Tougas Family Farm: U-Pick apple orchard

September 25, 2013 By

U Pick apple orchards Massachusetts: An autumn tradition for many families, Tougas Family Farm in Northboro, Massachusetts offers some of the best apple and peach picking in the Northeast, as well as family harvest activities and harvest baked goods for purchase, such as apple cider doughnuts, freshly baked pies, and cookies.

u pick apple orchard

 

Plan your visit to coincide with the harvest you’d like to pick by using Tougas’ picking schedule. You can also see picking conditions and best fruit selection right on the site. Throughout the summer, pick berries, then switch to peaches and apples in autumn, followed by pumpkins. Only 40 minutes from Boston, families can enjoy a city escape without needing to make a weekend or family trip of it.

Unlike some harvest festivals and farms that are more like carnivals than working produce suppliers, Tougas is still the real deal: their farm is authentic, and while you’ll find some family fun on site, the main focus here is the fruit and the communal experience of picking it yourself. Get recipes on site, and head home for a day of baking. The Tougas family has owned the farm since 1981, and it’s been a family operation exclusively since.

Find more apple picking around Boston!

Admission/Rates:

No admission charge. Rates are by the pound, and vary by fruit and season.

Distance from the interstate:

Several minutes from I-290.

Directions:

From Boston, take the Massachusetts Turnpike, I-90, west to exit #11A for I-495. Take I-495 north to exit #25B for I-290 west. Follow toward Worcester. Take exit #24, Church St., Northboro/Boylston. Turn right towards Boylston, take your first right on to Ball Street, and follow the signs up the hill!

Photo credit: Flickr/lakelou

Little People, Big World’s Roloff Farms

October 9, 2011 By

If you’re a fan of the TLC program “Little People, Big World”, you’ll want to make a stop off I-5 this fall season to tour Matt Roloff’s very own family travel destination, The Roloff Farms, which he opened to the public earlier this month (to remain open throughout this pumpkin season).

The Roloff Farm consists of a 34-acre farm near Portland, Oregon, and harbors a pirate ship, a three-story tree house with all the trimmings, and an Old West town complete with a sheriff’s office, hotel and post office for kids to enjoy.

Open to the public, “Roloff Farms” will include a number of wagon tours, a pumpkin fun house, a giant hay pyramid, and a petting zoo with exotic animals including a baby tiger and pygmy porcupine. The farm will also be open this month in celebration of Matt Roloff’s 50th birthday.

According to Matt, always brimming with creative ideas, new attractions are being added every week, so visitors are encouraged to visit the Roloff Farms website for updates before arriving.

Distance from the interstate: 20 miles from I-5 and 16 miles from 405.

Admission cost: Access to the pumpkin patch is free, but parking is $2 per car. According to farm operators, parking has been expanded to prevent wait times. Two different tours of the farm are available, and cost $6 each or $10 for both.

Hours of operation: The farm is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Oct. 1st to October 30th. Hours are 10 am to 6 pm.

Food services: Porter’s Catering will be located at the farm, featuring “Cuisines from Around the World”, in addition to on-site BBQ, fresh cut chili cheese fries, and more!

Directions: From Portland, take Hwy 26 west to Exit 61 (Shute/Helvetia Rd). Turn right (north) onto Helvetia Rd at the exit. Continue for approx 3 miles and follow the signs to Roloff Farms.

Bonus! Fall festivals make for great family photo ops! Learn more (or share your vacation photo tips) at KOA Campfire’s ongoing discussion on photography:

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County Line Orchard

August 29, 2011 By

The following pit stop is submitted by reader Erica Smith.

Hobart Indiana’s County Line Orchard is located right on the Lake and Porter county line, and offers all kinds of outdoor activities in the autumn season. Kids can pick apples, press cider, and visit the Kids’ Farm, featuring a mini-maze, play areas, bee yurts, animals, and more. A full-sized corn maze and country store will keep older kids and adults happy, too!

Date last visited: Fall 2010

Distance from the interstate: One hour from I-94.

Hours of operation: Store: 8 am to 6 pm daily. Kids’ Farm: 10 am to 6 pm daily.

Admission cost: Families can purchase admission to individual attractions, or save money on an all-access pass ($10). Full admission information is found at the County Line Orchard site.

Dining options: The orchard houses a full grill, a picnic area, a donut shop, and a country store. Trust me, you won’t go hungry! (Their donuts are highly acclaimed locally!)

