Wow! Keri runs a tight ship, honestly such a well kept farm it's truly impressive! The farm tour…read morewas great, highly suggest doing that to get to know the staff the animals and the story of the farm. We had a blast interacting with the animals. The farm shop is adorable with lots of awesome locally made goodies. This past weekend I signed up for goat yoga with a friend, it was Fun - I don't know If I would consider it relaxing with goats head butting each other for some of the food you have while doing yoga. Definitely a fun bucket list experience for me - nothing like a 45lbs goat on your back.

What a gem! My son went twice this summer once with a group…read moreand once with me. We learned about the animals and enjoyed our experience

Brand Farms really is a one-stop shop for fall fun! It gets quite crowded during the weekends but…read morethere is plenty of free parking after going down the gravel road leading up to the farm. There were attendants gesturing where to park which was helpful. After parking, there's a small shopping area where you can purchase baking and dip mixes, meat, eggs, jams, honey, and more. This is also where you can purchase empty bags for apple picking. You can pay with credit card or cash here. I tried the maple syrup breakfast sausage links and they were delicious, but definitely on the sweeter side. There is also a food truck where you can get apple cider donuts, and there were baby cows to see too! After exiting the shopping area, you can ride a wagon with straw bales over to the other area of the farm, or you can walk. It's a bit of a hike so I would recommend riding the wagon. The next area has so many activities: pumpkin patch, apple picking, paintball shooting, bouncy mats for children, and other little games and activities for children. There were so many photo spots as well. My favorite activity was the apple cannon, where you can pay $5 (cash, credit card, or venmo) for a bucket of apples, load them into a cannon, and blast them into old cars. The cannon is SUPER loud so bring ear plugs or ear protection -- my ears still hurt a little bit the next day. There was also live music and a couple food stands selling items such as apple cider and walking tacos. If you walk a little further you'll reach rows and rows of apple trees, sorted by type with clear signage. There were a handful of varieties to choose from, such as honeycrisp, sweet tango, sno-sweet, and crab apples. There were a lot of bees and mushed apples on the ground so I would wear appropriate clothing and shoes that you don't mind getting a little dirty.

I went with my wife and toddler to see the tulips here in May. While the farm and flowers…read morethemselves were quite nice, there were several factors that made this a negative experience. The primary one, that I'll write about here, was very poor line management and a huge lack of clarity. They have "Tickets" and "Wristbands" buying a "ticket" makes you eligible for a "wristband, but they are not the same thing. They had a terrible solution. Where you wait in an insanely long line (literally an hour long) to get a "ticket" then you have to go all the way back to another insanely long line to get a "wristband" in order to get in the hayride that takes you to the flowers (they would not allow people to walk). There was not clear signage which lead to a lot of confusion that really slowed things down. What made things worse is that we were there right at opening time, so we completed the idiotic process properly. But about an hour in the staff realized how bad their idea was, and tried to combine the lines which led to a ton of people being able to budge us, which was really unfortunate and frustrating. I certainly would never visit this place again on a weekend. It was such a poor experience. Maybe going during the week when visitation is not at peak could be feasible.

An amazing and peaceful farm ! A great place for the whole family. Wonderful flowers!read more

Luckily a friend of mine KNOWS how much I love U-Pick farms. Of all kinds. And this one is…read morecompletely full of flowers. Wild flowers, sun flowers, other flowers I didnt even know the name for.... Their season is short (Minnesota summers are short) but that makes it all the more special when you can sneak away from the city and explore Berry and Bloom Farm. It's also the most instagrammable spot ever, and the most quaint. The U-pick flower portion is on the "honor system." It is family owned, they only ask people leave a couple bucks for a few flowers (vases can be purchased for a few dollars more.) And I would probably hunt someone down if they took advantage of this amazingly open, kind, gift to humanity. I didn't take any flowers home, but left a few dollars any way because you truly can FEEL how much love and passion goes into this farm. Please understand that if you plan to visit: family owned. Small farm. Trusting people. Dont ruin the kindness :) Its about 30 minutes out of Rochester (great spot to explore if youre visiting the Mayo Clinic on a health trip.) Be sure to check their website though to ensure they are still open. This is going to be a permanent stop every time I visit this part of Minnesota.

If you have not had a chance to visit Rusty Bucket Acres, you MUST put it on your Bucket list (pun…read moreintended. LOL). Whether you live in Stillwater, MN, or live in Seattle, Washington - a visit to RBA is a must. The moment you drive up to RBA, you know that you are in for an experience to remember. Lorna and Shelly greet you with big smiles, positive energy and true joy in sharing the amazing animal sanctuary they have worked hard to build, grow, and maintain. The animals are the true stars on this farm. Each one of them has a gift just waiting to be shared. Maybe it is a hug from Zeke (one of the mini donkeys), or for you to kick back and lay on Dave (the mini cow) or let Kenny (one of the goats) snuggle up against you - you will be loved. These animals can pick up on how you are feeling, and they offer the healing capabilities they have to offer. Pull up a mat in the pasture and just let yourself relax. I have had the honor of volunteering AND visiting the farm multiple times and every time is a new experience. I'm so thankful to live close enough to visit as often as I would like. Make sure RBA is on your list too! Tips for when you visit: 1. Dress for a visit to a farm with LIVE ANIMALS: Know you will be licked, rubbed up against, sat on and loved on by animals. You will get dirty, and it is fantastic! 2. Don't be afraid of the animals: These animals are worked with every day, and they know you are there to learn and love. Let yourself love on them - let them love on you. 3. Help keep the farm up and running: It is not mandatory to donate, but I strongly encourage to do so. Whether it is $10 or $100, every dollar is spent to keep this sanctuary available for others to experience. If you can't give money, they also love when people want to come and volunteer. 4. Most importantly - have fun! It is an experience you will always remember!

