A Little Bit About a Lot of Things

Well, it’s been a minute since I’ve last posted – but that is because we are so busy enjoying the fall weather that I haven’t had a moment to get my photos and blog posts organized. Fall is my favorite season by far, light coats, crisp air, and of course, apple picking. We have always been a Honey Pot Hill Orchard kind of family, but we went one day earlier this season and it was just a zoo. We decided to try out a new spot, and I had heard moms at school talking about Shelburne Farm. Not only do they have apple picking, but they have so many other fun things for the kids to do that you can really make a whole day of it. While it was still busy, it didn’t feel like people were on top of each other which was a plus in my book. They are located just 20 miles west of Boston and have parking right next to the orchards.

They have a wide variety of apples to pick, from your old favorites like Macoun, McIntosh, Cortland and Mutsu to varieties that I had never head of before like Cameo, Melrose and Northern Spy. Pick a peck (10lbs) for $20 or a half bushel (20lbs) for $33. We didn’t pick pumpkins here, because we already have 6 (!!!) from Trombetta’s Farm, but they have a patch where you can pick your own for $0.60 a pound. I don’t know about your kids, but mine love hayrides! We bought a Fun Pass (weekends only) for $10, which included all the play spaces and hay rides – but you can do just the hay ride for $2. A tractor pulls you around for a scenic tour of the orchards, which lasts for about 15 minutes. So let’s get back to the Fun Pass, you get unlimited all day access to the John Deere Combine climber playground (such a hit with the kids, but watch out for those slides with the little ones, they go surprisingly fast – oops!), the mini hay maze, the moon bounce, the John Deere pedal tractors (top right), the hay climbing mountain, the pump house duck races (another huge hit with the kids) and the Tractor slide. My kids also look forward to seeing animals, and Shelburne Farm has sheep, goats, an alpaca, miniature donkeys and some bunnies.

During the week there is an abbreviated lunch menu: grilled cheese, hot dogs and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (and after visiting for our second time, let me tell you, it tasted like the BEST grilled cheese ever made!). On the weekends they offer food at the Applewood Grill which include things like hamburgers, cheeseburgers, veggie burgers, and Italian sausages. Looking for something sweet? Their bakery offers cider donuts (plain and cinnamon sugar), caramel apples, apple crisp, cookies, and cider. They have picnic tables and a covered area to offer some shade on those warmer days.

Where is your favorite place to pick apples?

Shelburne Farm

106 West Acton Road, Stow, MA

www.shelburnefarm.com 

Open 7 days a week, rain or shine. Accepts Master Card, Visa and American Express.

Tags: casual dining, family friendly, trip