Homestead Farms is the kind of place that reminds you why a little fresh air and wide-open acreage…read morecan work wonders. The property goes on and on--plenty of room for kids to run, adults to exhale, and everyone to claim their perfect apple-picking spot without bumping elbows. The apple selection is top-tier: crisp, plentiful, and varied enough to make you rethink your recipes. Whether you're team Honeycrisp, Stayman, Fuji, or "I just want the prettiest one," they've got you covered. It's an excellent family outing--easy parking, nice country store organized staff, scenic views, and cute working farm charm. A Maryland must worth returning to every fall.

My boyfriend and I went on a blackberry picking date here, and we had a blast! We loved that there…read morewas NO line. It was $4 for admission, $1 for a picking bucket, and you pay per pound for your produce. Unfortunately in July, they didn't have any more peaches, but still had plenty of blackberries. To be honest, the blackberries were very sour, but I made them into a pie so it was delicious in pie form! We walked around and saw the animals on the farm, and wandered around the market where they had a ton of seasonal produce available for sale.

My sister and I celebrated our birthday at Rocklands Farm Winery with a group of 20+ people, and it…read morecould not have been a better experience. We reserved a private space with a private tasting, which made the day feel extra special and perfect for a large group. For many of our guests, it was their first time visiting this location, and everyone had such a great time. One of the co-founders, Greg, personally led our tasting and was fantastic. He was knowledgeable, welcoming, and checked on us throughout the afternoon to make sure everything was going smoothly. Every staff member we interacted with was friendly, attentive, and clearly passionate about what they do. I also appreciated that some friends who don't drink were still able to enjoy themselves thanks to the non-alcoholic options. The property itself is beautiful with scenic views, plenty of space to relax, and such a peaceful atmosphere. We had amazing weather the day we visited, which made it even more memorable. If you are looking for a great place for a birthday, celebration, group outing, or just a relaxing day with friends, I highly recommend! We will definitely be back.

I had an awesome first experience at Rocklands…read more I joined a group of 15-20 on the first really nice Saturday of the spring season; it was fairly crowded but we got there right at opening to secure a large section of shaded picnic tables. There was PLENTY of seating still - lots of large and small tables scattered throughout the property. They also have seating inside the winery at a small bar. The wine itself was really nice; we had several bottles of the rose at the table. It was light, crisp, and easy to sip in the nice weather. I was impressed that they also had 2 non alcoholic wines; the non drinkers in our group were happy to have some options made just for them (which were delicious also). There is a third party pizza business that had food offerings; we had many different types of their pizza which were all good. Very smart to have a food option for folks to enjoy while we sip our wine. Overall, the property is wonderfully maintained and the wines meet all expectations. I'd recommend giving this spot a try if you're looking for a nice winery north of the beltway!

Firewood deliveries have always been seasoned hardwoods, no junk, nicely stacked, and prompt…read moredelivery.

I buy summer produce and my firewood. Very happy with their service though the produce is more…read moreexpensive

We were on our way to a youth baseball game and passed by this adorable Urban Farm and couldn't…read moreresist stopping in. This place is filled with beautiful photo opportunities, amazing varieties of pumpkins and squash, bins of fresh apples of at least a dozen varieties, super friendly staff, and even a fun craft goods and clothing store tucked in the middle. There's fresh cider, apple butter, delicious fresh apple donuts, and lots of traditional fall goodies displayed in postcard-perfect scenes. We saw lots of families with adorable wagons with kids, holding their treasured pumpkins or produce of choice...just a perfect easy stop for fall fun and stunning colors, worth a trip for sure!

My husband and I came here during the fall, and absolutely loved the ambiance, service, options -…read moreeverything about it! We picked out multiple pumpkins - some for decor, some for painting. They were perfect - we picked out both orange and white ones. There are also tons of foods and drink options - donuts, popcorn, apple cider, etc. The donuts were delicious! This is a farm we will absolutely return to in general, but also particularly during the fall :)

