My fiancé and I were looking for an orchard where you could pick your own apples and I'm so glad we…read morestumbled upon this one. They have so many varieties! The trees are low enough not to require ladders so they're kid friendly (and for those of us who are fun-sized). The orchard offered a beautiful view of the hills in the background covered in fall trees when I went in early October. There was also a little pumpkin patch that was perfect for pictures! Many people visit Fly Creek Cider Mill and Orchard but you don't get the same experience since you don't get to pick the apples right off the trees. However, we did visit Fly Creek (which is a fun experience too!) the next day and I thought that the apple cider doughnuts from here were much better - they were softer and denser! I also compared it to some doughnuts that my cousin bought from another orchard in PA and Middlefield's still comes up on top! I definitely recommend here for your traditional fall apple-picking/apple cider doughnut-eating/pumpkin-picking experience! There weren't much people when we went so there were many opportunities for uninterrupted photos as well!

We went to the Apple orchard on a Saturday to pick apples. We picked two bags of apples about 3/4…read morefull selected two pumpkins of medium size, a dozen of the apple cider donuts, and a four pack of the sparkling apple cider Went to register there were two gentlemen behind the counter. One of them was teaching a 13-year-old girl how to run the register and then another gentleman who appeared to be in his mid to late 70s approach the counter as my items were being rung up I'm retired Air Force and had a US Air Force retired ball cap on my head. I asked the folks behind the counter kindly if they provided a military discount, the two gentlemen behind the counter, looked at the older gentleman who I am presuming is the owner of the Orchard and who was standing at the end of the counter by this point looked up in my hat, gave me a smirk and said I think your retirement should be paying for mine and then walked away. I didn't appreciate the comment. All he had to say was no we don't provide a discount and I would've been happy with that. It appears to me that this Apple, orchard owner is not veteran friendly and I will not return. My presumption is not based off of the lack of a discount is based off of his statement which I didn't appreciate be prepared for sticker shock for those few things I paid almost $100 for it.

Buck Brook Alpaca farm is such a charming place to visit. It's been a family tradition for us for…read moremany years now as we always spend Christmas at The Villa Roma. For a small fee, you can enjoy a one on one experience with their friendly alpacas, or take a few out on a guided tour along the wintery trails. Perfect to soak up all the fresh crisp air. The farm is free to visit, the one on ones have to be reserved ahead of time and paid for. The farm is home for many animals, goat, pigs and you'll often find a few cats following you round as you explore. There's a gift shop on site, which you must stop in to see. They have lots of hand made items, from hats, gloves, to socks and so much more, most made with the fur of the alpacas. Also, They do have soaps and lotions that are made from the milk of the alpaca's, which is the most buttery soft lotions and luxurious soaps you'll ever use. The visit here is worth while, it's a unique way to spend some time with the animals and in nature.

Everyone is so friendly... except this one goat. He wasn't very nice and the peacock comes off as…read morevery self absorbed lol. I'm just kidding. I love this place and suggest the self guided tour if it's not busy. Since everyone is so nice, they will come up and explain anything to you anyway and you can go about the farm at your own pace. If you are in the area, definitely stop by and make Some new, fluffy friends. You can pet the animals from the neck down, but none of the animals are really in the mood to be petted so just enjoy them for what they are. Beautiful creatures who want your food! Have fun!

This is an awesome fall family fun spot! It is free to park and enter, and you pay for the…read moreactivities you want to do. We did the hay ride, bounce pad, corn maze, and checked out the farm animals. The hay ride was beautiful, lots of fall foliage and a great view of the huge pumpkin patch. We also got to see the pumpkin cannon launch a pumpkin while on the hay ride which was my kids' favorite! The apple fritters were delicious, and so was the apple slushy I tried. It was crowded but not nearly as long of wait times and crowds as other nearby pumpkin patches. We will come here again for sure!

We had an amazing time at Pumpkin Hollow! We had the pleasure of a gorgeous sunny morning and we…read morewent first thing to avoid a huge crowd. There was so much to do and so many pumpkins to choose from! You can use cash and card; when you have your final picks you can bring your wheelbarrow to a nice man in the field who counts up your total. We had a great time getting lost in the corn maze, riding the hayride, looking through goodies at the store and eating pumpkin cream cheese cookies! I would say this experience is priced fairly for what you get; be prepared to spend some money but know the quality of your experience and pumpkins will be HIGH!! Hope you have a fun time at the Pumpkin Hollow- I sure did!

