The friendliest family with delicious fruits and vegetables at very reasonable prices. When…read moreavailable, you can go out and pick the fruits yourself. My grandma loves to come here and insisted that I needed to come here while on my trip, and I am so glad I did! They also sell soaps, honey, and other products in their little shop. The farm animals are all very friendly and sweet. We even got lucky and got to buy one of the last bunches of strawberries! I am so excited to eat my fresh raspberries, cherries, strawberries, and zucchini. Biggest thanks to the Kern family for a memorable visit!

Delicious fruit! It's way better than what you can get at the grocery store and the family that…read moreruns it is very friendly and accommodating.

Last year I missed lavender season. This place is run by two sisters. The farm has been in their…read morefamily since 1863. It was a produce farm, switched to crops and in 2016 the sisters took over the farm and now it's a lavender farm. All of their products are handmade on the farm. They offer Pick your own or you can just shop. Delicious lemonade and popcorn to enjoy while you shop. The season is very short so I encourage you to get on their website.

We have been to this locally owned orchard several times and have enjoyed it every single time. My…read morekids absolutely love the free playground and the animals you can pet, and honestly, I love them too. The free tractor ride is such a nice bonus and always a hit. All of the picking spots are wonderful and make for such a fun family outing. The bakery on site is also amazing and always has the best goodies. Overall, this is one of our favorite places to visit and we always have a great time.

A nice alternative to some of the bigger and more popular orchards around St. Louis and across the…read moreriver in Illinois, Braeutgam Orchards is definitely a place you'll want to visit in the Fall for your annual pumpkin and apple picking traditions. Crowds were manageable and any line we stood in (whether it was for the tractor to take us to the orchard or in the bakery to buy goods) didn't take long to go through. Loved that there was no additional fee to ride the tractors to the orchards. The one downside is that while there is a bakery, there is no food stall to buy lunch or snacks like chips or hot dogs. If you plan on spending a portion of your day there, you'll want to be sure to bring a cooler with food. We made the mistake of assuming there would be things to buy for lunch and we left starving after snacking on a couple of apple cider donuts.

Eckert's is a place filled with nostalgia for me as I've been going since I was a kid, and after a…read moremany year hiatus I was super excited to check it out again. We decided to stop in and do the sunflower fields with our season pass, allowing us to roam the sunflower fields and get 1 big sunflower each. In addition, we chose to snag a vase for a few extra dollars so we could pick even more smaller sunflowers along with some zinnias to complete our bouquet. The wagon ride out there brought me back to all the times we went as a kid, and the fields itself were beautiful & well maintained! While we were out in the field, we also were able to enjoy a cider from the shack which was pretty great as well. The lady working the cider shed out in the fields was also super helpful in explaining the whole experience to us, which helped us decide on what we wanted to do. When we returned from the sunflower fields, it was time to stop in to their Cider Shed for Xtreme Bar Bingo and a cider flight. There were a ton of tables and plenty of room despite the small crowd that showed up for bingo, and the outdoor pavilion & fans kept things cool despite it being a heater (heat index of 109°F). Our cider flight included the Pink Lady, BeeKeeper, Orchard Sunset, & Cider Donut. While I wasn't a huge fan of the Pink Lady & BeeKeeper, the Orchard Sunset & the Cider Donut were absolutely phenomenal! I would go back just for those two ciders even if we didn't get to do anything else. We were a bit hungry during bingo and decided to try out the Brussel Sprouts as a small side, and while they were pretty good, they were pretty bland with no additional seasonings or add-ins which was a little disappointing. The service at the Cider Shed was great with the staff helping us choose which ciders we may want to try. They also let you get 3 free samples, which was super useful in making our decision. After losing at Bingo (nothing new there), we figured it was best to end our Eckert's evening by having a quiet dinner in their Country Restaurant. I saw a seasonal Grilled Peach & Burrata salad on the menu that I was really excited to try, so we split that as an appetizer. Although it was another solid dish, it wasn't anything special in my opinion. The burrata definitely paired well with the grilled peach, but there wasn't much else to say about it. From there, we snagged a fruit wine flight as we were very curious on how their wines taste. The flight included Blackberry, Strawberry, Peach, & Apple wines, with the Blackberry stealing the show as best overall! The Strawberry was also nice, tasting like a watermelon jolly rancher, while the Peach & Apple were just okay. Lastly, for the entrees, I got the Cheeseburger Platter with a side of mashed potatoes and brown gravy while my girlfriend got the Chicken & Dumplings & a side salad with Aunt Helen's Sweet Vinaigrette. The cheeseburger platter was okay, nothing special, but the mashed potatoes & brown gravy were incredible. The chicken & dumplings fell a bit short as they were pretty meh, lacking the amount of chicken we were hoping for, and the side salad was not great as we thought the "sweet vinaigrette" just didn't taste right. The staff in the restaurant were again, super helpful, nice, and attentive, making us feel right at home. Finally, we grabbed 2 Cider Donuts for dessert on our way out. To say they were delicious would be an understatement. While they were a bit greasy, the flavor and texture was to-die for and gave us a perfect sweet treat to end our night. All-in-all, we really enjoyed our day out at Eckert's roaming the sunflower fields, creating our own bouquet, playing Xtreme Bar Bingo, & trying new ciders & wines. While we will definitely be back for the experiences, donuts, & ciders, the food is nothing special in my opinion and would likely be skipped. Would definitely recommend coming out for their summer & fall experiences, though!