Directions: The orchard is located at 200 South County Road in Hobart Indiana. From I-80 & 94, take exit 15A, or from I-90 (the Indiana Toll Road), take exit 21 (Ripley Ave.) At the second stop light (approximately 3 miles), turn left (east), staying on Rt. 6. At the third stop light, turn right (south) onto County Line Road. The orchard is one mile ahead just past a stop sign, on the right (west) side of the road.

Spooky Pit Stops: Fernbank’s Pirate Weekend

October 25, 2010 By

Ahoy mateys (and kids of all ages)! Fernbank is serving up some swashbuckling fun!

767 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA

By this time of year, you have all your little ghosts and goblins ready to hit the streets in pursuit of candy (which reminds me I need to buy new bed sets after creating costumes out of our old ones!), but Pit Stops for Kids’ quest for spooky pit stops continues! We love family-oriented museums like Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta, GA, and are happy to let readers know about their upcoming Pirate Weekend!

Does Fernbank sound familiar? We’ve reviewed their great children’s programs before! If you find yourself in the greater Atlanta area, stop by to set sail for a swashbuckling adventure with both Yo-Ho-Ho and H2O during this special weekend inspired by Fernbank’s newest family-friendly exhibition, Water: H2O=Life, which looks beneath the surface, above the clouds and all around the world on a hands-on exploration of the amazing power of water.

Best of all, Pirate Weekend activities and the water exhibition are included with museum admission and free for members! (See below for regular museum admission.)

Dates offered: November 6-7.

Distance off the interstate: Right off I-75/I-85!

Hours: 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, noon to 4 pm on Sunday. (Museum hours longer.)

Dining options: The Fernbank Cafe, located inside the museum, offers sandwiches, salads, pizza, and more!

Website: http://fernbankmuseum.org

Admission: $15 for adults, $14 for students and seniors, and $12 for children ages 12 and under.

Directions: From I-75/I-85/GA400 head toward downtown Atlanta. Take exit 248C Freedom Parkway (GA 10 East). Go 1.7 miles to Ponce de Leon Avenue and turn right. Go 1.7 miles to Clifton Road and turn left. Go 1/10 mile to the Museum entrance and turn right.

Spooky Pit Stops: Harmon’s Tree Farm

October 21, 2010 By

Harmon’s offers seasonal fun all year long!

3152 Augusta Highway (US Highway 1)
Gilbert, South Carolina

Looking for a family-oriented fall festival in a beautiful setting? Want to add a haunted house, corn maze, and spooky hay ride to liven things up? Harmon’s Tree Farm, located half an hour outside of Columbia, SC has it all! Their ‘Boo House’ is tame enough that most young kids can have fun touring the spooky exhibits (the haunts will not jump out and startle you), while older kids will love the challenging corn maze and haunted hay ride.

Dates offered: Harmon’s has farm events for all seasons, but their fall attractions are open now through October 31st.

Distance off the interstate: Ten minutes from I-20 (directly on US-1).

Hours: Monday-Friday 1 PM-6 PM, Saturday 10 AM-6 PM, Sunday 1:30 PM-6 PM

Dining options: None on site.

Website: Harmon’s Tree Farm

Admission: Prices are reasonable, and vary by activity. Check their full list of fall activities and Halloween events for exact pricing.

Directions: From Columbia SC, follow US-1 N/Us Highway 1 to destination near Windy Hill Road.

While you’re in the area: Check out nearby Riverside Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo!

Not in South Carolina? Be sure to check out our other Spooky Pit Stop picks: Salem, Massachusetts. Or if you’re looking for something truly scary (not for the faint of heart, young or old), check out this directory of haunted houses listed by state!

Riverbanks’ ‘Boo at the Zoo’

October 19, 2009 By

Boy holding a pumpkin

500 Wildlife Parkway
Columbia, SC

Ready for a scare? (Or more likely, lots of laughs?) If you’re in the Columbia area of South Carolina, you won’t want to miss Riverbanks Zoo and Garden’s Boo at the Zoo.

Always a great pitstop for families, Riverbanks is throwing a party all next week! From the official website: The family-friendly Halloween event runs from 6 to 9pm each evening. Children 12 and under are invited to wear costumes for a spook-fest complete with Frankenstein’s Foam Zone, an eeky freaky DJ dance party and a trick-or-treat trail with candy and more! Kids can also venture inside the Crow’s Nest Hay Maze, ride on the haunted carousel and explore the zoo at night!

Event dates: October 23 – 30, 6:00-9:00pm

Distance off the interstate: Right off of I-126.

