As states across the country slowly start opening up, if you are like me, you are trying to figure out things you can do safely. I don’t know about you, but as we start to emerge from the stay-at-home orders, I am only feeling comfortable to venture out slowly and within a short drive of my house.
And as much as I miss traveling, I’m not quite ready to jump on an airplane or visit some tourist attraction that might be crowded.
So with limited options, what do you do? In my opinion, one of the safest things you can do right now is visit a local brewery or winery. And that’s exactly what we’ve done the last two weekends. Keep reading to find out about my experiences and what to think about as you venture out!
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WHAT MAKES A WINERY OR BREWERY THE PERFECT PLACE TO VISIT?
So why is a brewery or winery the perfect place to visit right now? The outdoors!
While this doesn’t hold true for a brewery or winery that has a small tasting room in a downtown area, most breweries and wineries have large properties. That means it’s easy to spread out and you don’t have to spend much time – if any – indoors.
A vineyard is typically the perfect place to be able to spread out! There was lots of room at Kreutz Creek Vineyards last weekend.
While I’m not an expert, almost everything you read says that it is much more difficult for Covid-19 to spread outdoors, which is why as states start to open, many are limiting seating at restaurants and bars to outdoor seating only.
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE I GO?
First and foremost, it’s best to check directly with the brewery or winery to see if they are open. Don’t just rely on the information you find online. Many places are posting updates on social media, but the rules are changing almost daily and businesses are trying to adopt as quickly as they can.
Also, because most places are relying on outdoor seating, opening hours could vary due to the weather. It’s always best to call before you go.
Once you confirm a place is open, here are some things you might want to consider:
How big is the location and how easy will it be to spread out?
What safety protocols are being put in place to protect employees and customers?
Is there a public bathroom available if I need it, and how is it cleaned?
Does the location require that I wear a mask when I’m not seated at my table?
Can I bring my own chair?
Can I bring my own food or will food be available?
What are my options for purchasing wine or beer? Note, some places are not doing tastings or flights, so you will have to purchase wine or beer by the glass or wine by the bottle.
WHERE DID I VISIT?
I’ve visited two locations – one winery and one brewery – in the Philadelphia area over the past two weekends. In both instances, I knew the establishments well and know the owners, so I felt very comfortable about the safety protocols that would be put in place. Plus, it felt good to be supporting friends!
ODD LOGIC BREWING
Odd Logic Brewing is located in Bristol, PA. While their outdoor space is limited, they’ve made the most of it. We visited the first weekend they were open, and they were working with folding tables and chairs. Since then, they’ve purchased picnic tables with umbrellas and really made the area look nice.
The outdoor set up at Odd Logic Brewing Co! Plenty of outdoor tables and a food truck some days. Photo credit: Odd Logic Brewing Co.
The beer list is on each table. Servers come to your table to take your order and bring your beer to you. Tables are spread out and no group can be larger than 6 people.
There are restrooms inside the brewery. While you are not required to wear a mask at your table, you need to wear one to go inside to use the restroom.
Odd Logic will have live music and food trucks on certain days, so be sure to follow their social media to know what’s on the schedule each week.
KREUTZ CREEK VINEYARD AND WINERY
Kreutz Creek is located in West Grove, PA in Chester County. The winery is on the vineyard, so there is definitely no lack of space. Tables are spread apart and you can bring your own chairs as well.
Visiting the winery also means you get to visit the grapevines! This is a great time of year to go out and see the vines.
The winery is not able to do tastings right now, but you can purchase wine by the bottle or the glass. They also have bottled beer available for purchase, as well as wine slushies on select days.
Restrooms are available inside the tasting room. Wine and beer purchases happen inside the tasting room as well. They have a limit of 5 customers inside at one time and ask that everyone wears a mask when inside.
Corky and Jim (the winemaker) are ready to welcome you to the vineyard! Be sure to give Corky a belly rub!
This past Saturday, the winery had live music from 2 to 5 p.m. They have music scheduled throughout the summer, so be sure to check their website for details.
Check the winery’s website and social media to find out more about their live music schedule.
So there you have it – my suggestions for having some fun, while still staying safe. Stay tuned for more blog posts soon about other fun activities you can do this summer safely!
Do you have suggestions of safe and fun things to do this summer? Let us know what they are! Comment below or e-mail me at tips2livebywriter@gmail.com.
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