Image Courtesy Karen Hendricks
A “staycation” is defined as “a vacation spent at home or nearby,” according to Merriam-Webster. Here in the Susquehanna Valley of Central Pennsylvania, there are infinite possibilities for summer staycations, saving traveling time and shrinking vacation budgets, with the added benefit of seeing our hometowns in a new light. In fact, some of the state’s top tourism destinations are right under our noses.
One of the most authentic staycation experiences can be found at one of the “farm stays” within A Lancaster County Farm Stay, an association of 20 bed and breakfasts and guesthouses that welcome families with children. Not only do these accommodations provide pretty, pastoral farm settings, but they also offer behind-the-scenes tours and opportunities for couples or families to experience farm life. I headed to Airy Hill Farm B&B to preview their rustic, back-to-basics farm charm.
“Airy Hill Farm Bed & Breakfast: Life as it should be,” reads the sign aside the winding driveway, in the midst of lush, rolling green farmland, shady clusters of trees and several babbling brooks. Situated in northern Lancaster County, just a few miles from Lebanon County, Airy Hill Farm B&B is named for its picturesque Lancaster County backroad, Airy Hill Road, in Manheim.
Retirees Mark and Hazel Nestleroth (aka “Farmer Mark” and “Grandma Hazel”) have lived on the property, or close by, for all of their adult married lives. Actually, Mark has always lived on Airy Hill—he’s a 5th generation farmer, as his family established their farm in 1852. He even attended Airy Hill School, a one-room school nearby.
With the owners’ deep family roots in the area, it’s no wonder the most frequent comment guests make is that “it feels likes home,” according to Hazel, who strives to memorize all guests’ names and ages so that she can greet them by name when they arrive. “We believe in hospitality, treating guests according to the golden rule—how you would want to be treated when you traveled somewhere,” says Hazel. “Lancaster County is known for agriculture. This is a place where people can enjoy the simpler things in life,” Mark adds.
The sunlight streams into Airy Hill’s large, open-concept dining room, kitchen and living room as we talk. Windows running the length of the dining room look down upon a gently sloped green hill, a meandering creek which eventually flows into Chiques Creek, and woods. Birdfeeders and butterfly bushes create an ever-changing view of brightly-colored visitors just outside the windows.
“It’s amazing how many guests have never been on a farm before—people look out the windows and can’t believe how green it is,” Mark says, gesturing towards the rolling hillside. “In June and July, when the fireflies come out, it looks like there are Christmas lights in the trees,” says Hazel.
The couple, who met in the 7th grade and started dating when they were high school juniors, will be married 51 years this month. While Mark focused on his farming career, Hazel spent 25 years teaching in the Hempfield and Manheim Central School Districts. So what led them to open a B&B in their retirement?
“We went to the Poconos every year with three other couples for a weekend,” Hazel recalls. “One year, around 2001 or 2002, there was an ice storm. I said, ‘Let’s not cancel—come here instead.’ So we hosted the weekend and had a great time. One of our friends commented that we should change our home into a B&B.”
That planted a seed, but it took a while for it to grow.
“The place was too quiet,” Hazel says with a smile. “I missed the noise and activity of our five children, and I missed the noise of teaching…so two years after we retired, we visited a B&B in Chestertown, Maryland—a gift from our kids—with the purpose of brainstorming about our plans. When we came home and proceeded to tell our children, they thought we were crazy at first, to embark on this new direction at the age of 65. But they were supportive and helped us open on Memorial Day weekend of 2009.”
Their home, built by Hazel’s brother on 20 select acres of Mark’s original family farm, offers guests the choice of two single rooms—one features a walk-in closet converted into a bunk bed treehouse for kids—plus a two-room suite.
Classic toys are displayed throughout the home, like a farm-themed tic-tac-toe set and a large wooden barn with animals. Likewise, the property is dotted with family-friendly activities—including a game court, a gazebo and the creek, where children can use Airy Hill’s nets and buckets to catch minnows, crawfish or the occasional salamander. At night, the outdoor fire pit is the place to be, as guests roast marshmallows.
The farm-fresh air combined with plenty of activities help work up a hearty appetite for Hazel’s bountiful breakfasts. Her menu features homemade pancakes, waffles, French toast or baked oatmeal—one of the guests’ favorites; eggs; sausage, bacon, or ham; fruit; and plenty of coffee and juice. Homemade jams and jellies accompany her scones—another Airy Hill favorite.
Following breakfast, “Farmer Mark” leads farm tours at 8:30 a.m. Kids have the chance to take the farm’s two miniature horses and two alpacas for walks, to visit the henhouse to gather the day’s eggs and to pet the rabbits. There are always plenty of questions, says Mark. “‘How does a chicken lay an egg?’ is one of the most common questions,” he says with a chuckle.
This summer, guests have the opportunity to witness a brand-new mission project come to life at Airy Hill Farm. “We’re going to be raising chicks—three batches of 400 chicks through the summer, until they reach broiler size,” says Mark. “It’s a cooperative effort with Hunger Free Lancaster County. A hatchery in Elizabethtown is giving the chicks to us at cost, the feed is being provided at cost, I’m donating the location and space for them to be raised, the shavings are being donated, and the processing of the chickens so that they are vacuum-packed and ready for the freezer is being provided below cost.”
“The chickens will go right into the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s freezers in Harrisburg to provide protein for people who need it. There are hungry people right here in Lancaster County—the bread basket of the country. We need to get the idea out there so that other farms will hopefully get involved too,” Mark says.
In the meantime, this summer’s guests will learn a lot—and enjoy visiting with hundreds of chicks as they grow into chickens.
Through the summer, Airy Hill stays busy with 10-12 guests per night. “When we’re full, we refer people to the other B&Bs in the farm stay association,” Hazel says. “We enjoy sharing recommendations, not competing with each other.”
During the day, guests don’t have to travel far to find more Lancaster County fun. The Wolf Sanctuary of PA is less than three miles away, the unique shops and restaurants of Lititz are six miles away, Kreider Farms Tour in Manheim is seven miles down the road, and the Mount Hope Estate & Winery—site of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in season—is about four miles away. Guests can also easily explore Hershey, Dutch Wonderland, Mount Gretna or Cherry Crest Adventure Farm.
“About 45-55 percent of our guests are return visitors. But when people come back, they often bring friends or more family, which is really fun,” says Hazel. “People have written wonderful reviews on Trip Advisor—about 138 of them—every one of them positive,” Mark says proudly.
“We know we’re successful when the kids don’t want to leave,” says Hazel. “In fact, sometimes they even cry.”
More Info: airyhillfarmbedandbreakfast.com