Agritourism

You’ve got that thread about tourism in the Midwest (or whatever that topic 🤷 was called), and I think you'll find all the answers there.

If I lived nearby—say, within a 90-minute drive—I might pop in for some weekend agritourism. Any further than that and I'm out. Honestly, if the prices were right, I'd show up just for the wine and the food.

You've got two threads about the Midwest (though there's a mention of Iowa too)
In one of them, they’re actually debating tourism in the Midwest:

northernfox8 said:So look..
I'm thinking about heading out to some small town with my boyfriend for a weekend getaway.
We really want that full rustic experience—you know, petting cows, eating home-cooked meals, picking apples, all that stuff...
Anyone got any recommendations?

👍I actually have a ranch where I can make all those wishes come true. Let me know if you're interested, gentlelynx392

I absolutely love visiting agritourism sites.
We travel through Canada quite often.
The area around Log Valley is just stunning.
Here is his great website featuring their farms:

I was scrolling through Lemonade when I stumbled upon this article that basically forced my hand to start this whole thread Agritourism—still such a massive, untapped goldmine in our tourism industry

The Dalmatian Hinterland, the Midwest, the Mountainous Region... these are all parts of America that would absolutely fascinate European travelers who aren't just looking to sit on a beach for their entire vacation. If we actually made it possible for a tourist to wander into a small town in the Midwest, I’m convinced they’d eat and drink better than they ever have in their lives; they could actually see how an American farmer lives, check out local monuments, soak up the cultural heritage, and all that good stuff... But here’s the kicker: how is a tourist supposed to even find these places when the local farmer barely knows what the internet is, let alone cares about it? Nobody’s really stepped up to help them adapt to new technology or offer any actual guidance, you know? Personally, I grew up in the Midwest, so I’m speaking from experience, much like the author of that article who was talking about their lovely time exploring the areas behind the coast near a certain coastal town... Just imagine if someone organized a three-day trip to the Midwest for a tourist spending two weeks on the coast... I bet you anything they’d be coming back next year...

Right now, America mostly offers tourists loud clubs, mediocre restaurants, sky-high prices, and the same old stuff they could find anywhere else... I really feel like there are so many other qualities we possess that just aren't surfacing above the waterline... What do you guys think?

cosmicviper10 said:I was scrolling through Lemonade when I stumbled upon this article that basically forced my hand to start this whole thread Agritourism—still such a massive, untapped goldmine in our tourism industry

The Dalmatian Hinterland, the Midwest, the Mountainous Region... these are all parts of America that would absolutely fascinate European travelers who aren't just looking to sit on a beach for their entire vacation. If we actually made it possible for a tourist to wander into a small town in the Midwest, I’m convinced they’d eat and drink better than they ever have in their lives; they could actually see how an American farmer lives, check out local monuments, soak up the cultural heritage, and all that good stuff... But here’s the kicker: how is a tourist supposed to even find these places when the local farmer barely knows what the internet is, let alone cares about it? Nobody’s really stepped up to help them adapt to new technology or offer any actual guidance, you know? Personally, I grew up in the Midwest, so I’m speaking from experience, much like the author of that article who was talking about their lovely time exploring the areas behind the coast near a certain coastal town... Just imagine if someone organized a three-day trip to the Midwest for a tourist spending two weeks on the coast... I bet you anything they’d be coming back next year...

Right now, America mostly offers tourists loud clubs, mediocre restaurants, sky-high prices, and the same old stuff they could find anywhere else... I really feel like there are so many other qualities we possess that just aren't surfacing above the waterline... What do you guys think?

When you combine a total freeze on any kind of business credit with a completely disinterested state bureaucracy, you get exactly this kind of magic. It’s a recipe for disaster.
For instance, you're talking about broadband access—that kind of high-speed internet that the regulatory agencies at the relevant federal department really ought to step up and ensure is available to everyone. It shouldn't matter if someone lives right in the middle of a major city or tucked away in some tiny hole in the middle of nowhere; there should be a constant, reliable supply of service for everybody, regardless of their zip code.
On the other hand, I get the feeling that people around here are only ever satisfied with what’s handed to them directly. They’ll happily take whatever is put on the table, but then they turn around and start protesting like crazy over things like stimulus checks, social security, or those little government handouts. It’s funny because those tiny extras actually make us more dependent on someone else, while we completely overlook all the massive, extra benefits being funneled out of the entire situation through all sorts of shady back channels.

