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Earlier this season, I posted a little Fall Bucket List for our family. In case you missed it, you can find it here. I made sure to keep it simple and feasible – full of things that I fully expected that we could get to. It was basically my to-do list for the fall. I’m happy to report that we’ve done almost all of the things so far with the exception of getting out to a football game. To be honest, that one is probably not going to happen. Maybe next season.
But, one of the things we DID do was visit a pumpkin patch. This is on my MUST DO list every fall because I love it so much.
Page Farms is our favorite patch to visit. They have so many fun activities for kids, but it’s not so much that it’s overwhelming. It’s affordable ($11 cash and $13 with credit card for guests 3 and over), and includes all the activities plus a pumpkin for each person. You can choose to pick one yourself straight from the patch, or choose one that’s already been picked. (We also love to go there for strawberry picking in the summer!)
Little loved the farm so much. He is at a really fun age now and he loves all things related to farms and animals. Old MacDonald is a big time favorite around here. All I have to do is suggest that we’re going to a farm and he is immediately excited. As soon as we got to the farm, he took off running to see what he could find.
We ended up spending most of our time watching the goats and chickens, playing with the trucks on the sand pile, sliding in the corn pit, and taking a ride on the hayride.
Little of course, stayed behind on the hay ride for a little just to say “hello” to the cows in the barn. I told you – he loves animals.
Page Farms also has tire swings, a tunnel slide, corn maze, and area for smaller children to play. It really is a family friendly place for kids of all ages.
After we had played for a couple of hours (yes, you really can spend that much time there), we headed out to the pumpkin patch to pick our pumpkins. Fortunately, we remembered from last year to bring a pocket knife to help cut the pumpkins off the vine. They can be tough! Last year, I couldn’t get it myself, so I actually borrowed Mr. Page’s pocket knife. I actually don’t know who to pick them otherwise. (Open to tips, if you know the secret!)
Little’s pumpkin has successfully been painted and the others are happily resting on our mantel for the fall.
Being from rural North Carolina, I love local farms so much and the fall is an awesome time to visit. Below are some quick tips to make the most of your day at your own local pumpkin patch.
Make the Most of Your Trip to the Pumpkin Patch
Go on a Weekday (if you can)
This is actually a great tip for any sort of seasonal activity like this – weekdays mean less crowds since many kids will be in school. Little and I usually go with my sister when she tracks out of school for this reason.
Go Early in the Morning or Later in the Day
This is another beat the crowds strategy. Maybe you don’t mind crowds. Or maybe you can just trust that your toddler won’t try to run off into the crowds, but this Mama really appreciates smaller crowds when we can make it happen. Crowds tend to increase in the mornings until lunch time and then taper back off later in the afternoons, I’ve found. Because Little naps pretty late, we went first thing in the morning. This also makes a big difference in allowing you to get to everything and still make it home in time for nap. Because as much fun as we had, I can’t say with certainty that it would be worth a missed nap in the afternoon. (And all the Mamas said, “Amen!”)
Look Up Admissions Prices and Information Ahead of Time and be Prepared to Spend Cash
Many local farms aren’t able to accept credit cards or will need to charge an additional fee to accept them. Be aware of this before you go. You might also need cash to purchase other things on the farm such as snacks or drinks, or other sorts of produce (For example, Page Farms also has honey and homemade jams available for purchase.)
Wear Close Toed Shoes
This goes without saying, but can be easy to forget.
Consider Packing a Picnic Lunch
Many farms will have picnic areas nearby where you can enjoy a packed lunch. This can be really helpful if you’re pushing close to lunch time and might not want to go out to a restaurant or risk a melt-down because of a late lunch. Check with your local farm though to be sure this is an option. Even if the picnic doesn’t work out, you definitely want to be sure to have a water bottle saved in the car.
Be Flexible
This is something that I have to remind myself over . and . over again with a toddler. Sometimes, no matter how much effort you put into planning a fun day – that is centered solely around your toddler and things that you know they will enjoy, things just don’t go as planned. You might get there later than expected. Your toddler might decide to only enjoy one small part of the farm. You might not be able to go out for a fun family lunch afterwards because your toddler didn’t want to leave. Remember that the whole point of visiting the pumpkin patch in the first place is to have fun and create family memories. It’s not always picture perfect, but even the melt downs can hold a special place in our hearts if we let them. (Right? Tell me I’m right. It has to be so. Toddlers are no joke.)
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Have you visited a pumpkin patch this year? What tips would you add to make the day a success?
What are your favorite fall activities?
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I used to take my grandchildren to the pumpkin patch when they were toddlers. Now that they are older, I still take them. We have as much fun today as we did when they were toddlers. These are great tips. Thanks for sharing your tips on Sunday’s Best. Hope to see more of you.
That is so good to hear! I hope we are able to enjoy the pumpkin patch for many years to come!
I love the pumpkin patch! Alas, my kiddos are too big to want to go anymore, but I have fond memories of visiting when they were smaller. We have graduated to corn mazes now!
Oh, corn mazes are really fun too! My little is definitely too young to attempt that, but I’ve done one with my sister and had a great time!
Great tips! I love the play area setup with the dump trucks and sand – so cute! I love pumpkin patches even more than my five year old – it’s really fun the whole family!
It really is!! I hope we will enjoy this little tradition for years to come!
No more toddlers here, but you truly brought me back to pumpkin picking when my girls were toddlers. Definitely some great advice here and loved all your pics, too 🙂
Thank you so much! I know I will miss it when he’s older – so I am really trying to soak it all in during these little years!
We STILL haven’t made it to a pumpkin patch this year! Bad mama, bad mama! It’s been so crazy busy for us that we haven’t had time to pack it all up and spend the day somewhere. Crazytown.
