A magical experience!! We booked a private llama hike (90 min) which gave our family of six, the…read moreopportunity to meet the owners, learn about the llamas, take lots of photos and best of all, spend some quality time with the llamas. The details of the private hike and arrival instructions were shared via email in advance. I originally booked for five people and was easily able to add another person to our reservation by contacting them. They also sent the liability waivers via email so we could fill out prior, electronically! The hike began with an overview of the farm (nature preserve) and some tips/tricks on walking the llamas. After the short and helpful orientation, we set off. It was just so magical -- you feel like you are in the Northeast when walking the llamas on the cedar tree populated land. We walked for about 75 minutes total -- all around the nature preserve which included a few stops for photos, a hilly hill (made me realize I'm definitely out of shape) and over a small little bridge. The resident cat, Whiskers joined as well. This is THE BEST experience and one we will never forget. Thanks to the two awesome ladies who took us on the hike. We fell in love with the llamas.

Overpriced! Admission for the Mother's Day event was jacked up and the experience was definitely…read morenot worth it. The llamas were filthy and the barn stunk badly. I would not go back even at the normal admission price. Also, it was hard to find- no signage from the highway.

What a phenomenal location for a wedding! Attended my nieces wedding and knew it was going to be an…read moreevent to remember. The ceremony took place on a covered large patio, in front of a wood burning fireplace that added to the ambiance. The reception was filled with an incredible countertop full of delectable charcuterie artfully arranged and just as delicious tasting as it was beautiful. They did such a wonderful job serving all the guests appetizers, drinks at the bar, and a multi course dinner, as well as the wedding cake. The brisket was so tender, it fell apart as soon as you put it on your plate. There was ample parking within the beautiful vineyard. I can't think of one thing that could have been better. The food was perfect, the atmosphere was romantic, and the venue just could not have been more special.

I had the most wonderful time at Walker Homestead. It was a beautiful evening and even though…read moresitting outside can bring risk of the elements (bugs, wind, sun in the eyes), it was well worth it for the view. It was a busy evening and there was a little wait, as to be expected, for our food. It was delicious pizza! I loved having a fresh pizza with fresh ingredients- the difference is noticeable from the usual fast food pizza. After some photos with the sunset, we went to take a look at the goats and chickens. It was a cute way to end the evening. I would highly recommend coming here with the family.

Fun place for apple-picking and buying delicious apple products (recommend the sparkling apple…read morecider and apple donuts). The orchard is huge, with plenty of room to roam and apple tree varieties to choose from, mostly honey crisp, but also crimson crisp, Jonagold, fuji, and gala. Admission is $5 per person and we paid $22 for a two-person you-pick peck. Which was more than enough for us! Cons: Parking was an issue (it was a weekend) with unclear traffic flow through the lot...and it became progressively more busy later in the day.

This was a most lovely orchard experience from start to finish. I began with a visit inside the…read morefarm market, which had fresh apples; frozen applesauce and pies; chilled apple cider + cans of their alcoholic ciders; and merchandise + gifts. Make your way to the register, and you can purchase donuts and turnovers as well as your u-pick bags. I made my apple turnover ala mode, which was worthwhile, and savored it outside overlooking the orchard. So picturesque! After my apple treat, I was ready to pick and made my way to the orchard. Expect some hill climbing and pretty scenery between the apple trees and flower fields. I imagine the trek could be more challenging for families with young ones. Wilson's boasts 100 varieties of apples, one of the reasons I visited the orchard in the first place. At the end of September, I filled my bags with two varieties I had never heard of, which was fun. The rows were well-marked with the apples that were ready for picking as well as the name of the variety. More importantly, the apples were delicious. Overall, I'm very happy I spent a morning here, and I imagine just about anyone else will feel similarly.

How have I never written a review!?…read more Colony Acres Family Farm is an NL staple-- having been around for over 25 years! In the summer it boasts sunflowers. In the fall there's games, food/drinks, pumpkin patch picking, a market and of course, the corn maze. In the winter Colony Acres offers fresh-cut trees and Santa. I've only event ventured here during the fall-- tickets are $11-16. (*Pro Tip: order online to save a few bucks a ticket.*) My kids adored the zip line, slides, train ride, bouncy pad and corn maze. We typically don't get pumpkins here but there's a wide selection of those-- mums, corn stalks, hay bales and more. The farm is closed Mondays and Tuesdays during the fall. It allows dogs! There's plenty of parking. Staff is uber friendly. Stop by.

