Last year, my Adventure Buddy and I spotted Cherry Crest Adventure Farm while riding the Strasburg…read moretrain and made a mental note to come back someday. Fast forward to a beautiful, sunny Saturday in early October when we realized we'd be nearby with an open adventure slot. WELL, HELLO, CHERRY CREST! We purchased our tickets online ahead of time for significant savings and arrived around noon, apparently at the exact same time as EVERY OTHER HUMAN BEING IN PENNSYLVANIA. The parking fields were packed. Admission lines looked enormous. For a moment, I wondered what we'd gotten ourselves into. But the parking attendants were doing a great job directing traffic, parking was FREE (thank you!), and the admission lines moved surprisingly quickly. Before long, we had our wristbands and were ready to adventure. FIRST STOP: THE DONUT HUT. We grabbed two apple cider donuts and a bottle of apple cider and both exceeded my hopes! The donut was so fresh and hot I had to wait for it to cool before digging in! Soft, fluffy, generously coated in cinnamon sugar and absolutely delicious! If this was how Cherry Crest intended to welcome me, we were going to get along just fine! Next up was the main reason we'd come: THE CORN MAZE! I did my first corn maze last year and decided to make it an annual tradition. Cherry Crest had the honor of being my Corn Maze #2. I'm no corn maze expert, but, this one had some really fun twists! Instead of simply wandering around hoping to eventually find civilization again, we were given a blank grid and tasked with finding pieces throughout the maze to tape onto it, gradually completing our map. There were also hidden clues for a crossword puzzle! A corn maze WITH SIDEQUESTS?! SIGN. ME. UP! We navigated our way through the intermediate maze in less than the estimated 40 minutes, which was both surprising and satisfying. We found our way out, completed our adventure and didn't have to call anyone to rescue two grown adults from a field of corn. CORN MAZE 2026: COMPLETE! From there, we wandered around exploring the property. It was definitely busy, with plenty of families, strollers and wagons, but still manageable. Patience is key on a beautiful fall Saturday, especially when apparently the entire Commonwealth has decided to celebrate autumn simultaneously. Eventually, we made our way to the other side of the farm for what turned out to be my FAVORITE activities of the day. APPLE CANNONS AND PAINTBALL! Of course we'd purchased the optional add-ons. You think I'm going to stand next to a giant cannon that launches actual apples and NOT pay to shoot it?! The lines were a little long, but they moved along nicely. And once it was my turn? PEW PEW, MOTHER NATURE! I had an absolute BLAST launching apples at targets and managed to hit almost everything I aimed for! Then we moved to the paintball range, where I continued my surprisingly impressive performance, knocking over targets with lime green paintballs! Apparently I've been walking around for 40+ years without realizing I have a natural talent for recreational projectile launching. WHO KNEW?! Both activities were absolutely worth the additional cost. If you're visiting as an adult and enjoy a little friendly target practice, don't skip them! Another thing that caught my attention was the reservable fire pit areas scattered throughout the property. They had little pavilions and signs identifying the groups who'd reserved them. We saw everything from birthday celebrations to retirement gatherings, and I thought that was such a cool way to spend a fall afternoon with friends or family. Food prices seemed fairly typical for an attraction. I noticed a double cheeseburger with fries advertised for $17.99, for example. But I also spotted groups with birthday cakes, two-liter bottles of soda and bags of chips at their fire pit areas. I'm not sure what Cherry Crest's outside food policies are, so I'd recommend checking before bringing your own picnic. If it's permitted, though, that could be a great way to keep costs down, especially for families! All told, we spent about two hours exploring Cherry Crest as two adults in our 40s, and we had a GREAT time! Would families with children get even more out of it? ABSOLUTELY. There are so many activities geared toward younger kids that I could easily see families spending an entire day here. But don't assume you need children to enjoy Cherry Crest. Between the corn maze, fall treats, apple cannons, paintball and general autumn atmosphere, there's plenty of fun for grown-ups, too! I came for a corn maze, discovered a surprisingly accurate apple-cannon aim, ate an outstanding donut and added another destination to my annual fall adventure list. Not bad for a couple of hours in a cornfield! Nice job, Cherry Crest! I'll absolutely be back!

