I am married to the craziest, most awesome man I know. We have four kids--Ranging in ages from 5-10. You can learn more about my life as a mother and wife at www.giannaraekordatzky.blogspot.com .
I love to throw parties and be with friends. I love to read my Bible and grow closer to God. I love to eat and exercise. I have learned to love coffee. And I could really use a nap.
If we left it up to Anne to write her own bio, it would never get posted. She doesn't enjoy talking about herself, but Anne does love exploring the Twin Cities with her family and sharing her finds here. She, her husband and their four kids are lifelong residents of St. Paul.
Apple Jack Orchards in Delano, Minnesota, could be one of those day-long fall destinations. There’s just that much going on there. And perhaps that’s what you’re looking for – an orchard packed with activities to appeal to every age in your family. Or, if slipping away from the hubbub and wandering among the apple trees sounds more up your alley, we’ve had that experience there, too. Read More
If we left it up to Anne to write her own bio, it would never get posted. She doesn't enjoy talking about herself, but Anne does love exploring the Twin Cities with her family and sharing her finds here. She, her husband and their four kids are lifelong residents of St. Paul.
The pickings are decidedly slimmer in the North Metro: a handful of orchards offer apples for sale, but you might invite disappointment if the kids have their hearts set on harvesting their own. I’ll list the orchards below that do not offer U-pick (because we feel some are worth a stop for some fresh produce or a chance to get outside) along with the lovely Sunrise River Farm that welcomes you to pick.
We were completely charmed by the atmosphere at Sunrise River Farm on the outskirts of Wyoming, Minnesota. We loved that even on a weekend, the orchard never felt crowded, that we could wander through the apple trees and pick without bumping into fellow harvesters, and the kids adored visiting with all the farm critters. Prepare to spend lots of time wandering the barn stalls and meeting the resident donkeys, chickens, pigs and more. Read More
If we left it up to Anne to write her own bio, it would never get posted. She doesn't enjoy talking about herself, but Anne does love exploring the Twin Cities with her family and sharing her finds here. She, her husband and their four kids are lifelong residents of St. Paul.
Apple Jack Orchards in Delano, Minnesota, could be one of those day-long fall destinations. There’s just that much going on there. And perhaps that’s what you’re looking for – an orchard packed with activities to appeal to every age in your family. Or, if slipping away from the hubbub and wandering among the apple trees sounds more up your alley, we’ve had that experience there, too. Read More
I am married to the craziest, most awesome man I know. We have four kids--Ranging in ages from 5-10. You can learn more about my life as a mother and wife at www.giannaraekordatzky.blogspot.com .
I love to throw parties and be with friends. I love to read my Bible and grow closer to God. I love to eat and exercise. I have learned to love coffee. And I could really use a nap.
Driving into Sponsel’s Minnesota Harvest Apple Orchard is driving into Apple Land. I know there is no such place as Apple Land, but I just created it in my head.
If we left it up to Anne to write her own bio, it would never get posted. She doesn't enjoy talking about herself, but Anne does love exploring the Twin Cities with her family and sharing her finds here. She, her husband and their four kids are lifelong residents of St. Paul.
Our first installment of the Family Fun Twin Cities Apple Orchard Guide looks to the East. There are some heavy hitters out there: Aamodt’s Apple Farm in Stillwater has been open close to 70 years. Pine Tree Apple Orchard of White Bear Lake is well-known for its bakery menu. And Afton Apple Orchard of Hastings sprawls over 190 acres into the pastoral country. Read on to find out how they stack up – and why visiting an apple orchard is one of my family’s favorite ways to spend a fall day.
Choosing to head to Aamodt’s on a gorgeous fall weekend is also agreeing to spend that day shouldered up against half the Metro. Plus a bus tour or three. At least, this was our experience a few years ago. Part of the popularity of the orchard is due to the winery on property. Personally, I would have loved to explore St. Croix Vineyards, but the children in the party had other ideas. They made a break for the toddler-sized John Deere trikes and giant hay bales. But wait! Don’t forget to bring cash for the activities: Aamodt’s charges small fees for the trikes, hay maze, a tractor-pulled kiddie train, and hayrides into the orchard. (The fees don’t seem quite so small when you’ve got a larger-than-average family, however.) Admission to the orchard itself is free as is the small goat petting farm. Read More
I am married to the craziest, most awesome man I know. We have four kids--Ranging in ages from 5-10. You can learn more about my life as a mother and wife at www.giannaraekordatzky.blogspot.com .