Thank you for these tips. I plan on using them.
I hope you are able to make it out to the pumpkin patch! It is so much fun! Glad that these tips are useful!!
Visiting the pumpkin patch looks fun, and great tips for parents with toddlers- I remember those days! We have a free one near our house we go to every year. Look forward to hearing your other fun fall ideas!
Oh, I bet that’s fun! The pumpkin patch is definitely one of our favorite activities!
Great tips (especially the part about staying flexible!). Looks lie you had a blast! Maybe I will get to take my little guy to a pumpkin patch next year.
Thanks! We really did have an excellent time!
Thank You for linking up @ #WanderingWednesday with Confessions of Parenting see you next week! http://www.confessionsofparenting.com
Absolutely! Thank you for hosting such a fun link up!
Lovely pictures and sounds like a great day out! I really wish sleep had more pumpkin patches in cornwall #MMBH
Thank you! We are really thankful to live so close to a great farm!
Oh what a lovely post, all these lovely pumpkin photos!! Thanks for linking up #BloggersBests
Thank you! Love the link party!
Thanks so much! We had a great time!
Great tips! I love the reminder to keep things flexible. Plans with toddlers frequently don’t go according to plan. Food is a great idea too! Now I want to go visit a pumpkin patch!
You totally should! It’s one of our favorite fall activities!
Great tips and super cute pictures!!
Thank you so much!
We have the cutest little pumpkin patch in our area and my kids beg to go multiple times each fall. (We actually went yesterday for the third time!) They are super affordable so it makes it easy to go more than once and not feel like we wasted money if we’re only there for an hour. I definitely agree with your tips, especially about going on weekdays because that gives the smaller/younger kids space to play without dodging the bigger kids once they are out of school.
They are so much fun! Especially if you can spend lots of time there! It’s awesome that you have one so close by that you can frequent! I think when my little one is older, we might start going more than once/year – or venturing farther from home to explore other farms as well!
This looks like such a great farm to visit! I agree that it’s important to remember that as a toddler, you’re on their agenda and no matter how much I’ve planned, things sometimes don’t go that way. And it’s fine! More often than not, they’ve had the time of their life! Great tips!
Yes! Even the best made plans…
We had a really great time!
We went to a pumpkin patch for the first time this year and our little boy loved it. Admittedly he isn’t a toddler anymore (sob!) but I think you can enjoy them at any age! #bloggersbest
I totally agree!! They are fun for all ages!
Looks like a fun time! Great tips for someone with a toddler.
xo, Lee
Thanks, Lee! We really had a fun time!
These are great tips! We have been to the patch twice this year and had such a blast
Thanks! It’s one of our favorite fall activities!
What a fun outing, and great tips!
Thank you; it was really fun!
The pumpkin patch is definitely a must on our list too! It’s so much fun and I’m going to be so sad when everything is over. This farm looks like a lot of fun and I love the tips you shared! Sierra ~ Beautifully Candid
I agree! This is my favorite time of year! Of course, there are lots of other fun things coming up, too with Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Going to the pumpkin patch is such a great activity for kids of all ages. I went the past couple of years with a kindergarten class (my daughter was the teacher) and it was so fun watching the kids explore. Your pictures are beautiful!
Thank you! I bet that was fun to see the kids, but also your daughter in her teaching element!!
This looks like such a fun day! Great tips, too.
Thanks so much; it was a great day!
These are such great tips! We always go early in the morning and pack an insane amount of snacks + lunch! 🙂
Yes – all the snacks! Especially anytime we are doing something like this that might keep us out a little longer!
What a fantastic place for a day out with kids. I like the sound of a picnic 🙂 x #openslather
We love picnic, too!! I try to pack them anytime we might be out past lunch!
That looks like such a great pumpkin patch! The one we go to is free during the week (on the weekends they charge for parking) but most of the activities inside cost money, so I like the idea of paying a flat fee and having loads of fun and getting a pumpkin too!
We love it! I really like the flat entry fee for that very reason! It makes it easy to not have to say no to things – except the concession snacks – but at this age, I just try not to walk past them. 🙂
This is so fun! I love how they have that little play station set-up with trucks.
-xo, Azanique | http://www.lotsofsass.com
It really is. That little area is perfect for some of the smaller kids!
These are all really great tips! My daughter was obsessed with pumpkin patches last year and we went to about 6. I wish I had this list then
Wow! We only do one and maybe two during the fall! We really love it though!
Not a thing in the UK at all. You can buy them in the super market but that is it
Mollyx
We love the pumpkin patches here! The pumpkins end up being only part of the fun!
Packing a lunch or little snack is a great idea. I know it makes my kids last longer and they don’t get hangry. It makes the experience much more memorable.
Totally agree! And you really never know when kids will want a snack. I always try to keep them on hand!
Totally real life tips! We’ve been to three pumpkin patches and I can relate to all of these. I’d also bring socks if there’s bounce houses bc some places are weird about that.
That is a really great tip! I forgot all about that – but you are right!
This sounds like such a fun family activity! Even as an adult, I prefer to go to things like this really early in the morning to avoid crowds and to get the best of the pickings. Places like this are more enjoyable when you’re not fighting for space just to walk through.
I completely agree. I don’t think Little would mind the crowd one bit, to be honest – but I way prefer when it’s a little slower!
How fun! I went to my first pumpkin patch
& corn maze this year. I like that there are fall activities around despite the cooler weather.
They are so fun! Page Farms has a corn maze, too that we didn’t venture into, but I’ve done corn mazes before and they are lots of fun! There are so many fun activities around this time of year!
These are such great tips! Thanks for this post!
Absolutely! I try to keep it as practical as possible!