This place is ok - if you don't mind parking a mile or more away from the entrance, walking forever…read moreto get to a line to wait to get in for an hour all with kids in tow. This is so poorly laid out. They have no maximum and just let hundreds if not thousands of people in all day long. This part of their ticketing was my favorite: - Pre-purchased admissions are NON-REFUNDABLE for any reason and expire at the end of the season. - We are a weather dependent business and may need to close due to weather. So it's a giant F.U. if something comes up in your life for your family or something happens to you. But if it rains - it's F the buyer you're beat. No refunds. Nothing. What a completely ass backward way or running a business that's CLEARLY not hurting for profit. I'll never take my family here. I'll tell everyone I know it's a collasal waste of money and not worth driving hours to get to only to be directed up a mountain to park. You think my little kids were ready to walk A MILE to stand in line for AN HOUR?! lol. What a joke.

I was able to book a full day of the private animal cuddles, and it really made my Birthday special!read more

We picked the Husbandry tour. Our Farmer was Colin. He was fantastic!!! it was our 42nd…read moreanniversary!!! I can't think of a better way to spend our celebration. We had so much fun. We met all of the incredible animals there. We got to pet them all, we got to feed the little kids(goats). Colin was so knowledgeable and so much fun to be with. The farm is just a beautiful, relaxing, happy place. The animals are so well taken care of. You can tell everybody really loves them.. I can't wait to go back.

Responding to the guy who has absolutely nothing positive to say. It's a farm. Expect dirt. Flowers…read moregrow in dirt. Insane for anyone to complain about DIRT when visiting a FARM. Absolutely beautiful place to go, whether you're alone, on a date, or taking your family out for the day. HUGE property with so much to explore. I haven't seen the tulips yet but i went back in the fall for the sunflowers and had a 10/10 experience. Staffs very friendly, also very easy to navigate considering how big it is.

Went to Dalton Farms last Saturday which turned out to be the last weekend that the farm was open…read morefor tulip pick your own. About a 50 minute drive from Philly and easy parking in a big field with folks directing you where to go. Definitely dusty so dress accordingly (and be prepared to take a shower after you get home). We arrived about 1pm and there was a steady stream of folks coming and going. Check-in process was very straightforward (showed QR code from previously purchased ticket). Highly recommend getting your tickets ahead of time online for a timed (but not strict at all) ticket. We were not interested in the boats, the tractor (dusty!) rides, we were just focused on the tulips. $1 per tulip if you pick more than 10 $2 per tulip if you pick less than 10 There were 4-5 different large sections that had row up on row of different varieties and colors of tulips. Stations with plastic containers to assist you with holding the tulips you've picked, then tables with rolls of brown paper to wrap your tulips and rubber band the bouquets. Checkout was super fast and easy and friendly, there are food trucks in a couple different spots (we got fruit smoothies which were excellent). All in all I had a really great time and look forward to returning for the sunflowers and zinnias!

Absolutely gorgeous! Definitely worth a trip. I will say that you should go right during peak…read moreseason. We went the last weekend of peak bloom and the sunflowers were starting to droop a little bit. I brought my dog (yes! dog friendly!) but the burrs got into his hair and his paws. So if you do bring a dog, please be careful of their paws! Little puppy was carried back into the car and had a nice brushing.

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!

Absolutely beautiful farm. The animals are all so unique in personality and so friendly. They even…read morehave a goat that acts like a dog . My 5 year old sister loved hanging out with the bunnies, and the donkey, Karen. Amanda was so kind and courteous, giving a tour and info on all the animals. They are clearly well taken care of. I highly recommend this farm to all animal lovers.

We did the tour and it was great. we bottle fed a baby cow frolicked with kids (baby Goats that is)…read morepetted the most beautiful fuzzy rabbit and so much more. ill post a bunch of pictures from our visit so check that out she also does birthday parties and any other events that require the cutest animals she was particularly proud of bringing her animals to nursing homes..........

It was our first time visiting Maylath Farm and Orchard. My one year old had a great time. He loved…read moreall the rides which we super cheap. They have a big outdoor space where you can walk around and do many activities. The corn maze was fun for all us. What I liked the most was petting the animals. My little one has never been close to a goat and at Maylath's he was able to feed one. I would definitely go back next year. We didn't tried the food but they were many vendors and everything smelled delicious. The staff is nice and friendly.

