What a beautiful area and relaxing activity for a day away from the chaos that is DC! If you find…read moreyourself in the area I encourage you to visit while the fragrant lavender is in bloom. We walked the farm and soaked it the scenery. There are so many pollinators busily fluttering around and an abundance of beautiful birds singing. I was so surprised at the bamboo forest, which has such a magical feeling. We stopped here after brunch and before a visit to a nearby vineyard.

Wonderful local farm with a beautiful landscape. Perfect getaway trip from the stresses associated…read morewith living in an urban area or bustling suburban area. Perfect attraction to visit after Sugarloaf Mountain. This farm grows a variety of lavender plants and offers products at their farm store at an affordable rate. The owners are incredibly friendly. The owners took the time to describe fun facts about the farm and show us around the lavender fields. This farm offers fun activities for all ages ranging from a labyrinth, bamboo forest, etc. I purchased lavender oil, which smells heavenly and is completely pure. We visited during the early season for the lavender, so we didn't get to see as many lavender plantss in full bloom. However, there were some lavender plants that were bursting with vibrant color. The only drawback is that with flowering plants, bees are around. Thankfully in this farm the bees are more interested in the lavender plants than the visitors. As long as you leave them alone, you won't be bothered. Just beware of the gnats. Can't escape them ;)

Had such a fun time with the animals. Aimee was full of great information. I loved the alpacas,…read morethe were great to interact with. Close by is the Flying Ace farm -brewery and distillery so it made for a great afternoon for us.

From the owner: Experience the magic of Long Meadows Farm, where every interaction is a moment of pure bliss…read more Snuggle up with alpacas, share secrets with mini donkeys, and let worries fade amidst the gentle sway of grass and chirping birds. Create cherished memories at Long Meadows Farm, the perfect venue for your next private event or family adventure. Whether it's a family outing, corporate retreat, date night, or special celebration, let us tailor an unforgettable experience amidst our friendly creatures.

I've been here a few times now and my toddler loves it every time. He especially loves the tractor…read moreyou can sit on (if you have a tractor loving kiddo)! This year, they had a great deal on Groupon, which comes with a tractor ride around the farm. There's plenty of animals to look at, from baby pigs, horses, donkeys, turkeys, goats, a camel, dogs, etc. Friendly staff, clean bathrooms (yup, you heard that right), and plenty of places to sit to snack. I've also seen a few families host birthday parties here!

My partner and I had an amazing time at this petting zoo…read more There were horses, goats (like 30!), baby piglets, mama cow and calf that was born just that week, rabbits, llamas, emus, peacocks, turtles, and more! The farmers were knowledgeable and friendly teens/young adults. They were very sweet to the children and ensured that all the kids could pet the baby goat born that week. The best part of our visit was being followed around by Dolly, a goat that roamed the premises, scavenging for leftover corn and dropped treats.

Butler's is our family favorite. It is only about a 35 minutes drive from DC and you are out in…read morethe "farm". Great family fun to bring the kids. Over the years, we've done apple, strawberry, and blueberry picking here, but the fall pumpkin festival is the best. There are tons of activities for the little ones - hayrides, a corn maze, farm animals, and more. Tubby's BBQ is on-site if you need lunch. The line can be long, but it moves quickly. It is on the pricier side, but well worth it. The farm is beautiful, the experience is fun, and it's a wonderful way to get the kids outdoors.

After a wild day at homecoming, this was a very welcoming change of pace, and the weather was nice…read moreto match! I met some friends for the last day of the pumpkin festival... and believe it or not, this was my first time ever going to Butler's Orchard. Whenever anyone mentions apple picking, usually this spot comes up. So I followed the signs (and saw where people were pointing), and made my way to a parking space on the grass. I do like that you show your ticket and grab a wristband before even going inside... this meant I also had a map. So I studied that for a few minutes and then went inside. The main mission: apple cider donuts. I waited about 5 minutes in line -- shout out to the person who pointed out that we didn't have to wait in the extra long line... that was for all food, not just donuts. I grabbed myself a half dozen, and sheesh... okay, i like Fall again. I forgot how delicious these donuts are... and they were still warm. The rest of my time at Butler's was spent sipping cider, eating BBQ (that was a wonderful pit turkey sandwich), and just watching everything going on. The pumpkin picking, mazes, goats, corn pool, and everything else going on made for a really cool space. It was my first time going to Butler's, but it won't be my last. I'll be back -- especially to check out the cidery specifically. The blackberry cider I had was fantastic!