This is a very belated review.. however last year we ended a wonderful Saratoga weekend here, and I…read morecannot say enough positive things about our experience at woodland meadow farm. The alpacas and all the other animals (peacocks, turkeys, doggos) are all loved and well taken care of. Elaine is kind, patient and interested in the folks that visit her. You could sit and talk for hours! Duchess, the beautiful white lady of the farm is a working dog and still sleeps inside with her family at night. Only recommendation I would make is maybe a sink available to wash your hands. We didnt really get dirty but It's a farm, after all!

I'd been wanting to see alpacas in person for a really long time . I'd been hearing beautiful…read morethings about them. I am so glad to get the experience of meeting lots of these beautiful animals in these farm. Woodland meadow farm is a working farm. The owners breed alpacas for business. They started with only 3 alpacas and now after 11 years of operation, they have 73 total of different mixed breeds. It is a huge farm that can accommodate all the animals daily activities. Alpacas are adorable, charming and friendly. As per understanding, alpacas are raised basically for their luxurious and expensive fibers. It is being sell per pound to turn into hats, scarves, blankets , sweaters etc. If at once you received an item made of alpacas fiber, it is said to be a precious possession that lasts years time. They are scheduled to be sheered once a year. During our visit, the owner let me dip my finger how much deep one alpaca fiber has , about 4 inches deep. Cool! We witnessed the love of the owners to these creatures , an inspiration to reckon with. Being said , who knows, I maybe farming these wonderful creatures in the future or may get one as pet. We learned a lot about alpacas from the owners during this visit. The farm is worth visiting if you have the love for these animals. Come visit the farm and get to experience a unique enchantment.

The real gem of the Capital District. There is nothing but happiness & joy at the llama farm. These…read moretruly are the happiest llamas. They're well taken care of and are truly loved. Katrina and Gary go out and beyond to make you feel welcomed and comfortable at their farm. They give great tours and provide an enormous amount of interesting information. The treks are a lot of fun and you really get to see the llama's personality's shine during the one on one time. The babies are adorable and will warm your heart. I highly recommend the seasonal llama yoga. A baby llama might just come up and smell your feet while you are in a pose. Wish I could give Dakota Ridge Farms 10 Stars.

Conveniently, there is a llama farm a mere 10 minute drive from our house! For only $12 per person…read more(and free for our toddler), we booked a tour at Dakota Ridge Farm. The Farm also offers private treks for a more quiet, romantic experience with your very own llama. We pulled into the charming, inviting farm on a Saturday afternoon, ready for our field trip! Our friendly tour guide greeted us and brought Mike out right away. Mike was a beautiful and loveable llama that really looked more like a "Cusco", or maybe even "Cookie". But, Mike it was. I must admit, when I get close to a llama, I get nervous one will spit on me. Our tour guide reassured us that llamas don't enjoy spitting either and they use it as a last line of defense or if they are incredibly agitated. He also informed us that these creatures of the Andes are not happy with intense heat and that some llamas have been known to spit at County fairs in the middle of the summer when the sun is angriest with us, Northern Hemisphereans. Somehow, Dakota Ridge farmers keep their llamas happy enough that, supposedly, they have never spat (at a human?). You can confirm that fact when you book your own tour. The tour was interesting for us, adults, and mildly entertaining for a toddler. Let's be honest, he just wanted to run around the farm. At the beginning, we let him do just that, walking back and forth through a stable, sometimes following a loose hen. This is really what we wanted, though. We have an abundance of farm books at our house, and this trip is one of many in the future that will allow our son to chart his own course in a new land, surrounded by all kinds of life's creatures. After some needed independent exploration, we would pick Elijah up and introduce him to a llama or even a group of llamas. Mind you, we have dozens of stuffed animals, but no real ones. The tour guide asked what kind of exposure our son had had to large animals...we said none. However, our spiritual little boy had no problem petting, and even grabbing these large, gentle animals' faces and necks. And how did the llamas respond to a grabby toddler? Lovingly... The nervous mom in me had to step back and trust that Animal and Baby were forming their own special bond that I was not to interrupt. I think it is important to mention that I have a toddler who is, in general, quite hesitant to try new things, but something drew him to these beautiful creatures, and he was not afraid. I'm glad this farm is only 10 minutes away, because that interaction definitely makes me want to come back. This is probably a good time to add that our tour guide mentioned that the farm offered special sensory visits for children with certain sensitivities. During our tour, we saw llamas of all ages and sizes (or "alpacas" as my husband referred to them throughout the tour - we still don't know the difference). I would say the older llamas were more toddler-friendly. When the tour was over, we walked a bit more around the farm, and Elijah practiced stepping in puddles. His mud-filled shoes are still in my car because...I just can't. While we had a great time on our field trip to Dakota Ridge Farm and made many new llama friends, I can't possibly write about llamas and not review the book "Llama Llama Red Pajama". Ambitiously, we've tried to create a somewhat multilingual home for our growing family with Spanish as the second language spoken (followed by Turkish and Hebrew to a much less frequent degree). I purchased "Llama Llama Rojo Pijama" as one of Elijah's Spanish books. Here is my one complaint...the word "llama" means both a loveable cousin to both the alpaca and the camel, and also "calls". So, when the llama calls to his mother, he llamas his mother. La llama llama rojo pijama a su mama llama y llama...o algo asi. It's confusing! Sorry to the other parents trying to find fun Spanish-translated books, but I think this one might be better in...not Spanish. In conclusion, go to Dakota Ridge Farm already!

