We loved our morning at Bass Farms! It wasn't super crowded and had activities for all ages. It was…read moreperfect for our 22 month old. The tractor ride was the highlight for him, followed by soccer billiards. The pumpkins are already picked, so after you do all of the activities, you don't have to lug a pumpkin from the field. They're also priced by size, not weight.

Ever since discovering this family farm about three years ago, we enjoy stopping whenever we can…read more On a long drive home from Green Bay, I was thrilled to find they were open until 9 pm (shorter hours in the fall/winter). We were able to satisfy our craving for Chocolate Shop Ice Cream and I found one of my favorite protein bars I haven't found elsewhere. Hubby got his favorite popcorn and another jar of jam. We are now signed up for their rewards program which gives us 10% off. This would be a great place to take our grandkids- just wish it was closer!

Non-pretentious down to earth apple orchard with a ton of apple varieties to chose from (including…read morethe pippen!!) Set off a county highway in rural mount vernon, this place exudes all that is quintessential to the fall apple picking tradition. As I've seen other orchards become increasingly commercialized over the years, the Big Apple Orchard steadily plods along remaining true to form. 100% recommend.

I stumbled on this orchard last year and was able to walk the trees and pick apples. Quick stop,…read morebasket of apples, a candle and happy service. Bringing my nephew back this year. Gem!

I've made a few trips to this market over the past several years and I am routinely disappointed…read more Crammed into the Taube Park parking lot, to access the few vendors available, you're dodging car traffic as well as the crowds. It's a weird layout with booths in the lot and the rest down the walkway to the pavilion. (There is a sprawling green area but someone decided to put pedestrians in the way of traffic in the tiniest lot possible?!) My biggest gripe though is the lack of produce... at the FARMERS market. I saw maybe two meat vendors, a honey stand, and someone's grandma selling their nasty home baked goods, while the remaining booths were occupied by the library and random crafters with yard signs and home decor. I'm not against the crafters per se, but they have their own fairs and markets all year round. I feel strongly that farmers markets are an important community resource for farmers and residents alike so this seems like a huge disservice on the organizers' part (particularly so in this economic climate). Until they sort that out, I will continue to skip this market in favor of Hiawatha's market an extra 10 minutes across town where they have actual produce and foodstuffs for sale.

This is a fun pick-your-own orchard with clearly marked varieties. The prices are fair and well,…read morethe produce is as fresh as you can ask for. We have also purchased some of their already picked apples. Some we chose were marked down as seconds, but when we got home and cut into them found they were flawless on the inside. We've made several stops there this year and look forward to stopping next season.

Allen's orchard is wonderful! So many activities for the kids, including hayrides and games. Many…read moreapple varieties to choose from. I highly recommend the Crimson Crisp apples! They are delicious!

If you hate the crowds at the downtown CR market, this is the one for you. It has much of the same…read morestuff without the double-wide strollers and stepping on poor dogs. The vendors are always kind and good to work with.

This is a small family friendly farmers/ fresh air market with multiple vendors selling fresh…read morevegetables such as tomatoes, asparagus, and rhubarb, along with small bakers selling fresh homemade breads, and pastries, along with fresh jellies and jams and of course, local honey. In addition, there's a woodcarver making whimsical signs for the front of your home and Lawn. There are prepared food vendors such as breakfast sandwiches and seasoned jerk chicken and pork. The vendors are friendly and eager to convince you their products are the freshest and best. It's in an open air parking lot with plenty of walking space for pedestrians along with their furry friends. There's plenty of parking in the parking lots as well as along the street. It's a great early morning Sunday adventure. The market is seasonal, May through October, and only open from 10 AM and not before, until 1 PM on SUNDAY.

One of the first farms I visited, as a "sight-seer" and the FIRST farm I took my son to. Even as a…read morenew mom, all kinds of thoughts floating around in your head, consuming your attention, I was still able to relax and enjoy the setting - The goats were probably most interesting and active The different activity areas were cool and unexpected; swings, climbing apparatuses, "lounging"/seating areas, inflatable jumper, etc Definitely enough to keep children entertained & occupied. We could've stayed even longer, but I came unprepared for the blowout my baby had... Plenty of easy parking

We had a blast here this Saturday as a family. My son loved the derecho slide and the corn palace…read more He was enamored with making bubbles so much he didn't want to leave. I enjoyed picking flowers and looking at the butterflies. The wine slushies were delicious and refreshing after picking the wildflowers/sunflowers. Ended with fries, wine and live music to wrap up the night. Beautiful farm to come enjoy the summer in. Highly recommend!

You will ask yourself how I can write a mostly negative review of one of the best Farmer's Market…read morearound and still give it 4 stars. So I will explain. The Downtown Farmer's Market is a outstanding venue and is one of the largest in the nation and probably in the state. I have been involved with it every since it first started both as a buyer and as a concessioner. Over the years the market has expanded to extend for many city blocks and attracts vendors from miles around. The downtown market is not a true Farmer's Market in that it allows non-food vendors as well. You will see people selling everything from jewelry to candles; food sellers from local restaurants, wine, clothing, local charities, entertainers, and so on. Among all the vendors are actual produce sellers. A list of most vendors can be found on the Downtown Market website. It is a huge and fabulous Saturday event. And yet I prefer to skip it in favor of other Farmer's Markets which are smaller and more produce oriented for the following reasons. 1. It is VERY crowded. Attendance is high (easily topping 16,000 per Saturday morning) and the jostling and shoving can be overwhelming at times. You will find a lot to purchase but you will leave exhausted. 2. It has become so big that you will find it difficult to find the vendors you really want to buy from among the 220 + vendors. We are talking about 11 streets here and no printed map to guide you. 3. The crowding is aggravated by carts and strollers making it difficult for challenged walkers to navigate. I recommend that seniors try the smaller markets instead. 4. The organizers still have not learned to ban dog walkers. You will have to dodge leases, the infrequent dog fight, and other canine problems. Just think a minute. What would you think if you saw people walking the aisles of the local supermarket with a dog? What we have in the Cedar Rapids Downtown Market is a great market that has gotten a bit too big and needs to be trimmed down. I am a long-time fan of Farmer's Markets and have attended them for many years, long before the downtown market even existed, but my preference is for the smaller markets, which I visit once a week religiously. The downtown market is only an occasional thing.

First off, lets call it what it is people, it's a french market, not a farmers market…read more Supposedly one of the largest 'farmers' markets in the Midwest, and I'd believe it. At least 8 blocks of produce, meat, baked goods, jewelry, crafts, and street food vendors. I didn't check *every* produce vendor but the ones I did notice were all from Iowa. I wish I had a cooler big enough to bring some organic free range chickens raised in Iowa all the way home to Chicago. It's a pity this market is only every other weekend. By 8:30 the streets were packed and a few vendors were running out of green beans and cherries already. Only open till noon so get up early and wander around downtown Cedar Rapids before all the good stuff is gone!

Laura does an amazing job of providing vegetables the whole growing season. She will tell you how…read moreto use anything you aren't familiar with and provided access to a website with weekly recipes for what was in my csa box. She is extremely friendly and gets to know each and every customer as the season goes on. I highly recommend a csa at Abbe Hills Farm!