Have you ever been surrounded by sunflowers? The Sunflower Experience at Eckert's is the perfect…read moreplace to do it. Mom and I chose the Flower Power Sunflower Pass, which included admission, a single cut-your-own sunflower, a souvenir mason jar lemonade (booze optional) and a pretty faux flower crown. It added a fun, whimsical touch to the day and made for even better photos! There was an option to fill a cut-your-own vase in the field for $10. The ride to the fields is part of the fun. Slow your mind and enjoy the journey. Once in the field, we skipped the walk up lookout, but took advantage of some of the unique photo opportunities throughout, including a flower arch, bicycle, oversized wicker basket and giant branded watering can, to name a few. The one downside was the mud. The previous day's rain made the ground soggy, and my sneakers sank in amongst the stalks once immediately off the main trail. Eckert's spread hay on some of the muddier areas, which helped absorb some moisture. Waterproof shoes or rain boots are a smart choice if there's been rain. I also recommend sunscreen, bug spray, hats and sunglasses. Pro tip: buy your tickets online ahead of time. I recommend going as early in sunflower season as possible. Quite a few of the blooms immediately alongside the trail had already been cut, despite signs asking visitors not to do so. There were still PLENTY of beautiful sunflowers to enjoy, along with a gorgeous field of colorful zinnias, but access was muddy overall. I know - it's a farm - and there will be dirt, but I hadn't recalled the field being so wet on previous visits over the years, so just tossing out a heads up on proper footwear and such. :) Although our wristbands gave us access to the peach trees also, we opted for picking them up from the Country Store instead! We finished the day with lunch at the restaurant, where I had some of the BEST fried chicken I've ever had. Perfectly coated and fried. It was a great topper on a wonderful day out with my mother. PS Because we were stuffed to the gills, we opted to take two slices of peach pie to go and that was one of the best decisions I've made all year. It's got a delicious homemade quality that is increasingly hard to find. It was stuffed with the freshest, sweetest peaches around. Don't miss out, dude.

This is a nice place. We stopped here on our way down south from the Centralia Balloon Fest,…read morebecause she saw it online somewhere. It was a little hard to find, but we got there eventually. There was a nice variety of produce and ciders and sweet treats. The woman working there was really nice, and gave us samples of one of the kinds of apples. I don't know that I'll ever find myself in Centralia again, but if I do, I'd definitely make time to swing by.

Just came in town with my grandson who is 4. I am in visiting from Austin Texas. I bought apples,…read moredough nuts, apple butter and cider. We went to your Dix, location. I must say the lady working there really ought to quit her job--it is apparent she hates it. Very rude!! That is why I rated y'all one star.

We had a fantastic time! They took us on a tour even though I forgot to schedule online. A…read morewonderful place to relax and enjoy the outdoors! Staff was knowledgeable and shared history of the farm.

