Brighde: [00:00:00] Hello Anna, welcome to the World Vegan Travel Podcast.



Anna: Hi, thanks for 



Brighde: I'm really pleased to have you on to talk about a place that is such a sanctuary for so many living beings, for animals and I think also for people as well and that is the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary and you're going to be sharing today an accommodation option that people can participate in, so that they can go to this beautiful part of the world. you're going to talk about the experiences that they can have for sure. Why don't you tell us a little bit, Anna about what it is that you do at Woodstock?



Anna: at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, I'm the Education Manager, so which means that I oversee, and manage all of our education programs, including our in-person visiting, and under that umbrella is the Grey Barn Inn, which is located on the property of the Sanctuary. Yeah, I love meeting people coming from all [00:01:00] over, who visit the sanctuary and introduce them to the animals and tell them about our mission, to advocate for them.



Brighde: Could you tell us a little bit about the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary?



Anna: Yeah, definitely. Woodstock Sanctuary is home to about 400 rescued animals. Most have been rescued from situations of abuse and neglect and just the animal agriculture industry in general. So we give all of those animals lifelong care and really advocate for them as individuals and also advocate for their counterparts who are still in the food system.



Brighde: I was lucky enough to go to the Woodstock Animal Sanctuary maybe about 8 or 10 years ago now and it was just amazing. Absolutely stunning. We had a tour with one of your colleagues, I don't know if they're still there, and it was so informative and so wonderful and the space was absolutely beautiful. Can you describe a little bit about the space [00:02:00] of the sanctuary?



Anna: Yeah, so maybe when you visited, we were on the borderline. I don't know if you were at our new property, which is actually located in High Falls, New York. We moved down a little bit further from Woodstock than we used to be in 2015. But the property is really beautiful. It's 150 acres and it's surrounded by the Rondout Creek with really beautiful views of the mountains and lots of space for the animals, of course. A mix of like open spaces and then woods all around the border.



Brighde: Tell me a little bit about the way that people can go and visit the sanctuary.



Anna: there are a of ways to visit and also just to be involved. We do have public tours, those take place on most Saturdays from May to November. we're ramping up to get that going right now. Public tours are just a great way to get to know the sanctuary. Your guide will introduce you to, not everybody, because with 400 animals, too many to meet in just the 90 minute tour. But, you get a [00:03:00] pretty good sense of who's around and learn about the mission and everything like that. We also do private tours, which is a nice way if you want more time with the animals or a more custom experience. Volunteering is a great way to visit and meet the animals too, and then like mentioned before, we also have the Grey Barn Inn on site, where if you wanted to stay overnight, guests of the Grey Barn can also have access to the grounds of the sanctuary while they're with us. 



Brighde: Can you tell us the story behind the Grey Barn?



Anna: Sure, the Grey Barn is really a perk for members of the Sanctuary. Once you become a member, there are all kinds of perks that kind of come with that. But, the construction was completed in 2019, and prior to that, we had received funding to build the space. The idea is that it would be a steady source of revenue for the sanctuary.



when you stay at the Grey Barn, you're really contributing to the larger mission of the sanctuary, which is pretty special. In 2019, we opened, and then, unfortunately, shortly after, [00:04:00] we had to close because of COVID. for the past couple years, we've been ramping up again. But it's a really beautiful space, there's an open common area, where people can gather. We serve breakfast, a vegan breakfast, every morning that we're open. There are five ensuite rooms, each of them is named for, either a current or a former sanctuary resident. Some of our rooms are named for residents who have passed away, kind of legacy residents. Each room has its own balcony that overlooks one of our goat pastures and the river and the mountains. It's a really beautiful space.



Brighde: So can you tell me a little bit about what's like the vibe and the decor that you feel as you're spending time there?



Anna: It's very bright. It's a minimalist vibe, in the common area. The wall facing the goat pasture, it's just a wall of windows. So it feels very light, bright and open. There's an upstairs, smaller, little common space, to hang out in that has a balcony [00:05:00] that overlooks the bottom too. So definitely a minimalist aesthetic.



Brighde: Is it correct when I say that only members of the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary are actually able to stay here, or can anyone stay there?



Anna: it is a perk for members, and the way that it works is that when you sign up for your membership, you get a code. So you get a 10 percent discount off of the listed room price. Then membership also comes with discounts to a lot of local restaurants here and also in New York City. It's actually just like a really nice thing to have set up before your stay. It helps you enjoy the area even more, I would say.



