is a massive 4000-acre self-sufficient farm catered towards those seeking a “authentic experience”, offering a return to a humble lifestyle that many Americans now have been removed from due to industrialization as well as a opportunity to understand how and where their food comes from. Another perk of such locations such as these is that they also cater towards “geotourists”, travelers that are seeking authentic cultural experiences that also leave little or no damage or change to the ecological or cultural environment. Some locations, like the Los Poblanos history inn and ranch on the outskirts of Albuquerque, are organic farms that not only provide their produce to the inn itself, but also supports the local area farmer’s markets and a “community-supported agriculture program”, also known as CSA. Others, like the Shelburne Farms of Vermont, have education centers that seek to educate travelers on the benefits and perks of sustainable agriculture and conservation practices. Lavish and rich hearty food is also kept on the menu for these luxury farm retreats, such as the Inn at Dos Brisas, featuring a five-star rated restaurant, whose Head Chef Jason Robinson acquires his ingredients from the ranch’s organic farms and orchards.
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