Go Love NY’s cute and calming Alpaca Farm Tour and Trek. Photos courtesy of Go Love NY
Kayak trips to castles, burgers at distilleries, and private alpaca farm tours are only a few of the offerings from the curated day trip program.
Two years ago, Elizabeth Knell moved from Brooklyn to Hastings-on-Hudson. “I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect,” she says, “but I was immediately enamored with all the wonderful things there are to do here.”
Robin Helman has lived in Irvington for more than 15 years and was well versed in Westchester’s appeal. Both women bonded over their interest in travel, dining and the local area. “With so much nature, history, culture, and food right in my own backyard,” Helman says, “I wanted to share it with everyone.”
With creative and business backgrounds to help them, Knell and Helman cofounded Go Love NY, offering curated day trips to Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley that combine art, architecture, and nature with artisan food, craft breweries, and select local businesses.
Pre-COVID-19 offerings included a guided kayak trip to the evocative Bannerman’s Castle, in Newburgh, followed by burgers (beef or veggie) at a local restaurant, a private tour of Manitoga, the home of midcentury designer Russel Wright, plus a meal and tasting at the Peekskill Brewery, and a visit to Sprout Creek Farm for a farm-fresh lunch, cheesemaking lesson, and a tasting. Some are still offered with changes to maintain safety and social-distancing.
As part of New York’s phased reopening, Go Love NY has resumed outdoor tours for small groups, following social-distancing guidelines. Masks are worn and guests provide their own transportation. One popular option is a private tour of Lilymoore Alpaca Farm, which can be followed by lunch in a nearby town. At press time, more experiences were planned for the fall and can be seen in the “events” section of its website (goloveny.com).
Whether you join a planned tour or have them custom-tailor a trip for a small group consisting of family, friends, or even your quarantine pod, Go Love NY will create a Hudson Valley day to remember.
