My family and I made a trip to come here. It was a bit far of a drive about 2 hours but we wanted…read moreto check it out. There wasnt any pumpkin left in the field to pick and the apples were not event there on the trees. I would definitely have to say hand down to the cute little store - there was a bakery side and oh my gosh the donuts , the cookies and the Tik Tok famous drink was out of this world. So the 2 hour trip was definitely worth the drive. The service was okay the individuals behind the counter to order the Tik Tok drink had a bit of a attitude when I was asking about questions. Just stay patient. Other then that I would highly recommend coming here and trying a piece of all of there different donuts and cookies are soo soo good. They even had a pumpkin cider donut which I never had before. Don't forget to stop by and check them out.

I took my kids and visiting family here on a Thursday when the kids had no school. I hear it can…read moreget crowded on the weekends, but on Thursday when we arrived a little before noon, it wasn't bad. They had a steady stream of newcomers but not too crowded. It was fairly easy to find though going there, my map told me to go down a treacherous gravel road which I wasn't terribly fond of. They have a moderately sized parking lot and you'll see this large, red barn. That's where you get your goodies (there's often a line) and where their store is. We stopped by for a treat first. They sell ice cream, cider floats, and what is a "TikTok famous" coffee float with donut. We got: Cider ($4) - I didn't actually drink this. I got it for my kid with food allergies. He wanted ice cream but they do not know if the ice cream they use contains eggs or not so we played it safe. My kid thought it was okay but finally finished it later. He typically prefers regular apple juice. Cider float with donut - you have a choice of no donut for $2 less. It's like a root beer float but with cider instead of root beer, black and orange sprinkles around the time of the cup, whipped cream, and a powdered cider donut over it all. I shared this with my daughter. That donut was delicious! Warm, tender, and crisp on the outside. The drink was great! I do wish it came with a spoon because it got difficult finishing the last of it. Warning: if you have one of these, the bees are coming for you. They use some sort of caramel-like sauce to get the sprinkles to stick. Overall, quite good. Maple cider donut ($3): my sister got this and she said it was amazing, but she said she thought $3 was a bit much (the unglazed donuts are $1.25 each). She's vegan, so didn't partake in the float, but she also wasn't going to ask if there's milk in the donut. If you're getting only donuts, they are purchased in the store. They have tables and chairs nearby for you to picnic and enjoy your treats. Going through the gates, there was a table but they were busy with other people so we walked right in. There is no entrance fee, which was nice. You go through the apple orchard first. It seems like most of the apples have been picked through, though there are a lot of developing apples. Some of the nicer ones were way too tall for us; they don't provide ladders. We only managed to find one that looked nice. At the end, there used to be a sunflower field and the corn maze. It's epic but you don't know how formidable until you're past the point of return and realize it's not a kids maze. We were in there for a while! Even met other kids that thought they'd be lost forever. The corn stalks are taller than a human and they're pretty dense so you can't look over or through them. It's a true maze and I was impressed. I wish they would provide a paper maze puzzle of the corn maze because I'm so curious how it is from above. Lots of dead ends. What I can say is don't lose hope. You'll get there! (When we finally found the exit, it was almost like a dream because we had been staring at corn for so long.) In hindsight, it was good we ate something first. Once done, we explored the sunflowers and saw the pumpkin patch. As we headed out, we went to pay for our lone apple and we discovered THE CORN MAZE IS NOT FREE. It's $10 per adult and $5 per kid. They charged us $1 for the single apple. I guess they work on the honor system? I didn't mind much because that maze clearly took planning. Before we left, we visited the store full of baked goodies. I got a few cider donuts, a dumpling, and a piece of crumb cake because they just brought out a fresh tray. Plus a lattice harvest pie. The pies with crumble aren't vegan, but the lattice pies are made of vegetable shortening. Restrooms! They have a row of port-a-potties by the parking lot. They're actually the cleanest ones I've been to before. No sinks but they do have a dispenser of antibacterial hand gel. The openings are a bit large so if your kid needs to use the toilets, hold onto them. Overall, it was quite enjoyable and I definitely think everyone should go through a corn maze of this caliber at least once in their life. The apple pickings were sparse but at least you get delicious floats and donuts! Note: they have gluten free goodies in the store but they are nut based (almond flour). They also had one gluten free-vegan item.

I was in the area for a meeting and did a search of farms and stumbled upon Greenbriar Farmstand…read more I was greeted by Scott and was given a run down of the farm and what the sell at their farm store. Lots of items packed in the stand. Fresh produce, baked goods, homegrown grass fed beef and dairy. Most of the items are straight from this farm while some are sourced from other local farms. I came away with steaks, burgers, hot dogs, heirloom tomatoes, valley shepherd yogurt, Lioni mozzarella and some granola. Great spot with reasonable prices. I'll definitely return soon.

A private small farm run by a nice local couple who offers fresh baked goods…read more The also offer personalized service which the larger farms are unable to provide. So check it out.

