|
|
| features| destinations| lodgings| transports| tours| alternatives| travel desk| women's travel| family travel| flights | hotels| |
 |
 Give your travel business the exposure it deserves. Click here to get listed in GoNOMAD's searchable directory  Want to go? Search for international airfare specials, hotel bargains, group tours and car rentals. We update them every 10 minutes, so you're guaranteed to find the lowest prices from the top providers.  Ask travel questions, get answers on our new Traveler's Forum Try it Now  Check out sustainable and responsible tourism projects around the world that you can help support  Shop the world for books, world music, travel accessories, handcrafts and more... Share your travels!
|
 |
GoNOMAD MINI GUIDE: Spending time on a farm can be strangely reassuring. After all, staying on the land provides a brief, but intimate, glimpse into the way things used to be and confirms that, somewhere in this technologically advanced world, there are communities still living quite well on what they cultivate from the land. In these microcosms of society are often found the history of a region, seemingly frozen in time. Over the past few decades, tourism authorities around the world have come to recognize the importance of rural areas to their industry. What has emerged is the concept of agrotourism and, from that, programs commonly referred to as farmstays have evolved. The premise of a farmstay is relatively simple: farmers and their families open their homes to visitors and share with them the many facets of life on the farm, thus bringing profitable tourism to the area and a great vacation to the traveler! Both working and non-working farms provide accommodations for travelers, anything from a room in the main farmhouse to a cabin located on the land. Properties range from the most rustic operating farm to an elegant bed and breakfast. On working farms, visitors are often invited to participate in the daily chores, and many rejoice in the opportunity to get in touch with nature--literally. Tasks can include the traditional milking of cows, feeding of hens, and gathering of hay. In Scandinavia, on the farms of Skarsmoen, visitors even take part in moose safaris and lessons in cheese making. Visitors on selected German farms receive expert instruction in the art of hunting. Alpine farms in Austria and Switzerland often offer recreational activities such as horseback riding and skiing, while farms in Vermont, in the US, offer dairy milking and apple picking. Or, for the most unusual farmstay, try one of Germany’s Haystack Hotels. The scenic area around Rothenburg organizes four-day bicycling trips with pre-booked barn accommodations. Bring your sleeping bag and any Hay Fever medications with you. After a day of cycling, you’ll be convinced that a sweet-smelling stack of hay in the barn is better than any mere mattress. WHAT TYPES OF FARMS HOST TRAVELERS? Look for sheep or pig farms in the U.K. A deer farm in Australia. A vineyard in Italy. There are even ecological farms in Germany where those tending to the land must adhere to strict rules and regulations governing the cultivation of products. Such farms offer an excellent opportunity to learn about an alternative, environmentally-friendly form of land management. If you don’t have friends or family in a particular destination to which you are traveling, one great way to get to know the people and get close to the culture is by staying on a farm. In addition, farm holidays make excellent options for families traveling with children. Converted buildings on the homesteads provide spacious accommodations, and children especially love the close contact with exotic animals. FOR MORE INFORMATIONSearch GoNOMAD’s LODGINGS LISTINGS for farmstays around the world. For information on U.S. Farmstays, see SLEEPING IN THE HAY and FIGHTING TO KEEP THE FARM bortonoverseas.com agritour.com.nz webscape.co.uk ware.it/Agritour landtourismus.de/e/e.htm Touristik-Zentrum Oberes Taubertal |
|
|
Rent a car in Europe:
