-
- Hello, I'm Alexis. Welcome to Capitol Momma! I'm always out having fun with my little ones, exploring all that there is to see & do in the DC Metro area for kids. Join us on our adventures!
Facebook
Newsletter
-
Recent Posts
Archives
- August 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
Categories
Recent Pins
-
Blog Archives
Great Country Farms
Great Country Farms
18780 Foggy Bottom Road
Bluemont, VA 20135
http://www.greatcountryfarms.com
Great Country Farms is a 200 acre working farm located at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains outside the village of Bluemont, Virginia. It is about an hour drive from Washington, DC. The girls and I ventured out there last week to meet our friends at the farm for an afternoon of fun.
After mentioning to Clara that they have a giant jumping pillow, she insisted that we go there first. We spent a good amount of time here bouncing, running, and giggling.
Next, Clara asked to see the animals. My girls both LOVE animals and will have a great time when we go anywhere that has animals. Great Country Farms has turkeys, pigs, goats, mini horses, rabbits, peacocks, ducks, chickens, and sheep. There is animal feed available to purchase for feeding the goats.
Then we took the kids over to the playground area. There are a few different structures to play on including a ship, tractor, and a monster truck. There is also a corn bin, a giant chess board, and tube slides.
Then it was time to go apple picking. I purchased a Certifikid deal for admission and it also included 2 lbs of apples. The wagon for apple picking leaves at the top of every hour. It takes guests across the street and into the Bluemont Vineyard property, which is owned by the same family.
The view is absolutely stunning with the orchards at the base of the hill and the vineyard towards the top.
There were a few different varieties of apples available to pick including Fuji, Ruby John, Honey Crisp, and Jonafree. We decided to pick the Fuji and they were delicious.
As usual, Clara did all the picking while Mae munched on an apple.
The wagon waits until everyone has returned from picking and then takes all the guests back to the entrance of Great Country Farms.
On our way out, we stopped at the farm market to pay for our apples and get a few other goodies. The market offers seasonally fresh produce, local honey, jams, gifts, and snacks.
Of course we had to get the obligatory photo with the giant cow before leaving.
I definitely recommend a trip to Great Country Farms. It is well worth the drive from the city. There are enough activities to keep children busy for several hours. You could also make it a day trip and visit some of the family friendly vineyards in the area.
Additional information:
•Admission is $8/child (ages3-10) & $10/adult on weekdays. $10/child (ages 3-10) & $12/adult on festival weekends. Children under 2 years, active & retired military, CSA, and Fan of the Farm season pass holders, do not pay admission.
•The farm is spread out, so bring a stroller for little ones. There are paths throughout making it stroller friendly.
•CSA memberships available.
•Pick-your-own produce includes cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, plums, peaches, blackberries, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, potatoes, concord grapes, pumpkins, kale, swiss chard, & mustard greens.
•Follow Great Country Farms on Facebook & Twitter for updated pick-your-own availability.
•Roosteraunt is open on weekends and serves up cider donuts, kettle corn, hotdogs, pies and other snacks.
•The farm also offers weddings, corporate meetings, birthday parities, and field trips.
No Comments
POSTED IN: Animals, Apples, Bluemont Vineyard, Fall Festival, Giant Jumping Pillow, Great Country Farms, Petting Farm, Pick-your-own, Pumpkins
POSTED IN: Animals, Apples, Bluemont Vineyard, Fall Festival, Giant Jumping Pillow, Great Country Farms, Petting Farm, Pick-your-own, Pumpkins
Butler’s Orchard
Butler’s Orchard
222000 Davis Mill Road
Germantown, MD 20876
http://www.butlersorchard.com/
This family owned and operated farm originated in the 1950s and now includes 300 acres where they grow over 25 kinds of fruits, veggies, and flowers. I started visiting the farm years before having children and now I enjoy taking my girls here several times a year. It is conveniently located off interstate 270 making it quicker to get to than other farms in the area. However, that also means that it is much more crowded, especially on the weekends or during their holiday festivals.
During the school year, the weekdays are not busy so I decided to take my girls last Friday. The pick your own crop throughout the year includes: strawberries, sugar snap and English peas, blueberries, tart cherries, flowers, blackberries, potatoes, red raspberries, tomatoes, apples, pumpkins, and Christmas trees. Last week, the apples were not yet ready to pick so we headed to the raspberry field first. The picking was plentiful.
