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Fall Pumpkin Farms

Discussion in 'General Chat Forum' started by smheese, Oct 26, 2006.

  1. smheese

    smheese New Member

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    Looking to go do the pumpkin and pie shopping/hay rides/festive fall pictures of my son this weekend. I hear a lot of people around here go to Cox Farms. How far is it? Is the entry fee worth it, how much is there to do, buy there? What other alternatives are close to this area? We are basically looking for pumpkins, gourds, pies, cider, hay rides... Thx
     
  2. jim

    jim New Member

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    You could also try Great Country Farms in Bluemont. They have a web site: http://www.greatcountryfarms.com/

    They have a tractor pulled wagon with hay bales out to the pumpkin patches (with gourds too). Pigs, goats, food, etc.

    Its not cheap. Call them for prices. But, the scenery is beautiful, right at the foot of the Blue Ridge.

    On the way there or back, you can stop for lunch or a desert at Cate's on the west side of Purcelville on Business 7. Good eating. Try their cakes or pie.

    You could also take Route 7 to the top of the ridge and park at the dirt lot at the top near Blueridge Mountain Rd and hike a bit of the Appalachian Trail. Or drive along the road and go by FEMA's Mount Weather bunker (is Cheney still in there?)

    -Jim
     
  3. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    We've been to Cox Farms and it took about 45 minutes to get there. Maybe a little less. We've also been to Pumpkinville in Leesburg which is closer, but not as big and not as fun. I'd say the entry fee to either IS definitely worth it. We had a great time at both.
     
  4. JLC

    JLC Member

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    Cox Farms is a lot of fun. They have a number of big slides, animal petting zoo, a cool hayride, apples & cider, live entertainment, etc. On weekends it costs $13 per person, kids under three are free. I think it’s $8 a person on weekdays. It’s on the other side of South Riding off of Braddock road. It takes us about 25 minutes to get there.

    We went a couple of weeks ago on Columbus Day and it was very crowded. My kids were waiting 30-40 minutes in line for each slide – that’s longer than we waited for attractions at Walt Disney World! We spent two hours there before leaving in frustration, stopping at customer service for rain checks on the way out. They gave them to us without question but we haven’t tried them again. We were thinking about going after school one day in the hopes it would be less crowded. They’re open until November 5th, so we might even wait until after Halloween.

    We’ve been there in previous years when the crowds were more manageable and have had lots of fun. I don’t know if it was just because it was Columbus Day or if it’s like that on any day there’s no school.
     
  5. Pats_fan

    Pats_fan Former Resident

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    Not sure where Cox farms is, but there are quite a few farms in Maryland, north of the Potomac just a few miles from White's Ferry Crossing. I'm not sure what they do for fall programs, but I remember one in particular had lots of different U-pick fruits/vegetables, gave hayrides and had a petting zoo.

    It also offered the added excitement (for the kids) of riding White's Ferry.

    Of course, it's been a few years since we've done any of this, so who knows whether these farms even still exist? Has anyone been recently?
     
  6. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    Cox Farm is really great- we've been to a few other smaller farms but Cox appeals most to my 8 year old.
     
  7. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    I second Great Country Farms. Kate and her family who own the farm are friends of ours since we are farmers too. We belong also to their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture--for you "city slickers"). Seriously, they deliver free farm fresh produce in the growing season from April-October yearly. What we do not produce for ourselves, we purchase only from local farms and CSA(s) such as Kate's. Great time for families. Check out web site at greatcountryfarms.com.

    :mmm: Foodie
     
  8. Audrey

    Audrey Member

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    Columbus Day weekend at Cox Farm is about the most crowded it gets. I went there on a weekday afternoon and there was almost no wait for anything (except waiting for a few more people to get on the hayride so we could take off). It's a lot of fun and well worth the $8.
     
  9. SarasMom

    SarasMom Member

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    We were just at Great Country Farms on Wednesday. My daughter's preschool had a field trip there. We went on a hayride out to the pumpkin patch and the kids all got pumpkins, they fed the animals, listened to a little talk on apples and apple cider making and had a great time. The kettle corn there is to die for....especially when you get it hot right out of the kettle! There is a general store with yummy goodies like apple butter and different jellies. I think the admission is $4 per person during the week and $6 on the weekends (check the website to be sure). It's a pretty drive to get there too!

    They had samples of hot chocolate and hot cider too - perfect on that cold windy day!
     
  10. T8ergirl

    T8ergirl New Member

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    We went to Layng's Flower Farm on Evergreen Mill Road last weekend and it was great. Big slides, pumpkin patch, ducks, moon bounces, tractor ride through the spooky (or not) woods, etc. First time we've been there and it was not crowed and nice. Nearby if you want to go for an hour or so and then have other things to do.

    Also, Pumpkinville in Leesburg on 15 South. We've been there 3 or 4 times and it is big. Lots of stuff to do including a petting zoo.

    In the end though, I'd say Great Country Farms is the best for a day out. And the big Pumpkin Jumpin pillow-thing is awesome. If you're an adult who really wants to get in the Moon Bounce with your kids, this is the place. I've attached a pic.
     

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  11. Sunny

    Sunny Chief Advisor

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  12. Sherlock

    Sherlock New Member

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    That is an amazing deal for Layngs. We hit Pumpkinville at Leesburg Animal Park yesterday. The kids loved it, there is a ton of stuff to do. The entry fee ($13 for kids and adults) is a bit steep to do more than once a season but we all got a pumpkin to take home.
     

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