I mean, I guess that’s kind of beside the point here, but hey, you make a fair point...

It’s not like a farmer just wants to sit around and collect government handouts for the fun of it, you know? It’s not quite like that... These folks work their tails off all year round, and I really don't think it's just about grabbing subsidies. Honestly, they probably wouldn't even ask for a single cent in aid if the government would just, I don't know, MINIMALLY guarantee they could actually sell what they grow. In the States, farmers are basically treated like the backbone of the country—the government is incredibly dedicated to them and makes sure everything they produce actually finds a buyer. Here, we end up importing a massive amount of food, while our own farmers produce stuff and then basically have to pray to God that someone actually decides to buy it. And as for agritourism? Well, a farmer can't just wake up one day and decide to run a boutique farm stay when that whole concept might as well be written in hieroglyphics to them. They’d need someone to actually teach them the ropes, give them some training, or provide some sort of incentive... but unfortunately, we just don't have that kind of support system around here...

cosmicviper10 said:I mean, I guess that’s kind of beside the point here, but hey, you make a fair point...

It’s not like a farmer just wants to sit around and collect government handouts for the fun of it, you know? It’s not quite like that... These folks work their tails off all year round, and I really don't think it's just about grabbing subsidies. Honestly, they probably wouldn't even ask for a single cent in aid if the government would just, I don't know, MINIMALLY guarantee they could actually sell what they grow. In the States, farmers are basically treated like the backbone of the country—the government is incredibly dedicated to them and makes sure everything they produce actually finds a buyer. Here, we end up importing a massive amount of food, while our own farmers produce stuff and then basically have to pray to God that someone actually decides to buy it. And as for agritourism? Well, a farmer can't just wake up one day and decide to run a boutique farm stay when that whole concept might as well be written in hieroglyphics to them. They’d need someone to actually teach them the ropes, give them some training, or provide some sort of incentive... but unfortunately, we just don't have that kind of support system around here...

But it *is* all connected. No matter how much we try to untangle the web to make sense of it all, nothing is ever black and white or purely flat. Every time you think you've got a handle on it, you run into a paradox like Columbus's egg.

This isn't strictly about the main topic, though: the issue isn't just about the subsidies themselves, but rather the mechanics of what happens in between.
Maybe the government does buy the produce—but they do it at market rates. Since our budget is built almost entirely on debt, the more a farmer asks from the state, the more the government has to borrow under the guise of "support." This happens because nobody wants to implement the actual structural changes needed to lower production costs. If those costs were lower, farmers would actually make more money. Instead, buyers and producers stay locked in this cycle where everyone ends up blaming each other for budget issues, rather than creating an environment where people can actually turn a great idea into a profitable business.
The more we rely on debt, the deeper we sink into economic dependency on the wealthy elite, which basically turns into economic servitude.

And this doesn't just apply to agriculture; it applies to pretty much every single problem we face independently.

It’s easy to talk about incentives when they’re actually being used for something productive, but how do you justify a subsidy for a patch of uncultivated land, three pigs, and two chickens? You can find endless examples of those kinds of fragmented, "social welfare" style handouts. Naturally, then there’s no funding left for the people who actually use their heads and want to build something real. Why? Because they aren't dependent on the system and don't feel the need to beg. But for anything to truly succeed, it can't be done in isolation: an entire village has to level up together to attract a steady flow of tourists.

On top of that, in all the small towns I've visited across the country, I haven't found a single decent tavern serving real, homemade food—instead, it's just frozen Coca-Cola snacks that we could easily whip up ourselves at home and put in Tupperware.

I could honestly go on about this until tomorrow...

I mean, it’s pretty obvious that everything is interconnected... specifically when you look at how crime and messy politics have been baked into the system since the very beginning, not to mention the fact that we were dealing with actual war in these parts until just about 15 years ago... But I guess we really ought to be looking forward, right? Like, how do we actually build something or fix what's broken... and ultimately, how can a young guy actually get ahead, maybe invest in something and see a return on that investment... whether it’s agritourism or something else entirely...

