Thursday, 07 October, 2021
When you’re looking to plan a fun activity, look to your local farms. Plenty of area farms offer pick your own programs that let you find pumpkins, berries, and more depending on the season. Koons Woodbridge Hyundai put together this list of top farms close to Alexandria to explore.
Miller Farms
Make the quick trip from Alexandria over to Clinton, Maryland, to enjoy Miller Farms. This 267-acre farm has been family owned and operated since 1879. This is the place to go for pick your own fun, as well as when you want to stock up on delicious produce or beautiful plants and flowers direct from the farm. Miller Farms grows a huge range of fruit and vegetables using sustainable practices, so you can feel good about the products you get from this amazing farm.
In the spring months, plan a trip to Miller Farms to pick your own strawberries. When October rolls around, you’ll want to add their Fall Family Fun event to your list of local things to do. The Fall Family Fun event offers everything from scenic hayrides to see the farm community, giant slides, a huge corn maze, Barnyard Buddies, and more. Of course, Miller Farms promises pumpkins of all shapes and sizes as part of the festive event.
Once you’ve had fun at the farm, you’ll want to make time to stop by the Farm Market. The fall season means you’ll find Miller Farms’ famous apple cider donuts, locally grown apples (and apple cider to go along with it), and more delicious food ready to enjoy. With fresh-baked pies and barbecue available every day, you can’t go wrong with a visit to this local farm. Don’t forget to leave room for the homemade ice cream while you’re there. Fall flavors like apple pie and pumpkin are the perfect autumn indulgence.
Shlagel Farms
You’ll find Shlagel Farms not far from Alexandria in Waldorf, Maryland, offering another fun outing to pick your own produce at a family farm. Today, the third generation of Shlagels are farming the same land. You can get in on the tradition by planning a fun day out and about. With activities available in both fall and spring, you’ll want to come back to Shlagel Farms every chance you get.
In October, you can pick your own pumpkins on select weekends. The farm also offers a bunch of fun activities, including a hay ride wagon, petting zoo, straw maze, and place for kiddos to hold baby chicks. This really is the place to go for classic autumn activities with loved ones.
Don’t forget about this farm in the springtime, though. When the weather starts warming up, you can look forward to a pick your own strawberry season. You can bring your own containers or get them at the farm, and they even offer berries to buy by the quart or flat for you if you don’t want to pick on a given day. The greenhouses are also open during berry season, so you can find beautiful hanging baskets and annual flats here as well. On the weekends, head over to the milkshake trailer for huge strawberry shortcakes, milkshakes, and cones.
Swann Farms
Located in Owings, Maryland, Swann Farms offers another possibility in easy reach of Alexandria when you’re in the mood to pick your own berries. This farm dates back to the 1850s, when it got it’s start as a tobacco farm. The family owned farm strives to deliver the highest quality to the community, so you know you can count on finding incredibly tasty berries and more to bring home.
Depending on the season, you can enjoy pick your own strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. You’ll just buy a container at the farm stand and then pick what you want. The farm’s website includes up-to-date information about what berries are in season and available for picking.
You can also head to this farm for amazing produce and more. Stock up on blueberries and blackberries, or go for seedless watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew melons. Or, you can try some sweet corn, yellow squash, zucchini, pattipan squash, mini cucumbers, green peppers — the list goes on! Swann Farms even offers their own honey, so you’re sure to find something to love even when berries aren’t available to pick.
Homestead Farm
You’ll have to drive a bit further from Alexandria to visit Homestead Farm in Poolesville, Maryland, but you’ll be glad you made the trip once you get in on the pick your own fun. This farm offers a variety of pick your own opportunities through the summer and fall.
Typical seasons here include:
- Mid-June for one or two weeks: Stop by to pick tart cherries.
- Late June for two or three weeks: Mid-summer delivers delicious blueberries for you to pick.
- Early/mid-July to mid-August: You can also pick thornless blackberries here.
- Early July to late August: Later summer translates to peach season. Homestead Farm grows both yellow and white peaches, with different varieties ripening at different times throughout the season.
- Late August/early September to late October: Fall means apple-picking season. Again, different varieties ripen at different times.
- Late September through October 31st: You guessed it! October is time for picking pumpkins.
Macintosh Fruit Farm
Drive over to Berryville, Virginia, to explore another amazing farm complete with pick your own opportunities. That’s where you’ll find Macintosh Fruit Farm, open for pick your own fun through October 31.
The farm’s website has a section dedicated to keeping customer’s up-to-date on items available for picking, so check it out when you’re ready to plan your trip so you know what’s available. Items generally ready to harvest in October include Evercrisp, Fuji, and Pink Lady apples, various garden vegetables, and of course, pumpkins.
There you have it, Koons Woodbridge Hyundai just gave you five amazing farms to explore. Drop us a line if we didn’t include your favorite local farms so we can add it!
Drive to the Farm With a Car from Koons Woodbridge Hyundai
So many amazing farms in easy driving distance from Alexandria means you need a great car to tackle your itinerary. Contact Koons Woodbridge Hyundai to sell or trade your car, then upgrade to the perfect vehicle for your local adventures.
Image via Unsplash by monroefiles
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