Fun Fall Family Travel Destinations-Part 5: Farms and Festivals

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

30 Sep 2006 10:46 AM

Today we continue our series Fun Fall Family Travel Destinations. We are up to Part 5: Farms and Festivals. If you are just joining us, this blog will provide you with family friendly travel recommendations-ways to take advantage of all of those spectacular autumn activities. So far, we've covered corn mazes and haunted houses, and hiking trails, and train rides. Now we are moving on to some of the most popular fall travel destinations: Farms and Festivals.

FARMS

On a sun-filled, brisk autumn day there is no better place to spend an afternoon than at a pumpkin patch/apple orchard. Most places offer both. Growing up in Hawaii I assumed pumpkins grew in supermarkets--don't let your children think the same thing. Take them out to your local pumpkin patch to see where these jack-o'-lanterns in the making really reside. While you're there take a hayride or a stroll through the apple orchards for some pick-your-own fun. By the time you are though you will have enough to make a few pies (another fun family activity).

If you are in the New York area check out Pennings Orchards, which offers hayrides, apple orchards, a pumpkin patch, and a petting zoo. To find the pumpkin patches and apple orchards nearest you check the website for your state Department of Agriculture or tourism office. Otherwise, try www.pickyourown.org, www.farmstop.com or www.applejournal.com.

Not all farms specialize in apples and pumpkins. Vermont's "cheese trail"- includes several farms with guided tours that allow you to get up close and personal with a variety of farm animals AND watch cheese being made. Sugarbush Farm, in Woodstock, Vermont also has maple syrup-making demonstrations, while Taylor Farm, in Londonderry, specializes in hayrides.

FESTIVALS

Don't let this wonderful autumn season pass without taking your family to a fall festival. Many cater to families and include kid-friendly activities such as pumpkin decorating, apple bobbing, and petting zoos. The Keene Pumpkin Fest takes place in Keene, New Hampshire on October 21st.

In you live in Rockies, consider heading to La Junta, Colorado for the "Soar a Gourd" event, which takes place on October 14th. The festival's highlight: the moment gourds are catapulted into the air via slingshots and air cannons.

Also, Yankee Magazine lists the 25 best family events and destinations for fall, including pick-your-own farms like Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, Connecticut; the Topsfield Fair in Topsfield, Massachusetts; and the colonial-themed Harvestfest, in York, Maine.

Related Articles:

Fun Fall Family Travel Destinations-Part 1: Corn Mazes

Fun Fall Family Travel Destinations--Part 2: Haunted Houses

Fun Fall Family Travel Destinations-Part 3: Hiking Trails

Fun Fall Family Travel Destinations-Part 4: Train Rides

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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