The problems facing our country are clear enough for even a small child to grasp, and honestly, people seem to bring them up in almost every single open discussion on this forum..

Hmm, once again everyone is pointing the finger at some government, some bureaucrat, or some minister as the scapegoat for all our problems ... which, granted, is partially true. But honestly, here in America, we have an incredibly low threshold for self-criticism. I’d frame the question this way: what can a specific Joe Smith—say, a farmer from some remote, tourist-starved corner of the country—actually do personally to attract visitors? First, the locals, then maybe a wider crowd? We should really be applying that logic to every sector of society, but hey, it's much easier to just blame the administration!
Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending them—they're just as awful as the system that stretches from the smallest rural towns to the coast—but most of us are also incredibly dull, passive, lazy, and uneducated...
Speaking of farmers constantly complaining about wheat prices every year? Even a bird on a wire knows wheat isn't profitable right now. Well, if it isn't profitable, I guess I'll go plant raspberries. Raspberries are high-value, the market is desperate for them, and you can actually sell them. Though, it feels to me like planting raspberries properly would require actually moving one's butt, doing some reading, talking to the right people, and working a whole lot harder...

In short, while the conditions for developing agritourism in certain parts of the US are pretty grim, not a single individual—who is arguably the most important link in the chain—is actually stepping up to do anything.

cosmicviper10 said:I mean, it’s pretty obvious that everything is interconnected... specifically when you look at how crime and messy politics have been baked into the system since the very beginning, not to mention the fact that we were dealing with actual war in these parts until just about 15 years ago... But I guess we really ought to be looking forward, right? Like, how do we actually build something or fix what's broken... and ultimately, how can a young guy actually get ahead, maybe invest in something and see a return on that investment... whether it’s agritourism or something else entirely...

The problems facing our country are clear enough for even a small child to grasp, and honestly, people seem to bring them up in almost every single open discussion on this forum..

So why do we run into so many roadblocks when trying to solve them?
Why do we always end up retreating into the same old patterns? We forget that the people *are* the state, and that the government is supposed to emerge from them. Instead, we act like small-minded individuals, everyone pulling in their own direction, and whenever we do notice something wrong, we fall back on that "better not to get involved" attitude, as they say in the Hilly Region...

And we keep circling back to the trauma of the war—that’s honestly just the most basic mantra used by scammers and war profiteers, the very reason we find ourselves in this situation today. Yes, half the country was devastated, and yes, people suffered—but our current situation is more like this: your house catches fire, and instead of rebuilding, you spend the rest of your life sweeping through the ashes, relying on humanitarian aid or waiting for someone to toss you a couple of coins while they essentially steal your future.
Why did the former America rise after World War II? Because people actually went to work. The moment everything spiraled downward was when we started drowning in debt, a habit that continued straight through to the present day. And for those who still criticize the old system: it’s actually stronger and more integrated now than ever before. Just look at recent times—from fixing the lottery and the railroads to tackling organized crime, and even the way consumer goods were traded, which wasn't always the case. Back then, you knew exactly who was buying what brand of salt or supplies..

An individual can't do much without support from the government—meaning, without strategic planning. But as long as the climate favors imports and constant borrowing, nothing changes. That will remain the status quo until the majority of taxpayers realize where the real work lies, and until gambling dens become relics of a bygone era. Since the government comes from the people... well, how does that work? It’s a matter of mentality. People don't enter politics to serve; there’s no sense that anyone is actually in control. Instead, it feels like everyone is just lining their pockets. Anyone looking to get something from the government has to practically beg for it, and the same goes for investing in tourism. You can't expect people to work hard when they can just sit in a betting shop—especially when money is constantly trickling into their pockets. The alternative would be having to put in at least ten years of blood and sweat to see any results. This "get-rich-quick" mentality doesn't grasp that logic; they just ride off into the sunset with their loot, hoping to slip under another sheepskin before they're even caught, while everyone else pretends nothing ever happened. And so, the cycle continues....