I have had the pleasure of attending Rosie's Farm Sancturary as a volunteer and also as a patron…read morefor their fundraising events. I have had amazing experiences at both. Rosie's has numerous volunteer opportunities and there are jobs suitable for all ages. They can sign off on SSL hours. I have scooped a lot of poop, helped replace hay and bedding for the animals, and helped with projects to tidy up the sanctuary. The owner and sanctuary manager are both so kind and give many thanks to all their volunteers. The animals (especially the goats) are also known to give their thanks by rubbing up on you and getting snuggly. I recently participated in Rosie's Paint and Sip fundraising event which was a lot of fun. They provided all vegan snacks and drinks, gave a tour of the sanctuary, and then provided supplies for you to put paint blobs on a piece of canvas and the pigs created a work of art for you. It was such a memorable event and a great way to have fun and bond with the animals. Rosie's has a lot of creative fundraisers listed on their events page. I also love that they are an option to visit in lieu of the zoo field trips. A lot of vegan families do not support zoos and Rosie's has been a location kids are allowed to go to instead. I highly recommend visiting Rosie's for their community tour, a fundraiser, or to volunteer. There is no better way to build a connection with the animals than at this sanctuary.

I came here on a homeschooling trip, but none the less the staff was so nice. Educational generous…read more The they had signs to educate you everywhere you turned. Healthy live stock, and an awesome wagon wide and tours where we got to see the camel, bisons, and other animals from the safari region of Africa. After the wagon ride we took off to walk the zoo and saw a beautiful anteater, wallabies, red kangaroos, turtles, koa fish, and other animals. I definitely want to come back because they have a butterfly exhibit and I really wanted to try it. It just wasn't in our purchased packet. The butterfly exhibit is $8 per person.

Nova Wild (formerly know as Roers) is back with a local owner who is committed to animal welfare…read moreand conversation! It had been a minute since I visited but I was really happy to see the massive facelift on the place -- the animals looked clean and well taken care of and there was beautiful landscaping everywhere. There were lots of zookeepers around and you could tell they were very passionate about their jobs. We went on a summer morning for a field trip and lasted only two hours due to the heat but the children loved seeing the capybaras, monkeys, cheetah, buffalo, deer, goat, cows, and pigs. There is also a new butterfly enclosure! I'll have to go back with my entire family to check out all the updates.

This place is awesome! Can't say enough great things about how friendly the owners are and how much…read morewe enjoy the farm fresh eggs! Never knew eggs could taste this good!

From the owner: Farm Fresh Eggs from happy, free range chickens that are fed soy-free, non-GMO feed! Located in…read moreSterling VA. Now offering Organic Chicken as well!

Two stars for the very nice workers who did their best to assist during my visit. Sadly the variety…read moreand prices were disappointing. I expect farm markets to offer fresh produce AND good deals. This was too pricey for me. I won't be back.

Love their farm stand; was in the area a few times last year and stopped by to check them out…read more Also got fall pumpkins (early on in the season) and they last a long time. Produce was fresh and staff were friendly. Reasonable prices as well. I'd imagine it'll get trickier stopping by this season with all the construction but next time I'm in the area and they're open, I'll be ready to grab some goodies.

Butler's is our family favorite. It is only about a 35 minutes drive from DC and you are out in…read morethe "farm". Great family fun to bring the kids. Over the years, we've done apple, strawberry, and blueberry picking here, but the fall pumpkin festival is the best. There are tons of activities for the little ones - hayrides, a corn maze, farm animals, and more. Tubby's BBQ is on-site if you need lunch. The line can be long, but it moves quickly. It is on the pricier side, but well worth it. The farm is beautiful, the experience is fun, and it's a wonderful way to get the kids outdoors.

My friends and I had a beautiful triple date during their fair. This place is great for dates,…read morefamilies, friends, and has lots of fun activities for kids. Although the Apple selections were few, we did gather some pink lady apples, which were a huge hit! Sadly, the Gala apples were not doing well this season so we didn't get to pick any of those. They have a great place to order some fresh cider and yummy apple cider donuts. Food is also sold there and I heard that it's delicious. Note that the entry fee does not cover your cost to pick apples so prepare to spend around $60 total. Overall, this place was great and I cannot wait to return!

Stopped by on a Sunday afternoon to find the farm was closed, but we were still able to purchase…read moreeggs and ground beef. The eggs were about $8.50 per dozen, and the ground beef cost a little over $12 per pound. While the eggs were great, the ground beef had a very strong, gamey flavor and smell that we didn't enjoy--disappointing, especially given the price.

My family visited Hidden Gems Farm during the Fall to get pumpkins. This is a cute small pumpkin…read morepatch, with very friendly staff, who even wheeled our pumpkins down the hill to put them in our trunk. It was only $1 per person to enter, which you can't beat. We will definitely be back next year.