This place has a lot to offer. We were visiting family in the area and glad we stopped here for…read morelunch. The menu is larger but the brunch menu had some extra options. They do rotate some menu options to keep it fresh. The food was fresh and was flavorful. The service was friendly and prompt. And the vibe was modern/industrial farmhouse. They had an extensive gift shop that had so many goodies. So much more they offer that I am not mentioning. Food specifics I tried included a delicious fig & pig pizza and the duck poutine fries and I also had the dry cider flight to drink.

Try the restaurant - it's worth it. This place is more than just an orchard with fun events. They…read morehave an excellent restaurant and also do monthly themed dinners in their event space. My photos and review are of the special event so these items aren't on their regular menu, but that food is excellent as well. We have been to several of the special dinners and have enjoyed them all. These photos are from the recent Portside Chowder House seafood themed dinner. It was fantastic! So much food! The table service was exceptional with explanations of the dishes and theme. They also have a well stocked bar if you prefer cocktails or beers instead of cider. It's kind of a gem in the central Iowa restaurant scene.

Awesome for kids and adults. You can easily spend a full day on all the activities! Staff very…read morefriendly!

Always a great experience at Howells. Lots of room for the kids to run and play and be loud. Every…read moreyear there is more fun added. This we we took in some food while hunting down the perfect pumpkin, got lost in the maze and enjoyed seeing and feeding the baby goats.

I heard about this lovely little pick your own flower farm just northwest of Des Moines on Next…read moreDoor. I know the address says Madrid which seems about 600 miles away, but it's basically Granger as it's only 15 minutes from Urbandale. The couple that runs the farm will walk you through the pick your flower process and all you need is a bucket or vase to collect your goodies - they have the clippers and water there. When we went last week it was $30 for all you could fill in a 5 gallon bucket with lower pricing for stems in a vase. They also sell their lavender in batches of stems. The sunflowers and zinnias were lovely but I'm most looking forward to dahlias soon! Pro tip: Take your mom and make her wear your summer hat for cute photos you can laugh at later.

Located in town. I didn't do any of the rides, but only entered market area for baked goods…read more Front of the house pumpkins for sale by weight. Plenty of pies, donuts, caramel apples and etc for purchase. 6 pack of apple cinnamon donuts will run you $7. I also picked up single serving baked apple oatmeal. Not very large facility, but enough parking spots.

This place has epic stuff. The baked goods are wonderful (pies, crisps, caramel apples, fudge,…read moreapple cider. Plus they are a full service orchard, pumpkin patch, berry farm. If you want it they have it. They also can accommodate large orders without a problem. Oh and did I mention this a family owned local place... well it is so I to support local! They treat everyone with respect. It isn't fancy like some of the other orchards but what they produce is quality. Fancy isn't always better! Especially in this case! Support local!

I purchased apples and one jam. I realized on the way home, I was charged for 2. I have called…read moretwice to get either a refund on my credit card or a check mailed to me. The first phone call, the guy said aren't you coming back? Then he said you can drive here and we will give you the cash. I said it will cost more to drive than the $8.00 dispute. He was going to try to figure out how to credit my card because he saw the transaction and if he couldn't he would call me back. Never received a credit or a phone call. I called again and he will send the check someday. What kind of business is this??? The apples were rotted even though I looked carefully at what I was picking. Stay away from this bad business.

Sun warmed fresh berries. Yes, Please!…read more We checked the website before hand. Blueberries, Cherries, gooseberries, currents and more were all ready for our choosing. You don't need a container cause they will supply you with a bucket. Keep in mind you are picking your own berries in bulk. We took the drive out from Ames and south of Nevada to check it out. They normally bring their berries to the Saturday morning Farmers Market but we were on an adventure. We stopped at the main little station and got the skinny on what to expect. The gentleman was blunt and straight up. We got a map, told where to go and what to do. This place is huge. Lots and lots of berries to be picked, but we were most excited about the blueberries. We had arrived in the perfect time as there were many to be had. It was a very warm early July day and the sun was high and berries ripped to be picked. My Mom and I parked and walked far out into the patch. We found some really decent sized berries and enjoyed the peace as we collected our bounty. I love that I know exactly where my food is coming from and I can even taste the product before committing to the plant. We made our way back to have our selection weighed and paid. There is also a little shop you can stop in and have a treat made from the berries on the property. I couldn't keep my hands out of my blueberries on the way home. I thought they tasted delicious. I would recommend this to anyone who is out for something a little different. The kids would really enjoy helping pick whatever you could desire. I thought it was interesting cause I will be honest and did not realize how a blueberry bush grew and learned something by visiting and taking on this new experience. Now I am just imaging all the different ways to eat my berries!

