Harvest Hosts

When Susan and I started talking about van life, she spoke frequently about using Harvest Hosts for overnight stays. For anyone considering traveling by van or RV, a Harvest Host subscription is definitely worth considering. In the last couple of months, we have stayed in some truly magnificent places using Harvest Hosts and we have enjoyed every single place. Susan also spoke highly of places that she stayed during her previous travels.

The use of Harvest Hosts requires a subscripton. We paid approximately $150 for an annual membership. This was a sale price at the start of the year and the cost also includes Boondockers Welcome plus golf courses. The price for just a Harvest Host membership is around $100 annually. We have not yet stayed at any golf courses, so not sure if we will opt in for that when we renew our membership next year. With a basic membership, you can stay at wineries, farms, breweries, and distilleries. An additional membership also allows for the opportunity to stay at golf courses. Boondockers Welcome allows you to stay on the property of private homes.

With the subscription, you can stay free for one night at a multitude of sites. However, you are generally expected to buy a service or product from the host for the chance to stay on the property. This is where the use of Harvest Host sometimes gets negative comments because if you are expected to purchase something, then it is no longer technically free. But, our opinion is that if you stay at places like farms or wineries then we are buying products we would normally buy anyway. You can purchase as little or as much as you want when staying at a Harvest Host location. At Boondocker’s Welcome, you are not obligated to pay anything at all.

We have stayed at the following locations to date:

• Hildebrand Winery, Gettysburg, PA
  We did a wine tasting for $20, purchased three bottles of wine, a candle and a jar of honey harvested from hives kept on the farm

• Starry Night Alpaca Farm, near Gettysburg, PA
  The host took us on a tour of the farm and provided general information about alpacas. There was no charge for the tour. After the tour, we visited the farm shop and purchased some alpaca products.

• Meduseld Meadery, Lancaster, PA
  If you like mead, then the Meduseld Meadery is well worth a visit when you are in Lancaster. However, I believe they are only open in the evenings. Susan and I each had a couple of glasses of mead and we purchased several bottles since we there two nights before Easter Sunday so we bought them to share with family. This is also one of the advantages to staying at a Harvest Host; you have the chance to buy unique gifts or items to share with family and friends.

• Heron Hill Winery, Hammondsport, NY (overlooking Keuka Lake)
  This is an absolutely stunning location. The parking lot for RVs sits just below the winery building and has a magnificent view of the lake. Susan had a glass of wine and I had a flight of three wines. This cost us $20. We then purchased a bottle of wine each, a block of locally made cheese, and a packet of good salami. We ate the cheese and salami as for an evening appetizer. We enjoyed a glass of two of the wine with our evening meal. The bottles of wine, cheese, and salami cost $59.03. Certainly not exorbitant!

• Barrelhouse 6 Distillery, Hammondsport, NY (overlooking Keuka Lake)
  The view of the lake from here is better than from Heron Hill Winery as the distillery property sits lower on the hill. There is also less vegetation here to hinder the view of the lake, so you get a wider view of the lake. The distillery has a long deck that gives you an unobstructed view of the lake. I very enjoyed the four samples I tried for $15. I sampled the bourbon, rye, bourbon cream, and moonshine. I was not a fan of the moonshine; the rye was excellent as was the bourbon cream. The bourbon was good, but not one of my favorites. I also had an old fashioned which was superb. Susan had the Irish Setter cocktail made with the bourbon cream which she enjoyed somewhat. We also ordered a bah, which is.a Korean meat pie, and a packet of honey siracha cheese curds. Both were delicious. The meat pie had great flavoring of spices.

Because of the opportunity to sample various different foods, spirits, or wines and to purchase unique items for gifts or yourselves, a Harvest Host membership is well worth the cost. In general, the items we have purchased when staying on a host property have been less than $100. The most we spent was $160. We have not considered the cost of the items we have purchased so far at host properties really excessive. One can spend as little as desired and you are not actually obligated to purchase anything at a host property, though it is in good faith to purchase at least something. Even if you do not drink alcohol, there are other things to buy such as pottery, linens, or food. The other advantage to staying at a Harvest Host property is location. Consider the fact that we stayed at two places overlooking Keuka Lake. At both locations, the items we purchased were around $70. The cost of a room with a view like the ones that we had would likely be at least $500 per night, perhaps considerably more.

Considering all the views you get, unique locations, and unique items available for purchase, a Harvest Host subscription is a must have subscription for van life.