We had an awesome experience here and I can't wait to come back next season…read more The products we got were all AWESOME. I loved the shower steamer so much. All the employees (family members working there) were incredibly helpful and kind. This is a great place and you have to check it out if you haven't already!

I've been to this orchard many times and it never disappointed me, in fact, it was a great…read morebeginning of the school year field trip which was never disheartening or dull for the students. In fact, it had the complete opposite effect on them; from viewing the trees, given an apple growth lesson, learning how apples are pollinated and viewing the bees, learning how the apples are sorted and viewing the large washing/sorter machine and seeing how the apples are stored in the large refrigerator. We enjoyed our lunch while eating apple donuts and drinking apple slushes. We spent time at the playground before departing back to school. The Okaw Valley Orchard staff will tell you exactly what is needed, what to expect during your outing and what you'll need to make the trip an awesome experience for you and your students! Be sure to call in August for September or October field trip dates

Absolutely love this shop! While roaming around the towns of Arthur and Sullivan, I found this…read moreOrchard on Yelp and had to stop by to check it out. It was so exciting to see homemade jams, freshly picked peaches and cider. I ended up getting the cutest soy eucalyptus candle, a bunch of ciders, a measurement shot glass, kettle popcorn and organic bug repellent. All things I never knew I needed, until now :) I wish this shop was bigger and more expansive but I'd be in trouble because I'd end up buying more than I bargained for. The home made cider was incredible. They made it into a slushee and it was so good, ended up getting two cups full and then two for the road. It was also neat that the cider didn't need to be refrigerated, making it so much easier to transport cross country. The staff here was also super friendly and welcoming which also is an added plus. Highly recommend stopping here if you ever find yourself in Sullivan, Illinois!

When I want fresh from the farm produce, I enjoy visiting Thies Farm in Maryland Heights. I often…read morevisit after a leisurely walk through Creve Coeur Park. They have a great selection of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as a variety of jams and jellies. During the month of October, you can choose from an assortment of pumpkins and gourds. Kids can enjoy Pumpkinland with activities such as a corn maze, swings and a straw-castle. Fall vegetables during November and Christmas trees in December. Stop in at Thies Farm for Fall fun and fresh produce!

Fresh plants & fall decorative produce, jams & jellies & salad dressings. Great pumpkin land for…read morekids & adults.

This place is absolutely ADORABLE! Clean, well organized,…read moreand smaller than some other local orchards, it is our favorite. There are tons of different apples to choose from for picking and they sell apple cider slushies, local candy and treats. They also provide local history of the schools in the area and what used to be on the property. The grounds are beautiful. We always visit Liberty in the fall!

I travel quite a distance to pick apples at this orchard. Apples are easy to access and there are…read moreso many varieties throughout the apple picking season. Courteous, friendly helpers. This orchard is so clean and neat! Worth my drive every year!!

Willoughby Heritage Farm and Conservation Reserve is a peaceful little escape right in…read moreCollinsville, IL that is perfect for slowing down your day and taking in some good nature vibes. They have a few miles of hiking trails, but beware they are kind of hard to follow and it's really easy to get lost, but also pretty easy to get back on track! They have farm animals you can feed, pet, and check out along with vintage farm equipment dotted all over the farm. It's free to visit and is definitely a local hidden gem in this town!

I stopped by this evening about 4:30 to take a look around. It is a gorgeous, small farm with lots…read moreto do! There is a gorgeous garden, which is a photographers playground -- bees, beautiful butterflies and hummingbirds pollinating all around and enjoying the sweet nectar. Flowers everywhere -- it is so beautiful! It was super quiet as I walked around, it was just me and two hikers that went down to the little trail and back. This is such a wonderful play for kids! There are turkeys walking around loose, that just pass by, so used to humans, obviously. There are two pigs in a pen, a few goats chilling on their tables and a horse, two donkeys in the barn. Friendly, and curious if I had treats to give. (Which you can feed some of the animals, others have signs not too.) Groundhogs running around too but they do hide! Not scary at all. Lots of space for a shaded picnic lunch and a good sized play area for kids. It's well worth checking out. It is gorgeously maintained and the animals are beautiful, so very well taken care of. Just go, already -- It's good for the soul! :) Will definitely be back.