Voted Best in Iowa

Central Grove Orchard

It shouldn’t be too hard to pick out a pumpkin at the orchard. You can plod through the 19-acre patch or hop on a hay ride to take you around. While you’re there, take home a souvenir from the Country Store. The Country Store sells delicious preserves, coffee and specialty butters. Be sure to come hungry! There are eight different places to eat on site with foods that range from pulled pork sandwiches and tacos to cider donuts and pumpkin rolls.

32835 610th Ave, Cambridge, IA 50046 (515) 383-4354

Iowa Orchard

Browse more than 1,000 pre-picked pumpkins at Iowa Orchard, as well as many varieties of apples. The shop sells apple-themed fare including pies, caramel apples and cider, plus fruit crisps, honey and fudge. A hay rack ride on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays takes visitors to the Farm Fun Zone featuring family-friendly activities like a corn box, horseshoe toss, hay bale slide, tire course and face painting. Admission is free, so bring all the kiddos along for a fun day of games, treats and pumpkin picking.

9875 Meredith Drive, Urbandale, IA (515-276-0852)

Voted Best in Minnesota

Anoka County Farms

Family owned and locally operated, Anoka County Farms is an enjoyable attraction for people of all ages. You’ll find that their pumpkins are the best around, because everything is grown with special care and attention. The farm produces an array of vegetables you are encouraged to try, including pumpkins, squash, potatoes and onions. If you’re craving some home-grown veggies, this farm is your best bet!

125 Bunker Lake Blvd NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304 (763) 427-0000

Nelson Farms

This picturesque farm is sure to impress. Built in 1900, the big red barn is home to the friendly farm animals that are there to greet you as you soak in the stunning fall scenery. Take a stroll around the sparkling lake; it’s common to spot deer and other forms of wildlife at the farm. You can also enjoy a wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch, or a trolley ride pulled by beautiful horses. Get lost navigating through the 2014 corn maze! With so many things to see and do, it’s no wonder this venue was voted best in Minnesota.

23618 Csah 1, Litchfield, MN 55355 (320) 693-7750

Voted Best in Nebraska

Vala’s Pumpkin Patch

With over 50 attractions and activities at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, you should plan to spend a good chunk of your day exploring the farm. From the classic hayrack ride to the pumpkin fields, plus fall festival foods like hand-dipped caramel apples, Vala’s offers wholesome family fun for all ages. Admission ranges from 10.42-14.99. At Vala’s you can pre-order Thanksgiving pies through November 12! Their famously scrumptious sweets come in a variety of flavors including Salted Caramel Apple Pie, Classic Pumpkin Pie, Bourbon Pecan Pie and Brown Butter Salted Honey Pie.

12102 S 180th St, Gretna, NE 68028 (402) 332-4200

Kimmel Orchard and Vineyard

Surrounded by the rolling hills of southeast Nebraska and rooted deep in family history, this orchard is perfect for those wanting to experience a slice of country life. Pick a pumpkin, witness cider being processed and sample a glass of wine all while taking in the striking scenery. What better way to learn about where food comes from than by seeing it in the field and talking to the farmers? A full array of festivals and events featuring local craftspeople and educators make Kimmel Orchard and Vineyard the perfect place to relax while learning something new.

5995 G Road Nebraska City, NE 68410 (402) 873-5293

Voted Best in Dallas

Dallas Arboretum

The Dallas Arboretum is a spectacle as Halloween draws near. Stop by to pick out a pumpkin from the Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch and navigate the hay bale maze. Also explore Pumpkin Village: fairy-tale houses built of pumpkins, perfect for photo ops with the family. General admission is $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 3–12; and on Wednesdays, buy one admission ticket at the gate and get one free.

8525 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218 (214) 515-6615

Halls Pumpkin Farm

If you feel like visiting Grapevine, make Halls Pumpkin Farm a must-see. At this real working farm you can pick your pumpkins off the vine, or snag a pre-picked one from one of the vignettes around the farm. On the weekends, Halls offers tractor-pulled hayrides out to the two-acre corn maze. Bring food and drinks if you like; but concessions are available.

3420 Hall – Johnson Rd, Grapevine, TX 76051 (817) 991-1052

Voted Best in Houston

Oil Ranch

The anticipated Fall Festival at Oil Ranch kicked off Oct. 1, and is open seven days a week for the entire month. For over 20 years they have held a Pumpkin and Scarecrow Festival, hay rides, tours of the scarecrow scenes, and have thousands of pumpkins scattered around the property. General admission is $14.95 per person and includes a free pumpkin!

23501 Macedonia Rd, Hockley, TX 77447 (281) 849-1616

Dewberry Farm

Dewberry Farm in Brookshire is the overwhelming favorite for fun fall activities. There is something for everyone at Dewberry. Devote an entire day to explore all this farm has to offer. Get lost in a corn maze, take a hay or train ride, zip line, visit the barnyard, and marvel over the 500 lighted pumpkins in their Punkin Hollar. Sit a spell on the old-fashioned merry-go-round overlooking the lake. There are also 10 different places to get good food at Dewberry with options like funnel cake, pizza and turkey legs. General admission is $12.75 for ages 3 to 54, and various discounts are available for seniors and law enforcement/military.

7705 FM 362, Brookshire, TX 77423 (281) 934-3276

Pumpkin Patch Frenzy

Searching for a fun, fall activity to get you and your apartment ready for Halloween? Visit a pumpkin patch! These pumpkin patches were voted best in the city, and offer far more than an endless supply of pumpkins. Whether you’re in need of the perfect pumpkin to carve, have an appetite for mouth-watering fair foods or want a family picture taken in a beautiful setting, these venues don’t disappoint.

Richdale Writes