Brighde: something we haven't really talked about is the location of the sanctuary and the grey barn and how people might get there, because I'm thinking that people would obviously want to come and support Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. But I'm sure they would love to explore the surrounding area as well and maybe stay for a few days, a week, something like that. where is it located and how can [00:06:00] people get there, particularly if they don't have a car? 



Anna: So we are located in High Falls, New York, which is in the Hudson Valley region. We're about 90 minutes from New York City, which is definitely convenient. So you have a lot of major airports to choose from. To actually get out to the sanctuary without a car, it's a little bit of a journey, but there are options to take trains up from New York City. There are buses that come fairly close, not super close and then taxi services in the area will get you all the way. I would say, to fully explore everything that the area has to offer, it does really help to have a car or to rent a car for the time.



Brighde: That's good to know. I wonder who the majority of your guests are, given that it's a very convenient distance from New York. I imagine that a lot of New Yorkers come to stay with you. 



Yeah, 



Anna: A lot of New Yorkers do come up. The whole Hudson Valley isa classic weekend getaway for people in New York City. definitely a lot of New Yorkers, [00:07:00] but we have people who come from all over the country. We do have international guests come as well, not as commonly, but certainly does happen. I would say for our public tours and visiting in general, New York City is probably the place that people are coming from the most.



Brighde: I love it. So I'm wondering, for guests that do stay with you, what do they report as being some of the real benefits to staying with you, compared with staying in a hotel nearby?



Anna: I think one of the biggest perks is the access to the grounds that you have. we do a private tour for just the people who are staying, at the Gray Barn every weekend, you get a lot of animal time during that experience. Meet a lot of the animals up close and spend a good amount of time with them. But then as you stay, you can walk around, say hi to the animals over the fence and just take as much time as you want out there on the grounds. It's really peaceful and just beautiful at all times of year, I think. that access to the ground is something that we don't offer to people generally. [00:08:00] something that you only get by staying, at the Great Barn.



Brighde: I love it, as well as having a vegan breakfast and trying to do a lot of education for vegans, are there any other things that you do to try to make the experience as sustainable as travel can be?



Anna: Yeah, we definitely take sustainability into account as much as we possibly can. Like you said, we do vegan breakfast every morning, try and have as little food waste as possible. So we pay close attention to that. We use all natural cleaning products everywhere at the sanctuary. That helps too. We compost as well, we have a big compost pile at the sanctuary out in the woods, so any food scraps and everything goes out there. We just try and pay attention to it.



We also have a really nice little pollinator garden outside of the sanctuary, so we love to care for and encourage native plants around the area. We also do try as much as possible to be bug and bird friendly, not leaving a ton of [00:09:00] lights on at night, to be friendly to bugs and birds as well. we try and just have our footprint be light, as much as we can.



Brighde: Fantastic. Because you only have five bedrooms in the barn, I imagine that would be quite interesting for a big family gathering or groups of friends or some sort of reunion. Do you get a lot of people doing that?



Anna: We do occasionally. You can rent the whole inn out for the weekend, Thursday through Sunday, which is our general open times to be there. And it really is a great option. We've had birthday weekends, work retreats, family reunions for sure. It's really fun to have access to the whole space. Typically, when we're open, guests can use the fridge and the microwave, but not the oven and the stove. So that our staff can have access to cook there for breakfast. But when you rent out the whole space, you can use the full kitchen. So that can be really fun.



Typically, we don't have kids staying in the barn. So you have to be a teenager or older to stay. So If you are a family [00:10:00] with younger kids, it can be a good option to rent out the full space and have your people of all ages in there.



Brighde: I love it. And is the Grey Barn open all year or does it align with the other tours that you do during the summer months?



Anna: We take a winter break, we'll close mid December, and then we reopen in mid February, so it is open more than our tour season, but we close for what is usually the worst weather of the year, that makes it difficult for people to travel, anyway. we have that little break and then, mid February, we start back up again.



 can you talk a little bit about the surrounding area around the sanctuary? what can people expect in terms of landscapes and scenery, things that?



Anna: It's a place with a lot of rivers, which is really beautiful. So smaller rivers and creeks around. The mountains are around as well. it's like a hilly, rivery, [00:11:00] foresty, kind of area. We're elevated above the Rondout Creek and then there are a lot of other rivers in the area too.



