Seriously, if you haven’t picked your pumpkin yet you’re about as big a slacker as the guy that waits until October 30th to write about a pumpkin patch. Let’s not judge.
Besides, calling Remlinger Farms a pumpkin patch is like calling Neil Diamond a singer. He’s an entertainer, people. Remlinger Farms is pretty entertaining, too.
The farm is located in Carnation, WA and is a self-contained family destination, minus the lodging. Luckily, Seattle is about 30 minutes away and they have a couple of motels along the freeway. Read More »
Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek, Arizona, is hosting its annual Pumpkin and Chili Party. The party is held every Thursday through Sunday for the entire month of October. Hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays, and 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. A $14.00 admission ($12.00 discount tickets are available at local Frys grocery stores, children 2 and under are free) includes hay rides, miniature golf, a Celebrity Corn Maze, carnival rides, a petting barn, a “Pumpkin Launch”, pumpkin carving contests, chili contests, bon fires, marshmallow toasting, lots of food and crafts, live entertainment, and much more. For $2.00 per ticket, a Spooky Train Ride, featuring an animatronic pumpkin king and the antics of the Chandler High School drama students, begins after dark.
After a “new stay-at-home mom, anything to get me out of this house” visit to the pumpkin patch in the fall of 1999, an annual trip to Belvedere Plantation has become a family tradition. Built in the 1760’s, Belvedere is a 645-acre working farm about 17 miles outside of Fredericksburg, VA. Don’t let the proximity to I-95 fool you, when you get to the farm you will be in the country. I’m talking parking in the grass, dusty dirt road, overall wearing, campfire country. You’ll know you’re there when you see the caterpillar made from hay bales.
Over the years Belvedere Plantation has added many new activities and attractions. The corn maze was added several years back. Huge slides and pumpkin cannons are also a part of the fun. There is so much to do that I recommend planning a full day for a visit. You won’t get bored, but you might get tired. Don’t worry, they serve refreshments and have plenty of hay bales to sit on if you need to rest. Port-a-potties, much nicer than this one, and a hand-washing station are also on site. Outside refreshments are not allowed and the concessions are a bit pricey, but not over the top. Same day re-admission is allowed so you can always pack a picnic lunch. They have picnic tables near the front entrance.
The one thing I appreciate most about a family trip to Belvedere Plantation is that it is truly a family friendly place. Every activity for the older children and adults has a children’s activity nearby. Zips lines come in four different sizes, including mini zip-lines with baby seats. The corn maze has three different levels of difficulty and the big pedal cart track has a smaller track right beside it. Instead of dividing up the family and shooing the little ones off to the kiddies section everyone gets to play together. And play you will.
When you go be sure to wear your jeans and sneakers. You’ll be swinging from ropes in a hay barn and sitting on straw bleachers at a pig race. This is not the place for dress pants or high-heel sandals. If you have a straw hat, you won’t feel out of place. You’ll fit right in. Admission:
$14 per person (2 and under admitted free)
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces with valid ID – $12
Seniors (65 young years and over) – $12
Note: Discount coupons can be printed from the website or you can get $2 off Farm Admission with a non-perishable food item donation. Last year they collected 4-1/2 tons of food for the Fredericksburg Area Food bank.
Accessibility: With the exception of the corn maze, the farm is stroller and wheel chair accessible. The paths are dirt and gravel and can be a little bumpy but they are well maintained. As with all the staff I encountered, the hayride operators are friendly and helpful with special needs riders.
The leaves have begun their autumnal transfiguration exchanging green hues for reds, oranges, yellows, browns and every imaginable shade in between. There’s a crispness in the air that literally screams fall is upon us though not quite as loudly as my children. The fall season is a family season, a holiday season, specifically, it’s pumpkin season. Miller’s Country Gardens in Delaware, Ohio has your pumpkin needs covered.
Less than an hour’s drive from Columbus, Ohio at 2488 State Route 37 just north of the city of Delaware, Miller’s Country Gardens makes for the perfect family weekend day trip. The quickest route would most likely be to take State Route 23 North from the I-270 outer belt. But we’re not looking for fast, we’re looking for pumpkins and a proper christening of the fall season, right?
Life’s a journey—take the scenic route. Head north past the Columbus Zoo and Acquarium and Zoombezi Bay on Riverside drive which becomes State Route 257. The road winds along the reservoir and follows the tree lined Scioto River. The fall colors are breathtaking and well worth the extra drive. SR 257 will intersect SR 37 about 4 miles west of Miller’s Gardens. (For those like me who may be navigationally impaired, take a right on SR 37 if you are driving north.)
When you arrive at Miller’s Gardens make sure to check out the Farm Market. The sweet corn has been harvested and there’s plenty left. There’s also quite a selection of fresh produce. Winter is coming and if you are anything like me you’ll want to stock up, fill the freezer as it were. But remember, we’re after pumpkins, right?
Just outside of greenhouse to the left of the store there are tables lined with hundreds of meticulously selected and size sorted pumpkins. You see, Miller’s has made the process as painless as possible. So if you’re OK with a pumpkin that has been hand selected for you just hours earlier you can move on.
There’s an animal petting area. That’s farm animal. After the barnyard mavens have received their due lovin’ you can check out the corn maze. I can guarantee there’s not a kid out there who isn’t thrilled to run screaming through a corn field. They’ve even got a smaller hay bale maze suitable for toddlers. Though I’ll admit, my seven year old daughter had almost as much fun the the hay bales as she did in the corn field.
Lost in the Corn Maze
But let’s not let this talk of mazes get us lost. We’re after pumpkins, fresh pumpkins. The highlight of your trip to Miller’s Country Gardens is surely to be the hayride from the barn out into the pumpkin patch. Once there you are free to pick and choose your perfect pumpkin right from the vine. It doesn’t get any fresher than that.
A bit of advice as told to my kids, “you can have any pumpkin you want as long as you can carry it out.” Trust me, the last thing you want is to be stuck in a pumpkin patch trying to sherpa five pumpkins back without dropping them. They will burst if dropped. I know where of I speak.
Five Perfect Pumpkins
Miller’s prices the pumpkins by the pound (0.29 cents as of this posting) and scales are conveniently located at the hay ride drop off area. There are also plenty of wagons available to carry your fresh picked perfect pumpkin back to your vehicle. Parking, by the way, is free of charge and the lots are located on the grounds.
This year, celebrate the arrival of fall by treating the family to a trip to the pumpkin patch at Miller’s Country Gardens.
(Seasonal operation. Hay rides offered Saturdays and Sundays from 12-4pm. Call for specifics or check their website for more detailed hours of operation.)
The leaves have begun their autumnal transfiguration exchanging green hues for reds, oranges, yellows, browns and every imaginable shade in between. There’s a crispness in the air that literally screams fall is upon us though not quite as loudly as my children. The fall season is a family season, a holiday season, specifically, it’s pumpkin season. 