I love to throw parties and be with friends. I love to read my Bible and grow closer to God. I love to eat and exercise. I have learned to love coffee. And I could really use a nap.
Thisis a quaint orchard that welcomes you to enjoy farm life. Named for the whistling well on their property, Whistling Well Farm is run by Charlie and Carol Johnson — and sons Chad and Neal. With no entrance fee, you are welcome to roam around the farm at your leisure.
Whistling Well Farm has all the basic amenities of a typical orchard: gift barn, food barn, and animals. They have a donkey and a goat. While the animals didn’t do much when we were there, they were still fun for the kids to see.
Whistling Well Farm is maintained with the help of a springer spaniel named Emmy. In fact, she has her own picture book for sale (written by Charlie). They also sell small stuffed replicas of her.
But the best part of Whistling Well Farms? The chickens!
I can guarantee that your children will spend the rest of your visit in the chicken coop coaxing the non-hungry chickens into eating more corn from their hands. I must admit, it was lots of fun to have the chickens actually eat out of your hands!
Or, if your children have no interest in actually feeding the chickens, they may take corn kernel by corn kernel out of the cob and make a pile of feed for the chickens.
For its unique farm experience, I recommend Whistling Well Farm. It is worth the drive.
Orchard notes Open: Picking season begins around Labor Day, check their website or call to confirm. Hours: Daily, 9am-6pm Cost: Free admission and limited children’s activities Picking & details: Stop by the farm and pick up some apples, visit with the goats and chickens, and make a wish at the whistling well with all donations going to local charities. The orchard’s Apple Festival runs the first three weekends in October.
Open: Mid-Sept-Oct Hours: Tues-Sun, 9:30am-5pm Cost: Free admission, fees for additional activities Picking & details: Enjoy the fall season at this beautiful orchard on the St. Croix River. Pick-your-own apples and pumpkins and, for more family fun, take a tractor pulled wagon ride to the corn maze (weekends only) mid-September to October. Straw Mountain and the Apple Express are popular with kids and all ages will enjoy a visit to the barnyard. The Food Wagon is open on weekends, from late September through late October. Catch the Annual Apple Festival with fun family activities running the first two weekends of October.
Please note: This orchard is now permanently closed.
This is the perfect Mom-and-Pop apple orchard. It’s a fairly sizable orchard with more than fifteen varieties of apples, and admission into the orchard is free on weekdays!
As you drive into the property, a fun atmosphere welcomes you. The Apple House and Outdoor Market supply you with many different opportunities for purchasing their own honey roasted peanut butter, apple paraphernalia, already picked apples, pumpkins, chrysanthemums, and the ultimate favorite for everyone in our family: Pick Your Own Apples. While we were visiting, the Haralson apples and Honeygold were available for PYO.
The apple trees at McDougall’s are well tended. They are small which makes it possible for you to reach almost all the way to the top. And full of apples. They are pruned for maximum fruit bearing.
The Apple Junction Playland at the back of the yard has a $3 admission fee for kids. There is also a suggested 50 cent donation to climb the newly constructed Observation tower just outside the playland.
The playland is intended for children ages 10 and under and contains a children’s maze, all terrain trikes, slides, swings, a climbing wall, sand box, a thirty-two foot wooden train, milking a (pretend) cow, and a small prize.
Apple Junction also has a goat mountain (read: goat pen that has a mountain of straw for the goats to play on!), a straw mountain for humans to play on, new duck races, a calf named Cupcake, and some bunnies. There are also plenty of picture stops.
If you want to, you can take a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch and come back with pumpkins for the season. Each fall they host a Pumpkin Festival and an Apple Festival. This is a dynamite orchard and is definitely worth the trip!
Orchard Notes Location: 14325 110th St S., Hastings, MN, 55033 Hours: Open daily from 10am – 6pm Picking: Click here for an update on what varieties are currently being picked in the orchard.
