Frying Pan Park & Kidwell Farm in Herndon, VA!

Located in Fairfax County you can find Frying Pan Park in Herndon, VA. The park includes Kidwell Farm, Kidwell Farm House, playground, carousel, indoor and outdoor equestrian rings, equestrian trails and Country Store. From May through October the Farmer's Market arrives every Wednesday with fresh produce and meats from Local Virginia Farms. Frying Pan Park also has their own 4-H club for kids to learn the science and basic care of livestock.

Kidwell Farm has lots of farm animals for the kids to check out including sheep, pigs, cows, draft horses, chickens, goats and rabbits. During the spring time all the baby farm animals are being born and when old enough are on display for everyone to see.

In addition to the animals you can also take a tour of the Kidwell Farm House, Smoke House and old farm equipment.

If the weather is nice you can always pack a lunch because there are plenty of places to sit down and eat lunch either by the farm or by the small playground.

 The small playground includes two different pieces of age appropriate equipment but no swings. There is no shade to get away from the sun but restrooms are located both in the indoor equestrian center and by the playground. For a few dollars you and the kids can purchase tickets for the wagon ride and or the carousel. **More pictures to come of the playground area and carousel***

This Fairfax County Park is a gem! The kids always have a great time and strollers and wagons get around the farm very easily. So no matter the age of the child you should check out Frying Pan Park in Herndon, VA!

Cox Farms in Centreville, VA!

Every year we visit Cox Farms in Centreville, VA for their Fall Festival. Cox Farms puts on a great Fall Festival from September-November with lots of things for the family to do including huge slides, hayrides, Goat Village, live entertainment, barnyard animals and of course the pumpkins! There is something for every age and size when you go to Cox Farms. The area where it is held mostly dirt, grass or gravel so it makes it easy for strollers and wagons to get around. The restrooms are all clean porta potties and scattered all over the festival.

The Fall Festival is known for it's colorful cutouts of popular cartoon characters and pumpkins. Hillside slides are a huge attraction and located on top of little hillsides. There is plenty to do with the little ones including checking out the barnyard animals that are penned throughout the festival. If you want to meet the many goats that Cox Farms has head to the Goat Village to feed, pet and watch the goats walk around the ramp system.

 The pictures do not do the Festival justice not to mention there are too many large slides to put up. When it's time to leave the festival you are given a free pumpkin with every paid admission. The exit to the festival takes you through the Festival Market where you can purchase large pumpkins,fresh produce, baked goods, kettle korn and candied apples. If you like having fresh produce you can always stop by the Cox Farms Corner Market during the Spring and Summer.

If you live in South Riding, Chantilly, Centreville, Aldie or Stone Ridge you are just a short trip away from the Annual Festival and Corner Market!

Ticonderoga Farms in Chantilly, VA!

Today we checked out Ticonderoga Farms in Chantilly, VA! This time of year is great because local Northern Virginia Farms have Fall Pumpkin Festivals and Ticonderoga Farms is one of them.

With a small admission fee you can play on the playground equipment, go down the large slides, rope bridge, climb up into forts, enjoy a hayride and walk the barnyard area. The best part is you recieve a small pumpkin with each paid admission. My kids always get a kick out of picking out their own pumpkins.

The kids had a great time. Ticonderoga Farms is not as large as the Cox Farms Fall Festival but there is still plenty of things for the family to do at this Loudoun County farm.

Great Country Farms in Bluemont, VA!

A friend of mine told me about a great little farm in Western Loudoun County named Great Country Farms in Bluemont, VA.

The working farm is 200-acres and was started as a Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA). A CSA is a program where members support the farm and in return share in the crops. The farm is also a U-pick farm where you can take a wagon ride out to the fields and pick fresh vegetables or fruit depending on the season. There is a small admission fee but the farm is lovely and well worth it.

Besides the fresh vegetables, fruit and kettle korn Great Country Farms has a lot to offer the family while you visit. The cow train, large inflatable pillow, and Gem Mining are just a few things you can do at the farm. They offer plenty of play equipment all over the play area along with a barnyard for the kids to see goats, chickens and pigs.

We had a great time and will definitely come back!

Frying Pan Park & Temple Hall Farm

In rural Leesburg, VA located in Loudoun County you'll find Temple Hall Farm. Temple Hall is a 286-acre working farm. It's a great place to the bring the family to see the animals and see all the sites of a working farm. It has plenty of picnic tables to bring a lunch and includes a small playground for the littler children. Every year from September to the beginning of November Temple Hall has a giant Corn Maze and pumpkin patch. You can also check out the Babbling Brook Trail which takes you over a creek and through the woods.

More pics to come when the weather gets nicer!