I am from California, moved to Minnesota in 2016 and Waukee the end of 2016 - needless to say, I've…read morebeen around and visited many pumpkin farm/apple orchard places. Wills Family Orchard is, by FAR, the best I've EVER been to. The lady in the shop, the gentleman leading the hayride and the young man overseeing the pumpkin patch were all very friendly and helpful! They went above and beyond to ensure my two young daughters and I had an amazing time. Every step of the way they were informative, friendly and engaging. The apple picking was amazing - petting the goats was unforgettable and the play area for the children was so much fun. We highly recommend this place!!

Had a great experience here! Went with my family and the kids really enjoyed all the activities and…read morewe picked apples. You must get some of their apple cider donuts- made fresh and so good!

The best sweet corn! Locally grown and available usually starting by July 4th. They also sell jams…read moreand may have tomatoes and melons. This is one of several trucks that are located around the metro

This family owned and operated orchard is wonderful! They're all incredibly friendly and the prices…read moreare perfect! Everything we got was delicious and fresh. Going and picking out our pumpkins was such a fun experience and the orchard was beautiful! The kids had a blast too. 10/10!!!!!!

They have some of the very best apples in the area. If you want to pick your own, take a drive up…read moreto Story City. Their cider is delicious. The baked goods look wonderful, too!

My wife, son and I went together and had a horrible experience. The employees barely paid attention…read moreto the children that were running amok. My son slipped on a busted pumpkin on the ground, breaking his arm. When the owner came out, she was very disrespectful and told us if we came after her for it, she would win because she has lawyers for situations such as this. Steer clear of this place. Not only is it a dangerous environment, but she clearly has no regard for the customers that visit the farm.

My family and I visited Blacks Heritage Farm and had a wonderful experience. Staff was very…read morefriendly and showed us where everything was . We enjoyed seeing all the animals and picking pumpkins. 10 out of 10 would recommend!

Always a fun experience m, especially for kiddos. (Note they have a fantastic summer day camp). Put…read moreon your walking shoes because there is a lot of walking, but overall it's a fun experience.

Went to the 1900 Farm Historic Dinner at Living History Farms last night. What a wonderful way to…read morespend an evening, experience some history and have a wonderful meal! The evening started with a tractor ride out to the 1900 farmhouse. Unfortunately the normal horse and wagon mode of transport was cancelled due to excessive mud. We were welcomed into the oil lamp lit house by people in period dress and served a mug of hot apple cider. We all gathered in the living room and a brief history lesson was given about life on the farm in 1900 after which we made our way to the dining room for a magnificent feast! The dinner was served family style. Stuffed Roast Pork, Apple Sauce (warmed), Baked German Potato Salad, Macaroni and Cheese, Stewed Red Cabbage, Thresher Green Beans, Bread and Butter Pickles, Yeast Rolls served with Churned Butter and Pumpkin Butter. Hot Apple Cider and Coffee was served and you are welcomed to bring a bottle of wine if you wish. There was plenty of food with lots of leftovers. (We were told that some of the leftovers were destined for the pigs.). After dinner we were given a tour of the barn and introduced to all the animals. Upon arriving back at the house we explored the various rooms before being called back to the dining room for a sumptuous desert. Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie and Chocolate Cake was served with Real Whipped Cream. I opted for the Chocolate Cake which was the best I ever had. You were offered both desserts and second portions were offered. When we all finished our cook appeared and handed out a sheet with the nights recipes. The meal and it's preparation was discussed and questions answered. We then made our way to the tractor trailer and were taken back to our cars. A wonderful evening and I would highly recommend it for anyone loving things of the past!