boldridge9 said:Hmm, once again everyone is pointing the finger at some government, some bureaucrat, or some minister as the scapegoat for all our problems ... which, granted, is partially true. But honestly, here in America, we have an incredibly low threshold for self-criticism. I’d frame the question this way: what can a specific Joe Smith—say, a farmer from some remote, tourist-starved corner of the country—actually do personally to attract visitors? First, the locals, then maybe a wider crowd? We should really be applying that logic to every sector of society, but hey, it's much easier to just blame the administration!
Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending them—they're just as awful as the system that stretches from the smallest rural towns to the coast—but most of us are also incredibly dull, passive, lazy, and uneducated...
Speaking of farmers constantly complaining about wheat prices every year? Even a bird on a wire knows wheat isn't profitable right now. Well, if it isn't profitable, I guess I'll go plant raspberries. Raspberries are high-value, the market is desperate for them, and you can actually sell them. Though, it feels to me like planting raspberries properly would require actually moving one's butt, doing some reading, talking to the right people, and working a whole lot harder...

In short, while the conditions for developing agritourism in certain parts of the US are pretty grim, not a single individual—who is arguably the most important link in the chain—is actually stepping up to do anything.

... and keep learning. Whether we like it or not, we're living in this era of globalization, where lifelong learning isn't just a suggestion—it's a necessity. It actually pays off because it makes people more mobile, whether they want to be or not.

That said, look at the state of the wine industry here: aside from the massive operations that employ trained enologists in the US, I haven't seen a textbook example of how to properly establish a vineyard, which follows its own strict set of rules. Then there's the idea of opening a tasting room featuring local products and setting up proper spaces for pairing.
But none of that works without cooperation. And since our biggest strength seems to be just struggling to export enough volume, all that talk of "agreement" and "unity" doesn't really build anything lasting around here.
When I think about how things work in France—everyone is always on the move, enjoying themselves, and investing heavily in what actually yields results. For instance, they might design a house with an almost ascetic simplicity, yet it becomes the latest sensation. They offer incredible local food, and the owners provide such high-quality tableware it leaves you speechless—success is basically guaranteed.

Back home, however, the pattern is different. This winter, I was watching Stefan on Fox. It was one of those entertainment shows that tries to sneak in some educational elements. For example, you see these young chefs coming straight out of culinary school to work in some roadside rural tavern, only to be immediately crushed by the tastes of a local grandmother in charge of the kitchen. Everything ends up being smothered in the exact same base sauce until every single dish tastes identical 🙂—and the whole cycle repeats itself.

Generally speaking, around here, school doesn't seem to serve much purpose other than providing a place for the younger crowd to mature until they reach an age where the woods and the open road become their most important life teachers.

There just isn't any real interest from guests when it comes to agritourism, so it’s impossible to make it a primary business... because of that, it’s mostly just retirees getting involved, and I know quite a few of them who are basically just collecting massive government grants. I actually submitted a project to the Ministry of Grants myself, hoping to get some support, but they turned me down flat; meanwhile, those same funds are being handed out to those retirees simply because they belong to certain political circles, whereas I don't hold any party affiliation at all. So, we are stuck facing two major hurdles: everyone is heading straight to the coast instead, and the subsidies are essentially being used as rewards for party loyalists to keep them in line... how on earth are we supposed to move forward from here?

Sam Murphy said:There just isn't any real interest from guests when it comes to agritourism, so it’s impossible to make it a primary business... because of that, it’s mostly just retirees getting involved, and I know quite a few of them who are basically just collecting massive government grants. I actually submitted a project to the Ministry of Grants myself, hoping to get some support, but they turned me down flat; meanwhile, those same funds are being handed out to those retirees simply because they belong to certain political circles, whereas I don't hold any party affiliation at all. So, we are stuck facing two major hurdles: everyone is heading straight to the coast instead, and the subsidies are essentially being used as rewards for party loyalists to keep them in line... how on earth are we supposed to move forward from here?

That's just not true. 😁

There ARE interested guests, 😉 they just don't want overpriced pork and noodles served during hours that only work for the owners. 😁

Like, a few weeks back, my friends and I wanted to go play in the snow and find somewhere decent to eat.

Out of the 10 farmstays I called, five didn't even pick up. Four told us they were closed because, you know, it was a holiday, and one said dogs were fine, but they had to stay in the yard outside.