I am going to review this as if I had kids. If I had kids, this place would've been awesome! There…read morewere tons of activities for the kids to do, things for them to play on, some kind of bouncy thing(that's a fairly technical term), just a lot of really cool stuff for kids. However, if you don't have kids, save your money as there really isn't anything for adults to do. Sure, there is a corn maze, but that is really it. Like I said, though. If you have kids, check this out as it looks as if it would be a blast.

Alright guys, I've got Christmas on the brain…read more It's June, sure. But as only someone with a daughter born on Christmas would know-- yesterday marked six months of sleeps till Santa comes. And every. single. year. Santa puts my kiddos presents under a tree from Barnes Tree Farm and the tradition will continue for decades to come. For over 25 years this family owned, 10-acre operation has been selling trees just outside of Iowa City. They open the day after Thanksgiving and every Saturday and Sunday there-after until mid-December. Our tradition is to go the day (or weekend, depending on if Iowa football is in town) after Thanksgiving. We get a saw and set out across the acreage like Clark W Griswold to find literally the tallest, largest and fullest tree we can find. My husband then cuts down the tree of our dreams and we drag it back to have it shook out, trimmed, bagged up, paid for and strapped to the top of our car-- all while enjoying a fresh complimentary cookie and great conversation with the staff. For me, a certain size and shape determines my purchase. My mother-in-law lives for a particular type. Well, Barnes Tree Farm has something for everyone. Offering many sizes and shapes of; Scotch Pine, White Pine, Canaan Fir, Douglas Fir, Norway Fir and Blue Spruce. Pricing is super easy-- a flat fee depending on the type you get, size doesn't play a role in determining your bill. Simple. Easy. Affordable. Come channel your inner Griswold family. As Clark once said, "We're kicking off our fun old fashion family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols." Barnes will deliver that symbol and experience, maybe even the sap.

We were looking for somewhere in the area to find a fresh christmas tree and you can't get much…read moremore fresh than a pick and cut your own tree farm! Barnes Tree Farm was such a great find! They had Pine trees for $35 and for Fir/Spruce for $45, which is a lot less than we've paid in the past for a live tree. We grabbed a saw and started walking around looking for our perfect tree, we ended up going with a beautiful long needled tree. They helped us trim the base and wrapped in for $1 and helped carry it to the car. We went the 2nd weekend they were opened it looked like a lot of trees had been cut down but there were still a lot of great trees to choose from. We will definitely be back next year!

What a wonderful place! They're a pick-your-own strawberry farm with an abundance of fresh berries…read moreand plenty of parking, a quick and easy drive from Iowa City. Bring a container to take your strawberries home, as well as some water and sunscreen, and make sure to use the bathroom before you go (there's no store but rather a small structure next to the fields where you weigh and pay). Four of us went and filled a container maybe halfway and paid $20 (around $4 per pound). They take cash, credit, and checks, and the payment process is quick and easy. Check the website before going -- they update it with details about when the berries are available -- and if you're coming from a distance, consider calling as well.

The owners, Mark and Kristina, are very responsive and always so kind and accommodating. The…read moreberries may be even better than the customer service -- so juicy and sweet.

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!

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

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!

Thanks to yelp I took my grand daughter here for the first time…read more We had been to other pumpkin farms in the area and she was excited. I was pleasantly surprised to find good trucks since we hadn't had lunch and they had 2 choices..Mexican and a more fast food type truck. We had really good tacos and I thought very fairly priced. The store was a place I could spend a fortune with a large variety of local treats like salsas, pickled veggies, and meat. The pumpkin patch was fun since she was supplied with a map and had t search the maze to try to solve a mystery. After the pumpkin patch though, we were kind of done. They had other activities, like bouncy houses, face painting, and various games. But they were aimed at kids mostly 6 and under.