Who are these adorable, gentle, soft and playful creatures? We met these gentle friends at Breezy…read moreHill Farm in Woodbine, MD which was about an hour's drive from DC. Alpacas, a member of the camelid family, are smaller and nicer than llamas, a relative. Mainly, they don't spit, at least not intentionally. We found these alpacas to be sweet, soft and silly. It was a little difficult to find the farm. The entrance is not clearly marked and we made at least two wrong forays onto adjacent properties before finding the farm. Once there we were welcomed by Heather, one of the owners, who gave us a brief rundown before introducing us to some of their goats, sheep, turkeys, donkey. She led us to the paddocks where the alpacas were, giving us instructions on how to approach them, how to feed them, how to pet them. Most had been recently shorn and Heather provided us with feed and the alpacas eagerly ate from our outstretched palms. They were soft and plush, the females more delicate eaters and the males (separated in a different area) were gobblers. These are animals, not pets, so while they are gentle, they do have wills of their own. It was a warm day and the alpacas enjoyed a spray from the hose. It was funny to see how excited they were to feed (reminds me of my dogs) and they ran after Heather when she got the food. Afterwards, we went to the barn where Heather, a fiber artist, demonstrated how the alpaca fur can be mixed with other fibers, how the wool is felted, and how it can be spun into yarn. There are textiles, yarn, garments for sale. Reservations are required. Sign up for the first time slot. Our tour ran over by 30 minutes and the next group had to wait. It is a picturesque drive to the farm but keep in mind that it turns into a two lane road through country lanes. We had left plenty of time for the drive but with our misdirected turnarounds and some road construction we ended up cutting it close.

We love this alpaca farm! The tour was personal and we learned so much. You can feed and pet the…read morealpacas. Afterwards you go into the shop and the tour guide can show you how they turn the alpaca fiber into clothes and other things. I would definitely recommend visiting and can't wait to come back!

ENTRY FEE THEN EVERYTHING FREE!…read more Such a great time! Lots of things for kids of all ages to do and experience (mostly little kids around 11 and under). But even as adults we had an enjoyable experience. SLIDES Lots of fun slides and unlike other places - you don't have to pay each time to ride them! APPLES So many free apples and apple juice! Bring a jar of peanut butter and you've just fed your entire family! FRIENDLY STAFF These are the nicest kids around. Everyone is joyful and in the spirit of the season! Have fun!

Cox Farms is a popular autumn tradition for many Northern VA families, including ours. Since 2022,…read morewe've visited annually to enjoy the Fall Festival. Our favorite activity is the interactive hayride, which is long and engaging. The farm has plenty of play areas, large slides, and farm animals for kids to explore. There's also self-serve apple cider (though it attracts bees!), festival foods like apple cider donuts and kettle corn, and mini pumpkins or squashes to take home. The festival runs from mid-September to early November. We recommend buying tickets online to guarantee entry. If you're just shopping at the market, parking is available at the front for quick access.

I visited Clear Meadow Farm for the first time in my 3-4 years in Baltimore, and I'm glad I checked…read morethem out. Located about 40-45 minutes away from the city, the farm is easy to find (just type in the address on their website). The entry fee is very reasonable at $5 per car, and they also sell some food (i.e. chips, drinks, baked goods, pulled pork sandwiches) as well as sunflowers up front. Food wasn't particularly memorable but not bad, and the sunflowers were quite the deal (only $1 per stem, or 6 for $5). The actual sunflower field was reasonably sized. It was a bit difficult to navigate through the mud, and also a little hard to get good photos unless you go off the trail and into the flower beds (which you're not supposed to do), but the sunflowers were still pretty. Overall very glad I visited. Not sure if I'd necessarily make the trip out again anytime soon, but I definitely recommend it if you have not gone before!

