Hudson Valley Road Trip Recap

July 18, 2025

Creative growth can spark anywhere, but it rarely happens by accident. It requires the courage to leave familiar routines, to enter new spaces, and to surround yourself with people who challenge and inspire you.

From the outside, our Skillette summer road trip may have looked luxurious: a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, a five-star resort stay, renowned chefs, a yoga class overlooking wildflower meadows. But the real transformation wasn’t pampering. It was expansion. Of minds, of hearts, of what we believe is possible.

The night before the trip, I couldn't sleep. My mind looped through every potential hiccup. What if the van breaks down? What if we don’t all get along? What if I can’t figure out how to work the solar powered system? What if it's too much? But fear has a funny way of showing up before something meaningful.

What I learned is this: Shared values matter more than shared interests. The women on this trip came from different backgrounds and had different tastes, but we were united by something deeper: a love of beauty, of intentional living, of care. When you share values, connection comes easily. You don’t need to agree on everything; you just need to care about the same kinds of things.

That’s also true of places. Wildflower Farms wasn’t just beautiful. It felt aligned. The design, the food, the approach to land and community. Everything reflected a set of values we hold dear at Skillette: regeneration, beauty, artistry, connection, stewardship, and quiet confidence. It was a place that didn’t just look good, it made us think about what else could be possible in our own lives and work.

Traveling to places that don’t reflect your values can be instructive and very insightful too. But visiting a place that does, and does so exquisitely, unlocks something powerful. It gives you a living model of your ideals in action.

If you’re planning your own summer escape or creative retreat, here’s our full itinerary and a few travel tips to help you get inspired:

Skillette Summer Road Trip: DC to Hudson Valley and Back Again!

Thursday, July 10 — DC > New Hope, PA > Wildflower Farms, NY

8:00 AM | Depart Washington, D.C. in a Mercedes Sprinter Van
Midday | Lunch in New Hope, PA + walk across the bridge to Lambertville, NJ (stop at V Spot Vegan Café!)
3:00 PM | Check-in at Wildflower Farms
3:30 PM | Poolside relaxation
6:15 PM | Fireside botanical cocktails on the Great Porch
7:15 PM | Chef’s Table dinner at Clay Lounge
Evening | Full moon walk back to the cabins with fireflies dancing in the meadows

Friday, July 11 — Culinary Creativity + Campfire Connection

8:00 AM | Yoga class
9:00–10:00 AM | Breakfast
11:30 AM–3:00 PM | Cherry Bombe Summer Tastemakers Event
- Lunch and panel with NYC chefs Sohui Kim, Leah Cohen, Angie Rito
- Hands-on focaccia art workshop with Ashley Napoli (aka The Focaccia Flourist -- she offers classes year round at Wildflower Farms)
4:00 PM | Depart for Boulder Point Camp
5:00 PM | Camp setup and golden hour aperitivo
7:00 PM | Farmstand camp dinner
- Bucatini with spicy tomatoes
- Farm greens with citrus herb vinaigrette
- “Cheffy S’mores” by the fire
Fall asleep under the trees to a chorus of cicadas

Saturday, July 12 — Art, Nature, and the Journey Home

Morning | Coffee and tea by the fire, omelets and eggs with local eggs and leftover focaccia, yogurt and Skillette granola
Camp Craft | Wildflower-dyed bandanas
Pack up and head out!
Stop by Storm King Art Center
Midday | Lunch at The Moth in Allentown, NJ
Late Afternoon | Return to D.C.

Tips

Make the journey part of the trip. Plan small detours to stop for lunch in small towns, grocery shop at farm stands, and seek out outdoor and local art.
Find unique camping sites on the Hipcamp App. It's like AirBnB for camping! You can see reviews and if you're new to camping it's a great place to start.
Download the Merlin Bird App. Waking up to birdsong and knowing which bird is singing is a subtle thrill.

Thank You

A heartfelt thank you to Mercedes-Benz Vans for the perfect road companion and to Wildflower Farms for showing us what intentional hospitality can look and feel like. We returned home a little bolder, a little more rested, and a lot more inspired.