Plan Your Visit | Explore Grace Farms
Explore Grace Farms
Grace Farms is scenic day trip destination for travelers in the tri-state area. With open architecture designed to remove barriers between people and nature, the River building and surrounding nature preserve offer daily visitors a range of activities. Explore Grace Farms on your own, or find inspiration from suggested itineraries below.
Suggested Itineraries:
Itinerary for Families
- Make Art: Children can create art during a facilitated workshop in our arts studio on Thursdays and Saturdays.
- Explore the Imagination Playground: Drop by the Court for basketball, board games, and Imagination Playground, which invites children ages 4-11 to play with large-scale, lightweight blocks.
- Grab a Bite: Stop into the Commons for a freshly prepared lunch, delicious baked goods by our pastry chef, and tea and coffee. A kids menu and nut- and gluten-free options are available.
- Sensory Exploration of the River Building: Walk the River building with a sensory wheel encouraging observations of the relationships between line, shape, color, texture, sound, space, light, movement, and rhythm. Ask for a Family Guide at the Welcome Desk.
- Experience Nature: Step outside and look out for butterflies, bees, and birds on a casual walk through one of our intersecting nature trails.
Visit our calendar to learn more about programs offered on the day of your visit.
Day Trip
- Encounter Artwork and Exhibits: Discover site-responsive artwork and experiential exhibits throughout the River building.
- Browse the Library: Find a cozy seat and read a book inspired by our initiatives.
- Listen to a Pop-Up Talk: Attend one of many quick talks throughout the day held by our education team exploring topics including sustainable design, food equity, and ethical supply chains.
- Grab a Bite: Stop into the Commons for a delicious lunch, freshly baked goods, or tea and coffee from Grace Farms Foods.
- Follow the River Retreat: Embark on a self-guided exploration of the River building developed by our Faith Initiative to inspire insights about priorities, relationships, and the meaning of a life worth living. Ask for a River Retreat booklet at the Welcome Desk.
- Take a Peaceful Nature Walk: Walk our nature trails through restored meadows to explore 10 diverse habitats.
- Sip Complimentary Tea: Pause in the Pavilion for a cup of intentionally-brewed tea from Grace Farms Foods.
Visit our calendar to learn more about programs offered on the day of your visit.
Itinerary For Architects and Artists
- Tour Grace Farms: Follow along a 90-minute tour of Grace Farms on Thursday and Saturdays, approved for AIA CES 1.5 LU.
- Encounter Artwork and Exhibits: Visit site-specific art installations by artists Thomas Demand, Olafur Eliasson, Teresita Fernandez, and Beatriz Milhazes, as well as two exhibits in the East and West Barn.
- Listen to a Pop-Up Talk: Attend one of many quick talks throughout the day held by our education team exploring topics including sustainable design, food equity, and ethical supply chains.
- Grab a Bite: Stop into the Commons for to enjoy a delicious lunch or coffee and tea at 18-foot-long communal tables made from oak trees felled onsite.
- Experience the Volumes: Get an up-close look at the distinct design features, as well as the unique view of the landscape, from each glass-enclosed volume.
- Sip Complimentary Tea: Pause in the Pavilion for a cup of intentionally-brewed tea from Grace Farms Foods.
Visit our calendar to learn more about programs offered on the day of your visit.
Daily Pop-Up Talks
During your visit, you can also stop by a pop-up talk hosted by our education team. These talks, held throughout the day, are designed for all ages and explore topics including sustainable design, food equity, and ethical supply chains.
Below is a sample of what you might encounter:
- “Water Water Everywhere”
Learn how the rainwater and snowmelt capture system at Grace Farms reduces our on-site water usage, and discover our efforts to conserve water and protect local watersheds. - “Room with an Equal View”
Explore the Sanctuary’s intentional design that seeks to connect audiences, presenters, and nature. - “Follow the Food”
Discover the history of farming on the site, current food production on the site, and how to contribute to our work to create a more equitable food system.
