Things to Do in Hopewell Junction, NY: Depot, Rail Trail, and Restaurants
Things to do in Hopewell Junction, NY this fall: the 1873 Hopewell Depot, the rail trail's southern end, Route 82 restaurants, and the Fishkill drive.
Educational Resources
Learn and grow with the Farmers Choice blog
Straight-talking cannabis guides and the best of what's happening around our towns, written by the Farm Hands behind our counters.
Latest posts from Fishkill and New Paltz
Rosendale Trestle and the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
Rosendale Trestle guide: where to park at each Wallkill Valley Rail Trail access point, the mile markers on the land trust map, trail hours and rules.
Poughkeepsie Restaurants: On the Water, Near the Train, and Open Late
Poughkeepsie restaurants by situation: on the river, near the train station, lunch and brunch, and open late, with posted hours and the drive to New Paltz.
Where to Eat in New Paltz: Restaurants Early and Late
New Paltz restaurants by time of day: breakfast from 8AM, lunch on Main Street, dinner, and the kitchens that stay open late, with posted hours.
Sam's Point Preserve Before Winter
Sam's Point Preserve before winter: the Ice Caves Trail, weekend parking reservations through November 15, trail distances and the drive from New Paltz.
Hudson Valley Halloween and Harvest Weekend
Hudson Valley Halloween events for late October 2026: Headless Horseman nights, a magic lantern ghost show, Walkway At Night and a graveyard tour.
Things to Do in Highland, NY: Walkway, Rail Trail, Riverfront Parks and Restaurants
Things to do in Highland, NY: Walkway Over the Hudson hours, the Hudson Valley Rail Trail, two riverfront parks, Walkway At Night, and where to eat.
A Beacon Day Trip: Dia, Main Street, and the Mountain
Plan a Beacon, NY day trip: Dia Beacon's open days and free days, a walk along the mile of Main Street, the Mount Beacon climb and the drive to Fishkill.
Dutchess Rail Trail: Parking, Access Points, and a Fall Walk
Dutchess Rail Trail parking, access points and rules from Dutchess County, the Empire State Trail link, and a fall walk from the Hopewell Depot.
A Kingston Day Trip: Stockade, Waterfront, and the Drive Home
Plan a Kingston, NY day trip: Senate House and the 1658 Stockade District Uptown, the Rondout waterfront museums, October dates and two routes home.
Waterfalls Near New Paltz: Awosting Falls and Beyond
Waterfalls near New Paltz within about an hour: Awosting Falls, Split Rock, Verkeerder Kill and Kaaterskill Falls, with parking rules and fall hours.
Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruises 2026
Hudson River fall foliage cruise options for 2026: who sails from Kingston and Beacon, dock addresses, cruise lengths and when each season ends.
Things to Do in Hyde Park, NY: FDR, Vanderbilt, and Where to Eat
Things to do in Hyde Park, NY this fall: FDR Library hours, Home of FDR and Vanderbilt Mansion tours, the Culinary Institute's restaurants, Route 9 food.
Order Ahead and Pick Up: How Dispensary Pickup Works at Farmers Choice
How a dispensary pickup order works at Farmers Choice: browse the live menu, choose Fishkill or New Paltz, bring a valid 21+ photo ID, pay at the counter.
Dutchess County Fall Festivals 2026
Dutchess County fall festivals for 2026 by date: orchard weekends, the Rhinebeck fairgrounds, pumpkin days and craft fairs, with hours and drives.
Hudson Valley Apple Picking 2026: Orchards Worth the Drive
Apple picking in the Hudson Valley for 2026: five u-pick orchards near New Paltz and Fishkill, with days, hours and reservation rules from each farm.
Shawangunks Leaf-Peeping Road Trip
Shawangunks fall foliage loop from New Paltz: Route 299 to the ridge, Route 44/55 past the Trapps and Minnewaska, then Accord, Stone Ridge and High Falls.
