Fall is upon us! Which means that it is time to take the annual trip on down to the pumpkin patch. Since I was a kid, it has always been a top priority once fall rolled around. And now even more so that I have my own family. From picking out the pumpkins, to letting the kids run wild through the various activities, there is always so much to do and see!
Know When to Beat the Crowd
When dealing with kids, especially smaller ones, it is the most beneficial to go out when there is less people. Especially true for the pumpkin patch. With such a short season, they can get pretty damn crazy the closer that it gets to Halloween.
Plan According to Age
Different patches offer different activities. While one may be amazing for older kids, the other may prove to be more of a benefit to younger kids. Younger kids love the petting zoos, hay rides, barrel ride, easy corn mazes, and little farm activities. While older kids love the difficult corn mazes, night time scary mazes, big slides, scary activities like zombie paintball, and going more at night.
Dress Appropriately
There is dirt. A LOT of dirt. And although it is easily washable, it gets everywhere! Plus, farms have big open fields, with not a lot of shading or building to accompany it. So plan to wear some old shoes or boots. Bring a bag that you can put any too dirty clothes in. And bring an old blanket to wipe off the pumpkins with and another to place on in the car.
Bring the Camera!
There are SO many cute memories to be captured at the patch. Between feeding the animals, riding the horses, picking out the pumpkins, adorable fall colors, and cute cut-out stands, there's just so much to capture. And you'll want to get every new adventure, fun, and experience.
Bring Cash
Many places are going to have snacks and drinks. But most don't have a card machine to run your ATM. So bring some cash. Because you'll definitely want to bring home a pumpkin.
And Let Your Kid Pick the Pumpkin
Yes, they will most likely pick a small, imperfect, and impractical carving one. But, the act of making the decision will go along way in their pumpkin patch experience. And isn't that why you go in the first place? For the fun and for the pumpkins!
Prepare for Everything Else that Goes with a Farm
There is rough terrain since it is mostly made of dirt. So you'll want to check it out before going in order to know if the stroller, wagon, or neither are right for your trip. And remember, that's one more thing to clean if you do! And make sure you bring all the allergy meds and hand sanitizer. If you're kid gets allergies, make sure you help them out. Because they will be a mess with all of the hay and fur flying around. The hand sanitizer has a lot of purposes. From using it after petting the animals to using it after the bathroom. Because more than likely there will be port-a-potties.
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