Vineyards of Northeast USA Road Trip

Itinerary

1 Night – Brooklyn
1 Night – Cape May
2 Nights – Kennett Square
2 Nights – Hershey
1 Night – Ithaca
3 Nights – New York

✈️ UK to Brooklyn (1 night):  You’ll begin your adventure in Brooklyn, New York’s creative and cultural hub. With just one night here before exploring the vineyards of the Northeast, make the most of your time soaking up Brooklyn’s charm. Wander through DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) to capture the iconic photo of the Manhattan Bridge framed by cobblestone streets. For panoramic skyline views, visit the Brooklyn Heights Promenade or explore the Brooklyn Museum and Botanic Garden. To kick off your wine tour, visit the Brooklyn Winery in Williamsburg, where you can enjoy local wines in an urban setting.

🚗 Brooklyn to Cape May (1 night): You’ll leave the buzz of Brooklyn behind as you head south towards the Atlantic coast. For a scenic detour, stop at Amalthea Cellars Farm Winery in Atco. Here, you can experience wine tastings in a candlelit barrel cellar, offering a rustic setting that feels more like a French chateau than a slice of New Jersey.  Continuing on, you’ll arrive in Cape May, a Victorian seaside town with tree-lined streets and colourful gingerbread houses. Climb the Cape May Lighthouse for some fabulous coastal views or explore the historic charm of the town. Just outside the centre, Cape May Winery & Vineyard provides a perfect spot to sip wine on the deck while overlooking the vines. You can also head to Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery, just outside of Cape May and set on farmland cultivated by three generations. Here you can enjoy wine tastings and live music in a lovely setting.

🚗 Cape May to Kennett Square (2 nights): Next, you’ll drive northwest through rolling countryside arriving in Kennett Square. The town is known as the ‘Mushroom Capital,’ as it produces half of the USA’s mushrooms.  However, there’s more to taste than fungi: Kennett Square sits in the Brandywine Valley, an area known for its growing number of family-run wineries.  To taste the local produce, visit Galer Estate Vineyards, where small-batch wines are paired with stunning vineyard views in a lovely, rustic setting. A short drive away in Avondale, you can also enjoy tastings at Va La Vineyards, sampling wines in a historic barn complemented by artisan cheeses.  Also try Chaddsford Winery, where their wine is best enjoyed by the fire pit with a tasting guide to walk you through the menu. Another of the region’s highlights is Longwood Gardens, a stunning 1,100-acre estate with landscaped gardens, woodlands, and meadows.

🚗 Kennett Square to Hershey (2 nights):  Hopping back in the car, your next leg will see you continue the drive northwest to Hershey, where the air is filled with the sweet smell of chocolate. Hershey is home to the world-famous Hershey Chocolate Factory and the Hershey Story Museum, which charts Milton Hershey’s journey from humble beginnings to creating his chocolate empire. At Hershey’s Chocolate World, you can explore chocolate-making attractions and enjoy tastings.  And what better way to complement all that chocolate than with some world-class wine?  Fortunately, Hershey is also home to several fantastic vineyards. Visit Cullari Vineyards on Chocolate Avenue, or Cassel Vineyards with live music and wide-open views. For a more secluded experience, head to the Armstrong Valley Vineyard & Winery, set in a 200-year-old barn with horse stables and pretty waterfalls.

🚗 Hershey to Ithaca (1 night):   For the penultimate leg of your trip, you’ll head north to Ithaca in New York’s Finger Lakes region. Along the way, you’ll notice the landscape shift from farmland to forested hills.  And when you arrive in the region, you’ll be greeted by dramatic gorges, cascading waterfalls, and exceptional cool-climate wines. As part of the Cayuga Lake Wine trail, there’s a lot to explore.  Visit family-owned favourites such as Hosmer Winery or Buttonwood Grove. Or, if you’d like to venture a bit further, the nearby Seneca Lake Wine Trail is home to celebrated producers including Lamoreaux Landing, Hermann J. Wiemer, and Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery. Other local highlights include Taughannock Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Rockies, and Ithaca Falls, right in the heart of town. For a taste of local life, head to The Commons, a lively pedestrian area filled with shops, cafes, and often live street performances.

🚗 Ithaca to New York City (3 nights): The final leg of your journey will take you to the Big Apple.  We recommend taking the scenic route through the Hudson Valley, dotted with farmhouses, charming villages, and glimpses of the Catskills. If time allows, you could take a slight detour and stop in the valley’s wine country at one of the wineries such as Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, or Benmarl Winery, one of America’s oldest vineyards overlooking the Hudson River.   On arrival into New York, you’ll have your pick of iconic sights.  Stroll through the leafy paths of Central Park, take in the views from the Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building, and wander the neon streets of Times Square.  If you’re an art lover, head to The Met or the Museum of Modern Art, and for a slice of history, visit the poignant 9/11 Memorial & Museum.  Another must-do is to hop on a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. To end your wine tour in style, head to the City Winery in SoHo, where you can sip wine straight from the tap while enjoying live music or a relaxed dinner in the atmospheric Barrel Room.

✈️ New York to UK:  Having journeyed from the vineyards of rural Pennsylvania to the urban cellars of Manhattan, your adventure will conclude as you board your flight back to the UK.