Mae was eating the berries faster than Clara and I could pick them so we ended up not having many to take home. At least Mae had a tummy full of delicious raspberries.
It was close to 90 degrees that day so the girls did not last long out in the field where there was no shade. We got in the car and I turned up the air conditioning and we drove over to the Sunflower field. Clara has always loved picking flowers.
After picking a few gigantic sunflowers we drove up to the area where the holiday festivals take place. In this space is a playground with a few different wooden structures including a pirate ship, castle, and train.
After burning off some energy at the playground, we drove down to the entrance and stopped at the farm market to pay for our raspberries and purchase a few more items. The market is stocked with the season’s fresh produce. They also have a dairy case with local cheese, milk, and eggs. Fresh baked pies and other baked goods, kitchen supplies, and home decorations are also for sale.
Butler’s is probably best known for their Halloween and Easter festivals. Their 34th annual Pumpkin festival is just around the corner: September 27 & 28, October 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 25, 26. 10am – 5:00pm. This festival has so many fun activities for children including: hayrides, giant slides, straw maze, pumpkinland, pedal tractors, corn hole, pumpkin coach, corn maze, hayloft, pony rides, pumpkin cannon, face painting, kids crafts, and pick your own pumpkins. There is also live music. The festival is $11 per person and children 2 and under are free. We have attended in years past on nice days and it is completely packed with people. We once had to wait over 45 minutes in line to purchase food. So it might be a good idea to pack a picnic if you are there during lunch time.
The Bunnyland Eggstravaganza has similar activities but with an Easter theme: hayride down the bunny trail, rubber duck derby, egg hunt, moon bounce, & bunnies, chicks, & lambs in the barn. Tickets are $8.75 per child and $6.75 per adult. When I have been in years past, the Bunnyland festival has been much less busy than the Pumpkin festival.
Good to know:
•Containers for pick your own are available for purchase in the market. If you bring your own, make sure to have them weighed first.
•For the festivals, it is cash only at the entrance gates. You can purchase tickets with a credit card at the farm market.
•Some of the activities at the festivals are at an additional cost so bring extra cash for face painting, pony rides, etc.
•Portable restrooms only.
•Sign up for the email newsletter to receive updated pick your own information and other news.
No Comments
POSTED IN: Apples, Bunnyland Festival, Butler's Orchard, Farm, Pick-your-own, Pumpkin Festival, Pumpkins, Raspberries
POSTED IN: Apples, Bunnyland Festival, Butler's Orchard, Farm, Pick-your-own, Pumpkin Festival, Pumpkins, Raspberries
Homestead Farm – It’s Apple Picking Season
Homestead Farm
15604 Sugarland Road
Poolesville, MD 20837
301-977-3761
www.homestead-farm.net
Homestead Farm is one of our favorite pick-your-own farms in the area. It isn’t as crowded as other farms and it is located in a scenic and peaceful area. I received the email update earlier this week announcing that Honeycrisp apples were in great abundance and ready for picking. So, the girls and I headed out to the farm this afternoon.
After entering, we picked up a cart and bucket at the market. It is a bit of a walk from the market to the apple fields, so I gave the girls a ride in the cart.

Much more fun than the stroller
The signs direct you to the rows that are ready for picking. The rows that are not yet ripe are roped off.
After picking apples, we stopped by the cut-your-own flower patch.
After picking flowers we headed over to feed the goats. Animal feed is available to purchase in the market.
The goat walk is pretty cool! On the far left post is a pulley with a small bucket for food. You can then send the bucket up to the top to entice the goats to climb the beams.
Today we also saw some chickens and an alpaca. Other times we have been at the farm there have been cows and pigs as well.
There is also a hay bale area for the kids to play.
Other useful info about visiting Homestead Farm:
• No pets allowed
• No birthday parties
• Porta-potties only
• The market sells a variety of seasonally fresh fruits & veggies, local honey, & preserves
• The market accepts credit cards
• A food stand is open on the weekends where they sell hotdogs, hamburgers, desserts, etc
• Sign up on their website for the email updates so you know what is available to pick
We will definitely be going back in a month or so to pick pumpkins and go on a hayride.