Great pumpkin patch and fall outing for the family. All of the attractions are reasonable priced,…read moresafe and very family oriented. A train for the kids, hayrides for the family to the pumpkin patch with plenty of variety of pumpkins for picking ($1-$8 range). They also have a zip line, peddle carts, bounce houses and a corn maze for a few. Large hay bales in play area for the kids to crawl and explore. Farmers produce, baked goods also on site with the addition of some outside food vendors which are reasonably priced and good eats. If you're looking for a family fall outing put this on your list.

Highly recommend! We had a wonderful experience today at the Pickled Collie Farm goat…read moresocialization. My husband and I took our daughter and some of her friends. The goats were so precious. Sean the owner was very kind and welcoming. We sat in the barn and each held a baby and most of them fell asleep in our arms. It was a great morning!

From the owner: We raise Nigerian dwarf goats. During the summer, we have baby goat yoga on Wednesday evenings and…read moreSaturday morning. During the spring, we offer baby goat Socialization. We also grow and distill lavender to produce essential oils and hydrosols.

Loved the tour! We've done this a handful of times now from when my daughter was in a stroller. A…read morestroller is sometimes difficult to push but you spend enough time in each area that you're not constantly battling the sand. I'd recommend baby wearing a small baby and letting your toddler respectfully explore if you don't wanna drag a stroller through. The tour guides have always been awesome. The animals are so sweet. As always, we had a blast and learned a lot!

What an awesome place! Came with my family on MDW. You have to reserve online before you come and…read moreyou can pay cheaper cash price. We did the hour tour. First you meet the male alpacas. They were very friendly and come right up to you ready to eat lol. We also saw bunnies, a peacock, pigs, turkeys and baby turkeys. The female alpacas were preggo and ready to eat but could you blame them. Also got to feed ducks peas. Very neat experience! Very unique. The tour guide was sweet and informative. Can't wait to come back!

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 had a really fun visit to Trotter Hill. They are located in Glen Mills, in the more rural-feeling…read morepart of the area, with a super scenic drive to get there. Pam is the owner, and she is very friendly and professional. I emailed her ahead to reserve a private tour for $25, and we arranged a time. The visit is 45min, and at 10am when we went, you get to feed the alpacas, pet them (if they let you; they can be skittish), and learn about their species. Pam is good about answering tons of questions, and explaining her herd's personalities, and how life on the farm works. She also shows you some of their shorn fleece, so you can feel how soft and long it is. She explains the process of her shearers, who come from Australia, and the milling that is done in Peru (as there is no processing plant in the US). She also has alpaca hair wares for sale, such as shoe insoles, socks, yarn, dryer balls, etc. Pam was extremely patient with my toddler, who was very hyper about being in the barnyard with a herd of alpacas, and Pam's two adorable dogs. She gave tips on how to feed them, and how to best help my son attract the alpacas to nibble from his hands. I felt very safe allowing my son to be near the animals, because Pam was clear that they can sometimes kick if you get too close to their back sides, but the kick is normally not very hard. I made sure to keep my son in front or to their sides as much as I could. The animals were very tame and probably more afraid of my toddler than interested in ever trying to kick. Yet, at the same time, they were so curious to come into the barn with us when Pam was showing us her loom and other processing equipment. They are such gentle and sweet animals. Toward the end of our time, Pam hosed down the herd, who were super hot in May sun, with a year's worth of fleece on them. They will soon be shorn, but until then, they love the cool water, and went nuts trying to get hosed off. One was kicking her front paw like a show pony; it was hilarious and cute! Pam sells her alpaca products at local farmer's markets (more info on her website), but is open for pre-scheduled private tours, and also alpaca walks. Farm visits are open to every age, but limited to a group size of eight people. Currently they schedule private visits only once a day on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays at 10:00am. Visitors get to interact with the alpacas in the barnyard. Visit time is 45 minutes for $25 (group of 5 or fewer), or $40 for 5-8 people. The alpaca walks require visitors to be at least 15 years old.

We had a great visit at Trotter Hill Alpacas. We went up in the morning and got to feed the alpacas…read moreby hand, hang out with them, and learn all about their individual personalities and preferences. The owner of the farm is so knowledgeable and willing to answer any and all questions. We will be back to go on an Alpaca Hike in the spring after all the pregnant mommas have their babies and are hiking again!