In the end, we just drove over to a spot near the suburbs for lunch (should I even mention that the place was absolutely packed 😳 even though it was a holiday? 😁)

We actually thought about escaping the city for a bit—not even a weekend, just a quick trip into nature—but the prices for a room and breakfast were so insane that we just gave up on the idea.

Agritourism really needs to be encouraged and grown, but it has to actually work for the average working person, you know? Like, reasonable prices and an actual decent menu.
Only then does a little farmhouse with home-cooked food and some woods nearby actually make sense as a tourist destination.

Sam Murphy said:There just isn't any real interest from guests when it comes to agritourism, so it’s impossible to make it a primary business... because of that, it’s mostly just retirees getting involved, and I know quite a few of them who are basically just collecting massive government grants. I actually submitted a project to the Ministry of Grants myself, hoping to get some support, but they turned me down flat; meanwhile, those same funds are being handed out to those retirees simply because they belong to certain political circles, whereas I don't hold any party affiliation at all. So, we are stuck facing two major hurdles: everyone is heading straight to the coast instead, and the subsidies are essentially being used as rewards for party loyalists to keep them in line... how on earth are we supposed to move forward from here?

I think you might be mistaken there—there are definitely people interested, you just need some serious marketing. On top of that, it's pretty obvious you can't rely on this alone; you have to have a signature source of local food that makes you stand out, something that gives people a reason to come back.

Regarding that second point—yeah, that’s exactly what I was talking about earlier.

brisknomad6 said:That's just not true. 😁

There ARE interested guests, 😉 they just don't want overpriced pork and noodles served during hours that only work for the owners. 😁

Like, a few weeks back, my friends and I wanted to go play in the snow and find somewhere decent to eat.

Out of the 10 farmstays I called, five didn't even pick up. Four told us they were closed because, you know, it was a holiday, and one said dogs were fine, but they had to stay in the yard outside.

In the end, we just drove over to a spot near the suburbs for lunch (should I even mention that the place was absolutely packed 😳 even though it was a holiday? 😁)

We actually thought about escaping the city for a bit—not even a weekend, just a quick trip into nature—but the prices for a room and breakfast were so insane that we just gave up on the idea.

Agritourism really needs to be encouraged and grown, but it has to actually work for the average working person, you know? Like, reasonable prices and an actual decent menu.
Only then does a little farmhouse with home-cooked food and some woods nearby actually make sense as a tourist destination.

Exactly...😂

brisknomad6 said:That's just not true. 😁

There ARE interested guests, 😉 they just don't want overpriced pork and noodles served during hours that only work for the owners. 😁

Like, a few weeks back, my friends and I wanted to go play in the snow and find somewhere decent to eat.

Out of the 10 farmstays I called, five didn't even pick up. Four told us they were closed because, you know, it was a holiday, and one said dogs were fine, but they had to stay in the yard outside.

In the end, we just drove over to a spot near the suburbs for lunch (should I even mention that the place was absolutely packed 😳 even though it was a holiday? 😁)

We actually thought about escaping the city for a bit—not even a weekend, just a quick trip into nature—but the prices for a room and breakfast were so insane that we just gave up on the idea.

Agritourism really needs to be encouraged and grown, but it has to actually work for the average working person, you know? Like, reasonable prices and an actual decent menu.
Only then does a little farmhouse with home-cooked food and some woods nearby actually make sense as a tourist destination.

Still spot on—you don't need any fancy bells and whistles, but man, come on, you've gotta dream up something more than just the usual Washington, D.C. fare, some turkey with noodles, and whatever kind of wild mushroom sauté we've already had a million times!🙄

brisknomad6 said:That's just not true. 😁

There ARE interested guests, 😉 they just don't want overpriced pork and noodles served during hours that only work for the owners. 😁

Like, a few weeks back, my friends and I wanted to go play in the snow and find somewhere decent to eat.

Out of the 10 farmstays I called, five didn't even pick up. Four told us they were closed because, you know, it was a holiday, and one said dogs were fine, but they had to stay in the yard outside.

In the end, we just drove over to a spot near the suburbs for lunch (should I even mention that the place was absolutely packed 😳 even though it was a holiday? 😁)

We actually thought about escaping the city for a bit—not even a weekend, just a quick trip into nature—but the prices for a room and breakfast were so insane that we just gave up on the idea.