We've taken our toddler here a couple of times and he has a great deal of fun. Besides the farm…read morezoo, where you can buy cups of carrots to feed the many varieties of animals - I wouldn't say petting zoo as you are advised to feed the animals only with the plastic shovel and not stick your fingers into the pens - there are several little play houses with play activities (train set, corn cabin, kitchen, grocery store, etc), a playground with a sandpit, and tractor and train rides. The sandpit even has toys like dump trucks - my kid would be perfectly happy to just stay there and call it a day! The condition of everything in the main areas is a little grubby, however. I appreciate that they put out plenty of chairs and benches all around for parents to sit on (cos waiting for your child while they play is an unavoidable part of the game), as well as some picnic tables. Prices are fair and reasonable, and entry for kids under 2 is free.

This little farm is super cute and is perfect for families and small children. We have been here…read more a few times, most recently for a birthday party. They have a large variety of animals that the kids can feed (they get a bucket of carrots) and there are lots of small areas to play. But the big hit with our family is the playground and sand pit with diggers and toys. My kids could stay there all day. It's a good way to spend a local day.

Went here a couple of months back during their Boo Bash weekend festival. We enjoyed a few hours…read morethere to do some pumpkin picking, hay rides, and the rest of the usual activities. They have several food trucks with lots of different choices. They have a nice farmer's market that is nicely decorated and has plenty of items for sale. They have a great selection of pies too. Also, there is an ice cream stand next to the market opened daily, all ice cream is homemade and fresh! Their hot apple cider and cinnamon donut was a great treat! Since finding Ort Farms is not too far from us, we'll be back next year once the crops are back in season.

I found out about Ort Farms from a billboard I saw driving down 17. I wanted to find a farm that…read morehad a pumpkin patch but still had apple picking, and Ort Farms had both - so it was perfect! It was about an hour drive from me, so it wasn't too bad. We came on the last Sunday of September, so the pumpkin patch and hayrides were already open (I believe they open mid-September) but they still had some late varieties of apples. They had some veggies available for picking too - tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. You just need to purchase a bag and you can use it for both. Admission was about $15 per adult, which you have to purchase online. Kids 3 and under are free. We did the 9:30 time slot but didn't get there until 10, which didn't seem to be an issue. It's definitely best to go early so you can avoid as much of the crowd as possible. We spent almost three hours there and it was crowded by the time we left. The good thing about going in September is that most people don't want to go until October, so you get to avoid that mess. But the bad thing is that it's still probably really hot and if you're picking fruits/veggies in hot weather, it's not the most fun. By the time we were done picking apples and veggies, we were all hot and tired by the time we got to the pumpkin patch. So I'd suggest doing all of your photo ops at the pumpkin patch first and then doing all the manual labor. They have a few food trucks in one area and the apple cider slush was nice and refreshing after picking fruit. They also have a farm store with your usual suspects - pies, apple cider donuts, pre-made salads/sandwiches, etc., but we didn't buy anything. I think I found our new go-to farm. It's nice that you can kill two birds with one stone. I saw they have U-cut Christmas trees in December so I'm interested to see if they're doing any Christmas events - I wouldn't mind making the drive back.

Blew away my expectations. They were so well organized and the people on the farm were so friendly…read more Would absolutely book your visit asap.

What an amazing and unique experience! The tour starts off with some fun facts, then goes into…read morefeeding/petting. If you buy the walking tickets, you get to walk alongside the alpacas and feed them. I highly recommend paying extra for the walking! The staff is genuinely so friendly and so knowledgeable. Pro tip: the alpacas are more active in the morning because they're waiting for guests to feed them. By the afternoon they're pretty tuckered out from all the feeding. So if you're scared to feed them, the staff suggested booking afternoon tickets. Definitely a great and unique experience!

PROS: this place was amazing! Fresh food that's locally grown/made, petting zoo, staff is friendly,…read moreloads of parking, good prices, great hours CONS: on a Friday afternoon the petting zoo was closed despite all the animals out and no snow on the ground OVERALL: I will absolutely come back here with friends! As long as my friends and I aren't looking to play with the animals

A little bit of everything at this fun location…read more You're either coming here for the petting zoo and finding out there is also a farmer's market, or you're here for a farmer's market and finding out there is also a petting zoo. Either way, everyone's a winner. The petting zoo is much larger than others in the area, giving the pets and the customers a lot of space to roam around. You can buy your tickets online, or with the QR code on site, or with cash at the booth located at the zoo entrance at the top of the hill past the upper parking lot. The farmers market provides amazingly fresh produce, fruits, veggies, baked goods, and a pre-made food selection. You can order a fresh sandwich, sides and soup. A delicious bonus. Somethings look out for include sparce parking at the top of the hill where the farmers market is, but plenty further down and towards the greenhouse. Also seating to eat is located in the back past checkout in the playground area that is also lacking a number of tables, but make meeting new people an experience when sharing seating. A fun adventure rolled into one location.