This farm has something for everyone! You can feed animals, sit on the Healing Hill and the animals…read morecome to you, sit by you, snuggle with you and you will automatically feel the stress leave your body. They will be offering a calendar of classes (which will include a visit with the animals) where you will be using items from the farm to make works of art! They are open to the public (must reserve a spot), will take donations to keep the farm running, and will do private events. They keep adding wonderful new animals (alpacas, sheep, goats, ducks, chickens, a pig, a horse and the donkeys - I've probably forgotten some.) If you are in need of some respite and relaxation, you must try Rusty Bucket Acres - and bring the FAMILY!

A great fall spot for families. Admission is $6 per person and includes a hayride, access to see…read morethe animals, and time to explore the farm. There's plenty of space for kids to play, and it never feels too crowded. The coffee cart was a pleasant surprise. In addition to pumpkins, the farm sells fall décor like gourds, straw bales, and Indian corn. Everything is well kept, parking is easy, and the staff are friendly. Simple, relaxed, and worth the visit if you want a low-key fall outing close to the city.

What a really cool place to hold an event! We had a graduation party here today and couldn't have…read morebeen more pleased with the entire experience. From the llamas, sheep, donkeys, goats and miniature horses in the barn. To the roomy event space. It was a beautiful space to hold any event you are having!!!

It's pumpkin & gourd season! Time to enjoy the fall foliage on the way to the BMCF! Prices vary…read morefor sizes/varies of pumpkins, squashes and even corn stalks!

Ever since we ran across this roadside pay on your honor stand we have made it a regular stop when…read morewe go for a drive. It's located in the scenic Scandia/Marine on St. Croix area on Manning Ave (15) just north of 4 almost 2 miles. This family owned roadside stand usually has signs to let you know what is available in season. There is enough parking for 10 or so cars just off the street. Whether it's fresh picked sweet corn, pumpkins, squash or other items the produce is either in wagons or set out on the ground for you to choose what you need. The prices are clearly listed and a lockbox allows you to pay for the items. Great idea, great produce and great prices! Love this place! Note for October 2017: We stopped by Saturday 10/13 the sweet corn is long gone for the season and and they were running out of pumpkins for the year. Squash and decorative gourds were still available. This area was hit with a Spring hail that damaged a lot of crops in the area including the nearby Berry Patch. This limited some availability this year.

My mom and I went here for the u-pick lavender experience this past weekend. We were greeted by a…read moreyounger gentleman who gave us the run down on how to cut the lavender. He also gave us a wood ring that we could fill up with any lavender and this was included in the price we paid beforehand. When we went there was tall and short lavender plants (the names are escaping me) and a white lavender which was unique! It was extremely hot but we enjoyed taking in the smells of the lavender and admiring all the busy bees. There is a cute shop onsite with different things made from the lavender grown just feet away!

I went for an activity for my kids during summer. It was okay but I was expecting more. The…read moreadvertisement said they'd teach kids about pollination, but all it was were some puzzles and games in the grass. The kids chose to do an additional art activity for $5 each. All in all it was $30 for two kids and an hour of outside games. I like supporting small businesses and I love lavender, but the kid stuff is not really worth it in my opinion.

Excellent adventure for children, especially in fall…read more We went with our homeschooling co-op. Was a great opportunity to showcase bits and pieces of historical farm life. They have some beautiful livestock, and overall a scenic farm. My advice -- (1) be sure to bring a stroller with nice, large wheels so that you can pass through some rocky trails and long grass. (2) bring some food and a picnic blanket. This farm is the perfect place for a family picnic, and (3) bring lots of water. There is a beautiful trail that you'll want to take advantage

I came here for a special event called Tour De Farm, which is a farm to table picnic. The concept…read moreis simple, you eat on the farm a meal which is prepared only from ingredients from the farm. A 3 year old pig was the special guest of honor for the day and she played an important role in most of the dishes. Tour guides from the historical society dressed in time period costumes to give the tours which really gave the whole thing a special ambiance. They also had a horse drawn trolley to take guest around and show them the vast acres of farm land. Animals from pigs, cows, chickens and horses where all there and what makes this farm so special is it is purely educational. No food is sold from here, it is only used to teach people about farming so if you want to experience a farm go to the website find out more about how to take a tour. It's inexpensive, pretty close to the city and great for kids!

I love this place!! I was looking for an apple orchard to bring three kids 5 and under on a weekday…read moreand found Applewood Orchard. The employees were so friendly, warm and welcoming. The kids loved the activities. Lots to do and when we got in the car, they asked when we could come back. So happy you are open during non-weekend hours. I know that isn't necessarily easy but its so appreciated. Keep up the good work!!

What a great way to spend a fall day! Admission is free, apple donuts and slushies are in the store…read morealong with other Apple products! Pay for what you pick apples! Lots of kids activities to keep them occupied for a few hours! Will definitely be back!

WOW! This was my first time going to this orchard and I was blown away by all the activities (Apple…read morepicking, pumpkin patch, photo ops, kids spaces, etc.) and food trucks. The staff was friendly and helpful throughout the whole space, and it was easy to navigate the space. They even had farm animals about! I will definately be back!

This is a fun place, especially to bring the kids. This year they added more activities, but also…read moresignificantly raised their prices. I do like that only kids that want to do activities need to pay, unlike some orchards that require everyone to buy wristbands. My kids like the corn maze, corn pit, swings, mini golf. Of course they love the mini donuts and cheese curds as well. By the first weekend of October they were very low on U-pick apples, but I guess that's part of the season.