Most people tend to review what they have accomplished in the course of a month on the last day of the month. Typically, I follow the same rule. However, the last day of October was a rather busy one for me so I held off on the internal review until today. Looking back, my family traveled quite a bit this month. Most of our trips centered on Halloween related activities. I blogged about several of our adventures, but neglected to write about our trip(s) to various pumpkin patches. The prime pumpkin-picking season is over, but the lessons learned can be applied for years to come.
We visited three different pumpkin patches this year. However, by far, the most elaborate was “The Little Farmer Orchard and Farm Market” located in Malone, Wisconsin. It is an institution in these parts (it’s been around for 140 years) and features 20 acres of apples and about 15 acres of pumpkins. It is also home to a petting zoo, bakery (they make the most incredible apple pie I have ever tasted), hayrides, a corn maze, and a massive kiddie playground complete with hay towers, swings, and TREK trikes.
Here are the lessons I learned there (most can be applied to visits at any pumpkin patch). Some (if not all) may seem common sense, but you’d be surprised at how your mind can wander when you are caught up in the moment.
Strollers. If you are picking pumpkins in the actual pumpkin patch–not from a pile of pre-picked ones displayed out front–then consider leaving the stroller in the car. Traditional strollers don’t fare well on rocky paths and are a challenge to maneuver in the middle of muddy fields. My daughter complained about being in the stroller so we swapped the stroller for a wagon provided by the farm. She then spent the better part of the ride telling me how “bum-peed” it was. My suggestion: Try to get your child to walk and give her the job of pulling the wagon to keep her busy.
Read All Posted Signs. The pen that houses the buffalos at “The Little Farmer” is located adjacent to the apple orchard. That said, my daughter thoroughly enjoyed whipping fallen apples into the buffalo’s pen. She would squeal with delight each time one of the hairy animals gobbled up the red treats. It was hilarious and I was so busy trying to capture the moment on videotape that I failed to see a posted sign located on the opposite side of the pen. It read: “PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS.” Whoops! I left hoping that the apple-loving animal wouldn’t keel over in the middle of the night because of my oversight.
Time Your Visit. To beat the crowds visit a pumpkin patch mid-week. This may be difficult especially if you or your spouse works outside of your home. However, if you can’t stand fighting crowds, you might consider taking a vacation day from work to spend with your children tracking down the perfect pumpkin.
Don’t Wait. Having visited three different pumpkin patches this fall I can honestly say the early picker gets the best pumpkin. That may sound like common sense, but there are some people who hold off on going too early because they fear their pumpkin will not last until Halloween. I found that as long as you don’t expose your pumpkin to direct heat or carve it during the first week in October then your pumpkin will typically hold out for about six weeks. The pumpkin we bought during the last week in September (and didn’t turn into a jack-o’-lantern) is still sitting on our porch in pristine condition.
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Fun Fall Family Travel Destinations-Part 5: Farms and Festivals
Fun Fall Family Travel Destinations-Part 1: Corn Mazes