Brighde: That's my memory of it as well and I was there in June and it was so green and forested and leafy, it really just felt like a paradise there for sure.



Anna: Yeah, it gets so green. It's really a beautiful place. 



Brighde: Amazing. we've got the sanctuary there, we've got the fact that it's so beautiful, particularly in the spring and summer months, and probably fall as well. What are some of the other really interesting places to go and check out? Maybe let's start with some, little towns that are close by.



Anna: We have the best of all worlds, I think, because the sanctuary itself, it's pretty far out there, and you feel very peaceful and quiet. Then there are a number of smaller cities and towns that have a lot going on for their size, that are all not too far of a drive away. So the closest to the sanctuary is the town of Rosendale, which is definitely a small town, it's one [00:12:00] main street that has a lot to offer, a bunch of different restaurants, little thrift stores, really cute movie theater, Rosendale Theater, and they also have a nice farmer's market for most of the year really. I love Rosendale, that's the closest. Then, New Paltz is also quite close, so that's the college town, SUNY New Paltz is the college there. Like any college town, there's a ton of restaurants, a lot of stuff to do. So I always encourage people to check New Paltz out, especially if you're looking for good vegan food. That's really a great place to go.



Brighde: Can you name a couple of your favorites there?



Anna: Sure, yeah, Lagusta's Luscious, is a chocolate company, they're somewhat widely known. They have a spot in New York City as well but that's all ethically sourced, all vegan chocolate. Sometimes they do lunch food also. I think that's a don't miss spot for sure. Then Karma Road is also a vegan place in New Paltz. They've been around for a really long time and that is also super delicious.



Brighde: [00:13:00] So this area is fairly rural, I would say, from what you are talking about. So I'm wondering what are some ways that people could enjoy nature in this area?



Anna: So many options. There's a lot of hiking. If you go up to the town of Woodstock, there's a lot of hiking that you can do up north that way. There's also Minnewaska State Park that is pretty close by and at Minnewaska there are tons of hiking trails. You can swim there. If you're around in the winter, you can cross-country ski there, endless possibilities there at Minnewaska, but I would say if you're interested in hiking, you'll never get bored.



Brighde: What about activities on the water? Given that there is so much water around. 



Anna: If you are interested in, going out on a boat or kayaking, there are also Spots to do that. There are lakes that I feel would be good for kayaking. Some of the rivers would be a little bit intense for being out on the water, so you have to find your spot, but there are definitely kayak rental places around. So if that's something that [00:14:00] you're interested in. Then there are swimming holes, if you know where to look, there's definitely a lot of swimming, as well. 



Brighde: It really does sound like such a nice place to go during the summer. really lovely. What about like cultural activities? I'm thinking like museums or shows or festivals, things like that. 



Anna: There's a lot going on culture-wise, a lot of live music, which is really fun, and a wide variety of genres too. So a lot of smaller music venues if that is your thing. In the summertime, there are a lot of community festivals. Rosendale, the town we were just talking about, they have a big street festival, in the summer, which is really fun. Then there are music festivals around, too. It just depends on when you're coming, really, but there's always something going on. Then the city of Kingston, which is like a 20 minute drive from the sanctuary, they do a lot of town events where they'll close down the street and there's a lot to do.



Brighde: That sounds good. And I'm wondering about certain activities that you can [00:15:00] do, like when you mentioned the fact that the river's a little bit scary for just kayaking. I wondered whether maybe there was some like whitewater rafting or some other sort of organized activities that people could do to get more familiar with the area.



Anna: Whitewater rafting, I don't know specifically, you might have to go like a little bit further upstate to find that but it's definitely out there. The Hudson River also, it's just a beautiful river to explore and to learn about the history of it. There's actually a little museum in Kingston where you can learn about the river and its significance to the area. Because there's a long and interesting history there, for sure. 



Brighde: I don't expect you to be able to do a history lecture for us right now, but for somebody who doesn't know this part of the world at all, what's a couple of anecdotes about the history of the area, or why is the Hudson River so important?



Anna: for a lot of reasons, it's a huge river, that goes all the way down to New [00:16:00] York City and then all the way up. When the state was being colonized, there was a lot of activity up and down the river there, transporting goods from one place to another. It's a very significant artery for that kind of thing. Then on a totally different note, if you're interested in art, the Hudson River School of Painting, that style of painting, I would say pretty well known and really beautiful. So there's a lot of really gorgeous art that has come out of the Hudson River area.