Agritourism really needs to be encouraged and grown, but it has to actually work for the average working person, you know? Like, reasonable prices and an actual decent menu.
Only then does a little farmhouse with home-cooked food and some woods nearby actually make sense as a tourist destination.

And you know, cuckolds don't exactly fare that well around here, whereas in Austria—which has such a strong Catholic vibe on that particular day—they go all out!😛

brisknomad6 said:That's just not true. 😁

There ARE interested guests, 😉 they just don't want overpriced pork and noodles served during hours that only work for the owners. 😁

Like, a few weeks back, my friends and I wanted to go play in the snow and find somewhere decent to eat.

Out of the 10 farmstays I called, five didn't even pick up. Four told us they were closed because, you know, it was a holiday, and one said dogs were fine, but they had to stay in the yard outside.

In the end, we just drove over to a spot near the suburbs for lunch (should I even mention that the place was absolutely packed 😳 even though it was a holiday? 😁)

We actually thought about escaping the city for a bit—not even a weekend, just a quick trip into nature—but the prices for a room and breakfast were so insane that we just gave up on the idea.

Agritourism really needs to be encouraged and grown, but it has to actually work for the average working person, you know? Like, reasonable prices and an actual decent menu.
Only then does a little farmhouse with home-cooked food and some woods nearby actually make sense as a tourist destination.

If we had more of them, and if people realized they could stay year-round—just like you see happening in France—we’d really be getting somewhere.
But here in the States, if you don't turn a massive profit on a luxury car within three months, everyone acts like you've completely failed at the business!😲🙄

Jesse Sanchez90 said:Exactly...😂

Still spot on—you don't need any fancy bells and whistles, but man, come on, you've gotta dream up something more than just the usual Washington, D.C. fare, some turkey with noodles, and whatever kind of wild mushroom sauté we've already had a million times!🙄

And you know, cuckolds don't exactly fare that well around here, whereas in Austria—which has such a strong Catholic vibe on that particular day—they go all out!😛

If we had more of them, and if people realized they could stay year-round—just like you see happening in France—we’d really be getting somewhere.
But here in the States, if you don't turn a massive profit on a luxury car within three months, everyone acts like you've completely failed at the business!😲🙄

Hey... what's up? Just hanging out. 😁 Alright, well... I guess it's back to the grind then. Time to get to work. 😁

I totally get where they're coming from, you know? I mean, when you've got the whole agritourism setup going, plus all the livestock and your own land to look after... it's a lot. I guess I just completely understand why people feel that way.

Well, I guess if we're going that route, we might as well just scrap the whole tourism thing entirely. Honestly, maybe it’s better that way? Just... forget about it.

I mean, we aren't exactly running a full-blown tourism operation or anything, but we are open Friday through Sunday from 2 PM to 10 PM. Just a heads up though—we're totally closed on holidays and during the summer, so don't make the trip if you show up then! 😁
So, we’re looking at offering maybe two or three different dishes—you know, one of them would be made to order, totally custom and stuff—plus some sleeping arrangements for... $83 Maybe we could add some extra stuff too... like a little personal touch, you know? I was thinking maybe adding a walk through the orchards just to give people something more to do. Just an extra bit of flavor for the trip!

So, let's just say there's two people—plus a dog—who are basically itching to ditch the city for a quick weekend getaway. Just get outta town, you know? Grab the keys, pack a bag, and just... go.

I guess I'm just gonna be straight with you—I'm not doing any overnight stays. No way. $167 No dog, huh? Man, that’s tough. I guess life just feels a little quieter without them around, right? Maybe a bit too quiet, honestly. It's kind of a bummer, if you ask me.

I mean, I’d probably drop like $250 for the three of us—that would cover the night stay plus a homemade breakfast. And honestly? I’d totally end up staying for dinner too, sipping on some local wine... maybe another $250 just for that.

So, I was thinking about the math on this... if you count the hotel breakfast at $3 per person—and let's say we're actually looking at a $5 cost per head—that would be... $25I mean, even if local food is cheaper or whatever, let's just say we went through a massive amount of bedding and burned through quite a bit of electricity... and, I don't know, maybe the dinner costs were also... $33 Man, I mean, we’ve already blown through half the budget—there's still some left for them, I guess. $83

If they’ve got any sense at all, they’ll just sell me ten eggs, a loaf of bread straight out of the oven, a couple bottles of wine, and a bag of frozen porcini mushrooms. That's basically the dream, I guess. 😉 So, like, maybe I could actually pull in another couple hundred bucks from this? I mean, who knows, right? Maybe. It's probably worth a shot, I guess.