Hours and Admission Prices: Tickets (must be purchased in advance): $6 for zoo members, $8 for general public.

Website: http://www.riverbanks.org/events/boo.shtml

Directions: From Charlotte/Rock Hill: Take I-77 S to Exit 18, I-277 for about 1 mile. Exit I-20 W. Continue 8 miles to Exit 64A. Merge to one of
3 left lanes on I-126 E (Columbia/downtown). Exit Greystone Blvd. Turn left off ramp and follow signs.

From Charleston/Orangeburg: Take I-26 West to Columbia (Exit 108). Follow I-126 (76) to Greystone Blvd./Riverbanks Zoo. Follow signs.

From Greenville/Spartanburg: Take I-26 to I-126 (76). Exit at Greystone Blvd./Riverbanks Zoo. Follow signs.

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Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm

October 9, 2009 By

Boy holding a pumpkin

40 W. Higgins Road
South Barrington, IL

In South Barrington, Illinois, you’ll want to spend a fall Saturday or Sunday at Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm. Their fall festival, running from September 26th through October 31st, includes a haunted house and camel rides in addition to the standard pumpkin patch, corn maze, and petting zoo! And their farmer’s market and cafe offer some of the best local produce and homemade goods of the area. Says Kat (now of North Carolina) in a recent review at www.trekaroo.com, “In Illinois we always, ALWAYS, went to Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm in South Barrington. They are fabulous! There are other very good farms in the area, but Goebbert’s is the best – my kids just loved going there; every year about this time would beg to go!”

Goebberts Pumpkin Farm on a crisp fall day.

Goebberts Pumpkin Farm on a crisp fall day.

Distance off the interstate: Just a few minutes!

Hours and Admission Prices: There is no general admission, and parking is free. Tickets for individual attractions, such as wagon rides, pony rides, corn stalk maze and straw maze, vary from $4.00 per person to $7.00 per person, depending on whether you visit on weekends or weekdays.

Bathrooms: On the premises.

Food Services: The Red Barn Cafe has a full menu of homemade treats, hot dogs, sandwiches, and hamburgers. Open seven days a week, 9am until 6pm during the harvest season. There’s also a fall harvest market, so you can take home goodies as well.

Website: http://www.pumpkinfarms.com/SBarrington.html

Directions: From I-90 (partial toll road), take the IL-59 exit then turn left (onto Sutton). Turn right onto W. Higgins.
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Red Top Mountain State Park

September 24, 2009 By

Boy holding a pumpkin

50 Lodge Road SE
Cartersville, GA

Autumn is officially upon us here in the northern hemisphere, and I’m very excited to kick off a new series of pit stops centered around fall festivals and events with Red Top Mountain State Park’s Fall at the Homestead! Located just one mile off I-75 on beautiful Lake Allatoona, there’s no better time to visit Red Top Mountain State Park than this weekend (September 26-27). Not only will you have the opportunity to take part in their autumn festival, but you’ll park for free! This Saturday only, all Georgia state parks are waving their parking/vehicle fee.

A hiking trail in Red Top Mountain State Park in autumn.

A hiking trail in Red Top Mountain State Park in autumn.

More on Fall at the Homestead (Sept. 26-27):

From the official website of Georgia state parks: Step back to the early 1800s with a visit to Vaughn Cabin to learn about pioneer life. Try your hand at candle dipping and woodworking, or play a few games. On Saturday night, we will fire up a large furnace for the always popular iron pour. Come early to buy scratch blocks to design your own keepsake. We’ll fill it with molten iron, and once it cools late that evening, you can take it home. ($7 scratch blocks for iron pour.)

While you’re visiting, be sure to take advantage of the many hiking trails and the swimming beach Red Top Mountain State Park has to offer!

Distance off the interstate: 1.5 miles from I-75 exit 285.

Hours and Admission Prices: Free parking on Saturday, September 26th. $5 parking on Sunday.

Bathrooms: Yes.

Food Services: Many picnic shelters are located along the lake shore as well as a restaurant located within the lodge. The Mountain Cove Restaurant is open year-round and serves buffet and a la carte meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Website: www.GaStateParks.org/redtopmountain

Directions: From Atlanta, take GA-401 N/I-75 N for 37 miles, then take Exit 285 for Red Top Mountain Road. Follow for .3 mile, the keep right at the fork to merge onto Red Top Mountain Rd SE.

Thank you to Kim Hatcher, Public Affairs Coordinator of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites for providing the information on this event! 
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