Orchard Notes Location: 8973 St. Croix Trail South, Hastings, MN 55033 Hours: Open daily 9am – 6pm through November. Picking: Click here to see what’s currently pickin’ at Whistling Well Farm.
If we left it up to Anne to write her own bio, it would never get posted. She doesn't enjoy talking about herself, but Anne does love exploring the Twin Cities with her family and sharing her finds here. She, her husband and their four kids are lifelong residents of St. Paul.
Twin Cities-area apple orchards have already begun throwing their doors open to usher in the picking season! Find an old favorite or a new destination to spend a fall day from our Guide below.
Come join us at our 3rd Annual Orchard Crawl, hosted by Fischer’s Croix Farm Orchard, on Sunday, September 24, 2017!
If we left it up to Anne to write her own bio, it would never get posted. She doesn't enjoy talking about herself, but Anne does love exploring the Twin Cities with her family and sharing her finds here. She, her husband and their four kids are lifelong residents of St. Paul.
We’re just over two weeks out from opening day of the 2017 Minnesota State Fair and I’m in my element writing about my most favorite time of the year. I love the planning and the anticipation, the scouting out of new foods and attractions, and the pulling together of a list I’ll check off with my family over the many days we’ll spend together. Because for us, the State Fair is truly a family affair. I’ve been bringing my four children along since their infancy (for better or for worse.). And that is why I feel confident in sharing this list of 10 of our favorite live entertainment options at the Fair to enjoy together.
Joy Peters - co-creator and writer for FamilyFunTwinCities.com.
Besides Family Fun Twin Cities, I spend my 9 to 5 at a day job pursuing my weird passion for calendars and organizing things as a legal secretary. When I get home I spend my time with my four kids, 10, 6, 4 and 1. My amazing husband is both a full-time musician and full-time stay-at-home dad. Together we run a small radio empire — SiaNet Radio — playing, promoting and enjoying the wide variety of local music and art in the Twin Cities. I juggle all this while writing about exploring the Twin Cities with kids. I couldn’t be happier.
On August 21st, the U.S. is going to see the biggest solar eclipse since I was in early grade school. A lot of parents are young enough that they don’t remember the last one, so this can be an exciting family event for everyone. It will run from approximately 11:45 to 1:00 p.m. While we won’t get a total eclipse here in Minnesota, we’ll still get enough to make it interesting. If you won’t be traveling to see the total eclipse but still want to get in on the fun, we do have a few places to view in the Twin Cities. This is what we’ve found so far. Leave us a comment if you know of other viewing areas
Standard Disclaimer: Don’t Look Directly at the Sun! Check with your local library. Some are giving out eclipse viewing glasses for free. Supplies are limited.
I am married to the craziest, most awesome man I know. We have four kids--Ranging in ages from 5-10. You can learn more about my life as a mother and wife at www.giannaraekordatzky.blogspot.com .
I love to throw parties and be with friends. I love to read my Bible and grow closer to God. I love to eat and exercise. I have learned to love coffee. And I could really use a nap.
There must be hundreds of dance studios in the Twin Cities. Family Fun Twin Cities has collected some of the most unique ones, and we’re excited to share these with you.
August 16, 2017: Scroll down for our limited time offer of free LEAP! advance viewing passes! We would love to know your favorite dance studio. Leave us a note in the comments.
Splash Happy: Twin Cities Guide to Beaches, Pools, Water Parks & Splash Pads
Twin Cities Best Ice Cream Shops
Twin Cities Guide to Splash Pads & Wading Pools
Family Fun with Tweens & Teens
FFTC’s Ultimate Guide to Twin Cities Birthday Parties
Twin Cities Indoor Playgrounds & Play Areas
Twin Cities Open Play, Gym & Swim Spots for Tots
Twin Cities Indoor Waterparks and Pools
Twin Cities Kids Eat Free or Cheap List
Twin Cities Special Needs Guide
Twin Cities Family Wellness Guide
FFTC’s Guide to Cooking with Kids in the Twin Cities
FFTC’s Family Music Classes Guide
Apple Jack Orchards
Sunrise River Farm
Aamodt’s Apple Farm
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