So, if we're actually happy with how things are turning out, I guess we might head out for a couple of weekends with some friends... or, hey, maybe we just send the old folks off for a weekend getaway and boom—there's our little side hustle right there. Not like a massive payday or anything, obviously, but you know, it works!

I mean, honestly, they don't even have any... $83

Yeah, I totally get it. I know some people are gonna jump in now and start whining that it’s too small or that it just isn't worth the hassle... but honestly, I gotta ask—how exactly is it supposed to be "worth it" to them if they're just sitting there staring at empty rooms?

Someone already started a similar thread (whereabouts in the Midwest are you from? 🙂)but honestly, I don't think anyone here is picking up on the most critical point—who we're actually talking about attracting as guests here.

Like brisknomad6 mentioned, they’d be aiming for a long weekend crowd. That specific demographic dictates everything: the location, the menu, the marketing strategy, all of it...

So, how many people are actually interested?🤔 Personally, there's no way I'm making that trip when I can get to London faster and cheaper. 🙂 Actually, thinking about it, I could fly to a completely different continent in the same amount of time it takes to get there.😁

Charles Ramos7 said:Someone already started a similar thread (whereabouts in the Midwest are you from? 🙂)but honestly, I don't think anyone here is picking up on the most critical point—who we're actually talking about attracting as guests here.

Like brisknomad6 mentioned, they’d be aiming for a long weekend crowd. That specific demographic dictates everything: the location, the menu, the marketing strategy, all of it...

So, how many people are actually interested?🤔 Personally, there's no way I'm making that trip when I can get to London faster and cheaper. 🙂 Actually, thinking about it, I could fly to a completely different continent in the same amount of time it takes to get there.😁

So, yeah😁...

We basically have one shared day off a week, and if we actually manage to get it free,
plus we've got our beast—our four-legged friend—and even then, London feels out of reach

But man, we work like horses, and we seriously need a break from Washington, D.C.

But not a trip where we spend 5 or 6 hours just sitting in a car for a two-day getaway

So, here's the deal: somewhere near the suburbs of D.C., a decent place to sleep (bed, shower, TV), good food, and some nice spot (maybe a forest or a field without hunters lurking around) to walk the beast

Target crowd? Families (prices should probably go up slightly just to cover kids' costs—$333 though for a full weekend, it might be too steep for most), working folks with limited free time who just want some peace, quiet, and some home-cooked meals😳

Charles Ramos7 said:Someone already started a similar thread (whereabouts in the Midwest are you from? 🙂)but honestly, I don't think anyone here is picking up on the most critical point—who we're actually talking about attracting as guests here.

Like brisknomad6 mentioned, they’d be aiming for a long weekend crowd. That specific demographic dictates everything: the location, the menu, the marketing strategy, all of it...

So, how many people are actually interested?🤔 Personally, there's no way I'm making that trip when I can get to London faster and cheaper. 🙂 Actually, thinking about it, I could fly to a completely different continent in the same amount of time it takes to get there.😁

True, but that's just you speaking—as individuals, we aren't exactly representative samples of the whole population.
On the flip side, there are plenty of people who aren't up for a trip to London every single weekend; for them, driving out to the National Park is just too exhausting.

Furthermore, when a foreign tourist visits the US, do you honestly think they're flying all this way just to go have dinner in London because nobody here offers that kind of experience?!?
French tourism, for instance, is primarily built on catering to their own domestic travelers first, and then everyone else follows because the locals are the easiest group to market to and the most likely to come back.
Foreigners aren't going to fly across the ocean just to indulge in urban tourism, let alone rural stuff. Even countries with much more sophisticated marketing strategies don't rely on pulling people into cities to survive; so where does that leave us? We only really figured out what "promotion" was last year!
At the end of the day, the reality is that foreigners often know more about our historic landmarks and show a greater interest in finding them than we do ourselves—WTF?