I'm so glad I was able to get tickets!…read more The staff here is amazing. I wanted to do the hiking but it was sold out. However, I still had a blast, they have a lot of different types animals here; chicken, horse, turkeys and etc. They have a total of 25 alpacas. They sure love there food. I can't wait to come back for hiking one day. Hopefully in the falls because it was super hot with the mask. They let us take pictures with social distance precaution and they don't overbook to follow there regulations. Thank you for a memorable experience.

I visited this farm during the height of the pandemic (late Fall 2020), so I am sure the experience…read morewill be different at this time. As I have been to two other similar farms, I thought I knew what to expect. This farm experience was completely different than any I had ever experienced previously. Although the animals were beautiful in appearance, they seemed to only respond to the owner when she plied them with treats. They didn't seem to be trained to walk along with strangers, namely people they were not familiar with. I was especially disappointed as I had booked a private as opposed to a group hike. I will say that the owner was accommodating when the weather was not conducive to hiking; she allowed us to change our reservation to another day.

this place is the best- love the raspberries donuts and blue cheese!…read more friendly, reasonable and a great morning out! none better.

Love their cider donuts! The best. Just get a dozen. Cute…read morelittle inside store. Tried the lemon blueberry cookie the last time I was there, recommend that too. We always grab some "rat cheese" from the fridge which is a good snack with fruit or veggies.

There is absolutely nothing negative to ever say about Iron Kettle. I've been coming here since I…read morewas a kid and even though I'm out of the area my parents still live in Vestal and I make a point to get here every October. The farm is family run which is party of the charm. It's also been around forever it seems. It's the perfect fall family outing. There are barn yard animals the kids can feed, a corn maze, a very large selection of gourds and pumpkins, as well as a sort of country store filled with craft items, sweet treats, and seasonal décor. Food and drink can also be bought. There are also wagons to carry all your selections. The best thing about the farm, in my opinion, are the displays they put up every year. They show scenes from nursery rhymes and childhood stories all with pumpkins. And if that's not enough, it's all free (unless you choose you buy something, obviously).

I like this place but I must say that the pumpkin statues look like a 2 year old drew them. The…read moreservice is friendly except for one employee giving someone a hard time. The pumpkins are overpriced highway robbrey. Come here for a good time and have your camera ready at all times because you never know when you'll take a selfie.

amazing place overall m experience was great they were so kind and it was beautiful amazing I could…read moredefinitely go again because of how beautiful it was amazing absolutely amazing 5 stars all the way 5 I need to go back

In response to Linda L., I have to add that there was nothing at all wrong with the merchandise she…read morereceived, it was EXACTLY what she had ordered, every piece. We had her affirm photographically every piece before we sent it, so there would be no misunderstandings (or so we thought). She told us at first that we had shorted her one piece, which was magically found after we firmly insisted that we had send it. Her money HAS been returned to her, and any problem she is holding on to aren't a result of any wrongdoing on our part, but rather a vendetta-like grudge that is as confusing to us now as her sudden unhappiness with her chosen merchandise then. And... if there are lots of customers happy to give us positive reviews, why do you think that might he?

A great stop for families and adults. There's a museum component which shows you the inner workings…read moreof an old mill, as well as a pond around back with different ducks, chickens and other animals. There's a market with farm fresh goods, including some of the best cider (including adult versions) I've ever had and a killer cider slushy. They have different snack options, mainly fruits, baked good and desserts in the market, as well as more traditional lunch options. Everything was tasty and reasonably priced. We enjoyed our orders on the back deck, outside and under some shade. I'd recommend this as an afternoon diversion if you're in the area, or looking for something that multiple people in a group can enjoy.

A nice afternoon to spend. They have both a retail store, a tasting room and a small outdoor…read morerestaurant. You can take your food indoors if you like into the upper area where the tasting room is. There's an out door area with a duck pond and you can feed them! A few activities to keep the kiddos amused. A fun afternoon & Cooperstown is just the road. We grab some apples and they were delicious. Side note, shop first because you get a coupon for the little restaurant they have.