Wonderful property to visit, a little tricky to get to, but a wonderful day. My sunflowers once…read morepicked did not stay perky too long, but I think I did not know how to care for them.

Great experience! Super cute small highland cows. You scratch and pet them. Even lay down with…read morethem. They'll nibble your shirt. The animals all look well taken care of. There is a small gift shop and a cute cat in sweater that is free to pet, although they do charge $20/hour to pet the bald cat. There are other animals there (goats, horses) and I think it costs more to cuddle/pet those animals. Be warned - this is a small cow pasture, so expect mud I don't know what a fair price is, but these seems decent Kind of a schlep to get there The bathroom is in their house!

Absolutely recommended. My wife chose this for my 57th birthday present. Why? I was a farm kid…read moregrowing up with horses and love any chance to hang with any farm animals. Always brings me joy. Aiden, the owner, is a wonderful woman and has provided a close retreat to enjoy them. First, there are Highland Cows (hairy coos), which are a wonderful, rare joy to see and pet. My favorite was Maple. She happily chewed on my shirt for a half hour, front and back. Really enjoyed spending time with her. This is a must see for kids especially. They all are very mellow and you get to truly spend time with them. Second, I had the opportunity to spend time with Remi (Aiden's huge horse) and Radar (Aiden's new donkey). Having spent my entire upbringing with horses, this was very special to me. The great author Herman Melville said that "No philosophers so thoroughly comprehend us as dogs and horses." Hear, hear. Third, and a wonderful surprise, was getting to pet Aiden's dog, Oakley. Why? He is a full sized black Great Dane. I have only been close to one once, and that was 40 years ago. What an amazing dog. At least 3 feet tall and paws the size of my hands. Lastly, I walked "Goat" the goat around for a bit while she ate. That was as peaceful as it was interesting to what she ate and what she avoided. Be mindful that this is a working farm. There is mud, poop, and all the wonderfulness of being on a farm. Knowing the costs of running a farm, especially with that many animals, no one who cares about them should balk at the cost. It appears that a recent reviewer did not have a clue when booking. Of course, when they post "It took three times to ask for water, it should have been offered" then you have someone who is a bit spoiled. Just saying.

Nice little farm creamery. Tons of places for kids to play, animals to pet and feed and friendly…read morestaff and owners. Located at the top of a hill on a working farm, the creamery has country views and plenty of sunshine. This is worth a stop getting the kids outside and enjoying some family time and ice cream.

Cute ice cream stand with happy cows…read more I enjoyed the twist soft serve with rainbow sprinkles and my husband had the Mango Pineapple hard ice cream in a waffle cone. We ordered a pup cup but never received it and staff was missing in action. Unclear if we paid for it or not as we did not receive a receipt? Maybe next time pup!

Attended a recent wedding at Whites Ferry Landing in Leesburg. 10 minutes past the outlet and…read moreopposite to the road with a Golf Course . Owned by a South Asian it does cater to a lot of South Asian weddings but also other denominations. Pretty and large open space. However you have to park at the bottom of the Hill and walk up. If its cold or in heels, good luck. There is a small shuttle that will take 4-7 folks up but be careful getting in and out. If its early April and its cold, wear warm clothes like a overcoat. The bar and place for food buffets is outside...great for warm weather but not cold. The outdoor toilets flood so be aware. Nice large tent for guests but in cold weather don't depend on warmth from the heater as the door outside stays open a lot. Seems like a nice place to hold weddings with space but caveats beware.

Had an an amazing experience at Whites Ferry Manor. Enjoyed the service as well as their food…read more Recently attended my friend's wedding and the venue was outstanding. There is nothing like this in this area and I would love to hold my wedding here.