This is a review for Christmas experience at the Zoo…read more Wow... can't believe I didn't know about this despite living in NJ for 8 years! Turtle Back Zoo turns into a complete Christmas paradise after 5 PM, and it's absolutely magical. I recently found out about this and, after seeing the lights and activities, I was genuinely impressed. During the holiday season, entry is free after 5 PM through sponsorship, which is a huge plus. Timings are 5 PM - 9 PM. Parts of the zoo remain open, so you can still see animals and birds like bison, giraffes, toucans, and more, which makes it extra special for kids. The entire park is beautifully lit with festive decorations and multiple Christmas trees. The area near the carousel looks amazing. For Kids' Activities - There's no shortage of fun for children- Face painting, Meet & greet with Santa (on specific days/times), Carousel rides, Pony rides etc... Food and beverages are well taken care of, like Starbucks or Zoo's own food sections spread across the park. Perfect for grabbing a warm drink while walking around. They also have private igloos available: You can rent for 4 hours, which can accommodate up to 10 guests, and includes hot chocolate and snacks It's located in West Orange, Essex County Parking: Two multi-level parking garages--parking is hassle-free and well organized. Overall, it was an amazing 2-3-hour evening spent with friends. Festive, family-friendly, and surprisingly delightful. Highly recommended--especially if you have kids!

This review is strictly for the holiday lights event held at the zoo. The event is totally…read morefree--they simply ask for a donation of non perishables, new or gently used coat and/or an unwrapped toy which we were excited to provide. Parking was even free. They have a small lot out front and two multi level parking garages for the overflow. The light displays were so cute and sparkly, holiday music was playing overhead, and there was a train that took us over a river and through the woods. The line for the train was lengthy, but they had a heater which helped some on the very frigid night. There were plenty of lights to admire while in line. I will say we were a little surprised that the entire train ride was pretty dark. We expected to see light displays and installations along the way, but it was really only at the beginning. Our little one loves trains and so he was content, which is all that matters. There were smores pits, a kettle corn and hot chocolate cart, and a cozy inside cafe which we really needed to warm up. Pricing for these items was a bit of an upcharge, but as everything else was free, we sort of expected it. The animals were not really on display as it was a special event after the zoo was officially closed, but we did get to see and pet the sting rays, 1 baby shark, and a large aquarium with colorful fish (Nemo, Dory & friends). All in all it was a great holiday event and was enjoyed by all.

Faraway Alpaca Farm was such a memorable experience. The farm tour has to be set up before arriving…read more($25/per person). This can be done by going to the web site. When I did our tour, I received replies and confirmations immediately. Upon arriving, you are greeted by the farm owners/tour guides, Steve and Leda. They are both knowledgeable, cordial, funny, and the entire tour was educational, fun, and wonderful. Aside from alpacas, you'll also be introduced to their horses and donkeys. After the tour, we went through their gift shop, which had everything alpaca. From socks, to hats, and even ribbons of their award winning alpacas. As the pictures and videos will show, I highly recommend this tour and know that you will be thoroughly impressed.

If you're in the mood to take a little road trip out of the city and you love alpacas (and who…read moredoesn't), this is a fun activity! It's a little family farm that offers farm tours for $15/person which you need to arrange beforehand. Leda and Steve, who run the farm, are the absolute nicest and you can tell they really love and care for their alpacas (as well as their two Icelandic horses). They have so much beautiful land to run around on and they're like part of the family, it seems. We were able to go into the girls pen and say hello. The alpacas are friendly and curious but don't necessarily like to be touched so they're very clear about how to approach them. After spending a good amount of time in there learning about them, we went into their farm store where they sell the yarn from the alpacas and various alpaca fleece items. It's a really fun and wholesome experience and, if you have other things to do out in that area, totally worth the time and the drive!

Such a great place. You can tell how much the alpacas are loved & how nice the workers are. Sadly…read morethe alpaca walk was sold out but I will def return to do it. The lavender shop has so many cute things. Great stop if you are in the area.

Pictures are worth a thousand words, so what else do I need to say?!…read more These cuties are free to visit (donations are welcome) and spend the day with. They are incredibly sweet and friendly, and definitely food-motivated. For $2, bags of treats are available in the gift shop and they go a long way. Each alpaca has its own personality, go meet them all!

This is a cute farm with attached hiking trails in Westchester County. There's a lot of free…read moreparking. Entrance is free. They have farmers markets on Sundays in certain seasons. They have over 777 acres. You can read about the history. There are no pets allowed so the animals are comfortable. They have all sorts of events.

Loved it here! I was…read morelooking for an outdoor space to walk and found this place. It was crowded with families but I walked for awhile on the trails and then ended up away from the crowds that were closer to where there animals were housed. The views here were very scenic and serene. I would recommend coming here if you want to see some farm life. If you have kids who love animals, I'd highly recommend this place! They have a lot of staff walking around guiding people around the farm area. There is plenty of signage to find your way. And, there was a snack bar with a variety of food too. I look forward to coming back here and seeing more farm life soon!