Things to Do in Fishkill, NY for Adults
Things to do in Fishkill, NY for adults: Main Street history, Fishkill Farms, Route 9 restaurants, and nearby trails to explore this fall.
Farmers Choice Named Cannabis Dispensary of the Year 2026
Farmers Choice's New Paltz flagship won 2026 Cannabis Dispensary of the Year from CRI. Here is the story behind the farm stand redesign.
Walkway Over the Hudson, the Perfect Day Trip
How to do the Walkway Over the Hudson properly: which end to start from, the elevator most people miss, and the best light on the deck.
Fall Is Coming to the Hudson Valley: Your New Paltz Guide
When the Shawangunk foliage peaks, which orchards to pick, the ridge hikes worth an early start, and how to plan a New Paltz fall day around the crowds.
Things to Do in Beacon, Poughkeepsie and Wappingers Falls
Things to do in Beacon, Poughkeepsie and Wappingers Falls as summer ends: waterfront walks, Main Street browsing, the Walkway, and a stop on the way home.
Skydive The Ranch: What to Expect and Where to Go After
A first-timer's guide to jumping at Skydive The Ranch in Gardiner: how the day runs, what the weather does to it, and where to land afterwards.
Hiking Mohonk Preserve? How to Make a Full Day of It
A full-day plan for Mohonk Preserve: the right trailhead, when to arrive, where to eat in New Paltz, and the farm-stand stop that finishes the day.
Twin Star Orchards and Farmers Choice: Two Reasons to Love New Paltz
Twin Star Orchards and Farmers Choice New Paltz sit about two miles apart. Here is how locals turn the orchard and the farm stand into one easy outing.
Hudson Valley Summer Bucket List 2026: Start in New Paltz
Eleven summer things to do in the Hudson Valley: sky-lake swims, rail trail rides, orchard pizza nights and river sunsets, an easy drive from New Paltz.
Farmers Choice Sponsored the 2026 New Paltz Fireworks
Farmers Choice sponsored the 2026 New Paltz Fireworks Celebration. A thank-you to Local at Heart, the volunteers, and every neighbor who looked up.
The Ultimate Hudson Valley Road Trip: Trails, Wineries & Outdoor Adventures Around New Paltz
A Hudson Valley road trip from New Paltz: a one-day loop and a two-day split with drive times, plus 10 trails, wineries, and outdoor stops.
Keith Haring and Alex Katz Art at Upstate Art Weekend in New Paltz
Upstate Art Weekend 2026 put Keith Haring and Alex Katz works on view in New Paltz from June 25 to 29. Here is what the show offered and where to stop.
Robibero Winery Sangria Festival, a New Paltz Summer Tradition
The Robibero Winery Sangria Festival is a New Paltz summer tradition. In 2026 it brought free admission, handcrafted sangria, food, and vineyard views.
Recreational Cannabis Shopping Tips From Our Farmhands
Recreational cannabis shopping tips from a New York budtender: how to read a COA, why THC percentage isn't everything, and how to spot sprayed terpenes.
What we write about here
Three things, mostly. Cannabis guides from the people behind our counters, written in plain language with no hedging. Local happenings, meaning the fairs, farm markets, trail days, and live music worth planning a drive around. And store news, the new brands landing on our shelves, holiday hours, and what the Farm Hands are into this month. When a post is about a product category, it links to the shelf it belongs to. When it is about a town, it links to that town's page. We would rather publish one post worth your time than four that are not.
Rooted in the towns around both farm stands
This blog leans local on purpose. Farmers Choice runs two stores, the original farm stand in Fishkill in Dutchess County and the barn in New Paltz in Ulster County, and the writing follows the same map our customers drive. We sponsor community events like the New Paltz fireworks and write about the small local businesses that make this valley worth living in. Neighbors in Beacon, Poughkeepsie, Wappingers Falls, Hopewell Junction, Kingston, Highland, Gardiner, and Rosendale read these posts as much as anyone, so a local guide gets the same care as a cannabis one. If your local event belongs on our radar, send it our way.