Traveling with Harvest Host

We have traveled across the country and stopped and stayed at several Harvest Hosts. Our overall experience has been very satisfactory. Each Harvest Host has been gracious in greeting us and finding a spot to park on their property. Each host has a different approach to hosting. One stay might involve something as simple as a place to park and a quick “Hi” from the owners. Another host may spend more time with you explaining the lay of the land at their farm. Hosts in general will take the time to explain what they have to offer in the way of their products. Wine, beer, whiskey, or mercantile-it’s all available depending on what your host is into. Most host stops have included other guests which are always fun as almost all campers are friendly and ready to sit around the fire and swap stories. Each stay is as unique as the hosts themselves and as usual, is what you make it.

Our first Host stop was at the High Country Alpaca Ranch of John and Carolyn Fifield. John was quite a character and besides being an old rock and roller he tends to the many Alpacas and Great Pyrenees that live at the ranch. The road up to the ranch was a bit tight and tricky for our 28 foot Winnebago with a 15-foot trailer. I would not want to try and make it up there with a big rig. There were 2 other guests at the ranch and with the ability to spread out we had a spot all to ourselves. Be prepared for visitors such as Georgie the Australian Shepard and several Great Pyrenees. The Pyrenees tend to come by for a quick visit while Georgie tended to stay and chat for a while. All good! They have a really nice selection of clothing and other mercantile items made from not only their Alpaca wool but also from other individual artisans from around the world. I am sure John and Carolyn would be more than happy to have you share a spot on their interesting farm with anyone traveling in the Fence Lake, New Mexico area.

Our second stop at a Harvest Host on this westward swing was at the Century Farm Winery in Jackson, TN. A quaint and quiet place to stay, there were three guests including us. One was a camper in an old-style Volkswagen microbus, a classic! The other was a couple who had just retired from the military up in Alaska, sold everything, and hit the road. They had some great stories. Again, not a lot of room to turn around for big rigs (especially when wet) but our soon-to-be friends were able to turn their 40-foot camper with only a slight tussle with some mud. Pat the Irishman was our host in the winery that evening, and we picked up many bottles of their best wine for our RV. Early the next morning it was a beautiful sunrise, and we took advantage of the peacefulness and tranquility to do some yoga in the vineyard. Awesome!

Harvest Host at Catawba Farms in Newton, NC was our third stop of this trip. Like High Country, Catawba also has Australian Shepard dogs along with a variety of farm animals. They were very friendly and interesting to interact with. The owner was on-site and was able to say “Hi” but as with most hands-on owners he had other items on his plate to attend to. The old house on the property was tied in with the great room where the food and wine are served. The beer could stand to be a little colder and we were told they were working on getting a new refrigeration unit. The wine was pleasing and as at many wineries in this part of the country, they were of a sweeter variety. If you have children there are many amusing farm animals to amuse them. We did not eat here but as with many places we cook out at our RV.

Our fourth Host stop was at a beautiful property that sits on top of a hill in Hampshire TN, Amber Falls Winery and Cellars. Tim found us a great spot to set up camp. That night we were the only guests on site. We had the full attention of the owner, Tim, in the wine cellar. He attended the wine cellar with some interesting stories of how he came to this unique location. You just must visit the wine cellar while you are there. The tasting atmosphere coupled with some locally made cheese and meat selections can set the stage for a cozy evening. Don’t forget to sample and buy a few bottles of the cabernet. Very tasty! That evening all the employees left, and the atmosphere turned incredibly quiet. Add in a small fire with Amber Falls wine and it was the kind of evening you always remember. Thanks, Tim!

Whispering Oaks Winery in Oxford Florida was the most capable and complete Harvest Host so far. They have their own line of fine blueberry wines from homegrown blueberries. They also have a restaurant on-site along with a great patio for music and merriment. The owner is a hands-on gentleman who is concerned with the satisfaction of every guest. We had a very spacious area to park our RV under some quaint shade trees. There was more room for RV’s along with the 4 or so that were there with us. We spent the afternoon at the winery making new friends and drinking some awesome oaked blueberry wine. That evening we at the restaurant and had steak and tuna. Both were delicious and the service was good. Our additional treat for the evening was that they had a circus on the grounds. We bundled up with coats and blankets and were entertained by a traveling circus that included the acts of the high wire, dog and pony show, and equestrian feats of ability. It was the perfect end to a fun day at another Harvest Host.