Posted on October 11, 2013 by Miller and Smith Blog Team
As the air has taken a brisk turn and the leaves are just starting to crunch under your feet. When Starbucks starts serving their Pumpkin Spice Lattes and when hot apple cider takes the place of lemonade in your glass, you know that fall is finally upon us. For many, this season brings with it a lot of nostalgia of days gone by. Memories of dipping apples and picking out the best pumpkin in the patch are all good reasons why fall is for so many the best season of all. With the days getting shorter and so much to do before Mother Nature sends us hibernating for the winter, here are some ideas for making new fall memories with your family.
Apple Picking
Crooked Run Orchard
37883 E. Main St., Purcellville; 540-338-6642; crookedrunorchard.com
When you pick-your-own apples at Crooked Run Orchard, you’re truly getting a bargain. At only $1 a pound and with free admission and parking, this is a great day trip on a budget.
Hartland Orchard
3064 Hartland Lane, Markham; 540-364-2316; hartlandorchard.com
This orchard is open for pick-your-own apples and pumpkins from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Pick from Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Jonagold, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Rome and more. You’ll also find an abundance of goodies like apple cider, caramel apples, apple butter and honey. On the weekends, take the kids through Uncle Hank’s corn maze.
Hollin Farms
1524 Snowden Road, Delaplane; 540-592-3701; hollinfarms.com
At Hollin Farms, you can pick-your-own apples and pumpkins and dig-your-own potatoes and peanuts. The kids will enjoy the four-acre corn maze and parents will love that it’s free! Open Wednesday – Sunday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Stribling Orchard
11587 Poverty Hollow Lane, Markham; 540-364-3040; striblingorchard.com
Not only can you pick-your-own apples at Stribling Orchard, but don’t forget to stop by the fantastic bakery that bakes fresh daily apple and pumpkin pie, apple cake. While you’re there, warm up with some hot apple cider and shop from their selection of Virginia cheeses, peanuts, wine, honey, homemade apple and pumpkin butters, jams, jellies and more. Open Tuesday – Sunday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The bakery is only open on the weekends.
Pumpkin Patches
Cox Farms Fall Festival
15621 Braddock Road, Centreville; 703-830-4121; http://www.coxfarms.com/
There is no shortage of activity at the Cox Farms Fall Festival. With over 90 acres of fun, you’ll find giant slides, hayrides, rope swings, farm animals, CORNundrum© cornfield adventure, apples & cider, food, entertainment and for fright finders, the fields of fear.
Belvedere Plantation Fall Festival
1410 Belvedere Drive, Fredericksburg; 540-373-4478; http://www.belvedereplantation.com/index.php
You will surely find the perfect pumpkin at Belvedere Plantation because you can pick-your-own. From face painting, pig races, pumpkin canon exhibilitions, hayrides, roaring campfires and great food, there’s fun for the entire family.
Corn Maze in the Plains
4501 Old Tavern Road, The Plains, 540-456-7339; http://www.cornmazeintheplains.com/
Have a blast in the 5 acre corn maze with fun puzzles and challenges, romp and play in the huge kids barnyard of fun, with giant slides, pumpkin sling shots, tire swings, corn tires, face painting, hay bale maze and other mini mazes and farm animals. Choose your jack-o-lantern from the thousands of pre-picked pumpkins available for your choosing.
Pumpkinville Fall Fest at the Leesburg Animal Park
19270 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg, VA, 703-433-0002; http://www.pumpkinfestleesburg.com/
A pumpkin patch, giant hill slides, hay wagon rides, giant pumpkin bounce, spider web crawl, pirate play ship, pony rides, petting zoo, free apples, cider and pumpkin pie, face painting, mini tractor rides. Need we say more?