When we pulled into Stone Acres Farm in Stonington, CT, the light had just started fading across the 63 acres of rolling fields, flower gardens and vegetable beds. The air smelled like soil and sea salt—a mix unique to coastal New England. We weren’t just there to visit; we were there to learn, taste and understand how travel can reconnect us with Mother Earth herself.

Agrotourism—travel that combines agriculture and leisure—has been steadily growing (pun intended) around the world. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), agrotourism has grown by more than 30 percent in the past decade. In the United States alone, there are now more than 28,000 agrotourism farms, based to the most recent USDA Census of Agriculture data (2022). Worldwide, that number stretches into the hundreds of thousands—from vineyard stays in Italy to lavender farms in Japan—each one sharing its own stories of skills and sustainability.

Why Agrotourism Is Growing

After years of hyper-connected itineraries, travelers are craving quiet. The pandemic accelerated the desire for open-air experiences, and now travelers of all kinds—from students studying abroad to business travelers tacking on an extra weekend—are seeking meaningful moments in natural settings.

Agrotourism offers the chance to experience something rare: participation instead of just observation. You can pick fruit, feed animals, take cooking classes, learn regenerative farming or simply slow down long enough to appreciate the rhythm of rural life. Travel industry experts talk about farm stays as the new boutique hotels, complete with handmade cheese tastings and trails through wildflower fields.

Stone Acres Farm

Stone Acres Farm has been part of Connecticut’s historic agricultural landscape since the 18th century. Once a working dairy farm, it now hosts community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, flower workshops and farm-to-table dinners under the trees.

Garden tours are often led by the farmers, who explain how the team integrates sustainable agriculture and biodiversity—from rotating crops to supporting pollinator habitats. The tours showcase nature in various forms, from beehives to brick greenhouses from the mid-1800s, and the food is fresh and memorable, from appetizers through desserts.

What sets Stone Acres apart is its accessibility. Travelers visiting Mystic, CT, or the Rhode Island coast can easily add a half-day stop here by car, train or even bike (the farm is just 10 minutes from Mystic Station). You can sign up for a farm dinner series, a bouquet-making workshop or seasonal volunteer days. 

Adding Agrotourism to Your Travels

You don’t need to be outdoorsy to enjoy agrotourism. You just need curiosity and a willingness to get your hands a little dirty. Here are a few ways to dive in:

• Research local farms before your trip. Sites like Agrotourism World and Farm Stay USA help travelers find authentic rural experiences worldwide.
• Ask about day tours. Many farms offer short experiences—from cheese-making in Vermont to olive picking in Greece—that fit easily into a weekend.
• Support small producers. Buying local honey, wine or preserves helps sustain rural economies while giving you a literal and figurative taste of the local environment.

All agrotourism experiences are different, but they tend to share one similarity: they all aim to be restorative. There’s no Wi-Fi in the field, no notifications between rows of corn, just the satisfaction of connecting with the people who grow what you eat. 

Agrotourism isn’t just a travel trend; it’s a movement toward balance. Whether you’re traveling across continents or counties, thanks to this growing trend, you can always find a way to slow down and reconnect—one seed, field and meal at a time.