Brighde: Okay, so I'm very curious, are there any other kind of interesting cultural experiences that travelers to this area might be able to have? For example, I don't know, Indigenous activities or experience or sites or things that they might see?



Anna: 



Yeah, so, in terms of, like, learning about history, we don't have, a local museum or anything like that, but something that is, pretty interesting in this area is you can actually walk on a short trail in the Mohonk [00:17:00] Preserve that is a documented path that the Lenape people would take, traveling to and from the Hudson River.



Anna: you can visit that area and walk along that path and sort of, experience, 



That place. And the Mohonk Preserve is, quite close to the sanctuary There's a lot to do in there as well. So, I think I would definitely encourage people to check that out.



It's called the Sean Gum Path in the Mohonk Preserve and is not a long trail, but, it is a documented, path that the native people would walk in this.



Brighde: Does it have some, information panels?



Anna: I don't believe that there is, but, it's a marked trail. so you can, Yeah, you can walk along there, and there's a lot that you can read about Indigenous people in the area, but unfortunately, like I said, like museum wise, there really isn't a lot, unfortunately, like most of the history of this area.



is from the Dutch perspective, who really just very violently displaced and dispersed, the people who are [00:18:00] indigenous to this area.



Brighde: Okay. I'd love to know, for people that were maybe going to come up for the weekend, what you say is like the best itinerary? Let's say people came up on Friday after work, or after flying in, what would they do?



Anna: I would check into the Grey Barn, jump on your during the visiting season, Friday evening, kind of sunset tour of the sanctuary. and then, go out to dinner. I usually recommend people go up to the town of Woodstock, to the Garden Cafe, it's a classic up there. And then walk around Woodstock, it's a cute little downtown, see what's going on up there, come back to sleep, wake up early, go for a walk around the sanctuary, eat breakfast. Then, I would either Go into Kingston to the Kingston Farmer's Market, lots of good food, a fun atmosphere, there's music a lot of the time, check that out. Then, bop around Kingston in the morning and then [00:19:00] Explore New Paltz if you're feeling energetic. Maybe on your second day, go for a little hike maybe go to Minnewaska and spend the day there. Pack a picnic and just make a day of it. low key, but that's what vacation's all about, 



Brighde: I agree, I agree. All right, Anna, I think this is so interesting. I really encourage everyone who is in New York to go and check out this part of the world if they haven't already. Can you explain to listeners how they might stay or to become a member and how would they book? Maybe if you're able to, give a sense of the nightly cost for staying there, if there's any conditions, like a minimum stay, something like that.



Anna: So to book, First, you can become a member at Woodstock's sanctuary. org. The cost is $40 for the calendar year And, aside from your Great Barn discount, And local restaurant discounts with the membership, You can also come to our public Saturday tours for free and bring two people with you, that's also a pretty major [00:20:00] perk if you're local or semi local. It ends up being a pretty good deal and also, of course, it helps to support the animals at the sanctuary, which is the best part. When you book, you can go to The Gray Barn. org. We don't have a minimum stay, so you can stay for one, two, or three nights. I think I mentioned earlier, we're open, Thursdays through Sunday, Thursday afternoon is the earliest you can check in. Then The pricing depends on how many nights you stay, the one night rate pre member discount is 3 84, and then If you stay two nights or more, there's an additional discount on top of that. We want people to stay for more than one night because I think it just gives you the fullest experience and just like really lets you settle in and get to know the area.. 



Brighde: I love it, and, it's just so wonderful, you staying there. People will be really making a big difference to the work that Woodstock Animal Sanctuary does, and, of course, I think we can all say that we [00:21:00] definitely need to be supporting our animal sanctuaries, particularly our farmed animal sanctuaries because the hard work that you're all doing not easy. So I can't wait to come back to this beautiful place and I definitely want to check out this place and stay one or two nights. That would be wonderful. So again, just before we go, would you mind sharing the social media handles so that people can follow you and know what's going on? 



Anna: Yeah so to follow, Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, we're at Woodstock Sanctuary,across platforms. We're on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, all the places. And then the Gray Barn is just. The Gray barn. So pretty simple. We care a lot about the work that we're doing and of course a lot about the animals on those platforms. So it's a good way to get to know us and see what a stay could be like.



Brighde: I love it. Thank you, Anna, for taking the time out of what I'm sure is a very busy day for coming to talk with us. We all really appreciate it. [00:22:00] Thank you.



Anna: Thank you so much.