Fall is one of the year’s most exciting season. The natural harvest comes with the end of summer brings milder temperatures, culinary delights, as well as the opportunity to visit a local farm with the whole family. Whether it’s picking fresh apples, making your own maple syrup or picking beautiful flowers, these local farms are sure to impress on your next family outing.
10. Riverdale Farm, Toronto, Ontario
Situated in the heart of one of the most vibrant cities in the world is a lush, peaceful working farm. Located in the downtown Cabbagetown neighbourhood, the 7 and a half acres of Riverdale offer a full farm experience for your family.
There’s caring for livestock, milking cows, collecting eggs as well as picking vegetables, flowers and herbs. The farm also features year-round handicrafts and artwork vendors.
9. Downey’s Farm Market, Caledon, Ontario
Just a short drive from downtown Toronto, Downey’s Farm Market and Estate Winery features farm fun for the whole family. Among the attractions are giant slides, wagon rides, a wooden train, corn maze, pumpkin patch and u-pick of berries and apples. The market also features a scrumptious selection of treats such as jams, fruit preserves and their famous apple cider doughnuts.
8. White Meadow Farms, Niagara, Ontario
Maples are not only the national icon of Canada, they also produce the season’s most delicious treats and snacks. At White Meadow Farms you can go on a tour of the maple farm to learn more about tapping and the boiling that needs to occur for syrup creation. You can also stop by the sweet shop for everything from sauces, dressings, cheese, chocolates and a sampling of the farm’s four unique maple flavours.
7. Sugarbush Hill, Muskoka, Ontario
Situated in Muskoka and surrounded by 1,600 lakes and forests, the Sugarbush hill is a haven for maple syrup production and refinement. The farm provides tours of the facilities as well as tastings of the products made on-site. Finally, no trip is complete without picking up some of their famous maple products, including maple ice cream from their creamery.
6. Taves Family Farm Applebarn, Abbotsford, British Columbia
For some of the best apples in Canada, stop by the picturesque Taves Family Farm Applebarn. Sitting in beautiful British Columbia, the Applebarn has u-pick apples as well as other apple related treats. There is cold-pressed apple cider, cider doughnuts and cookies as well as other baked goods. The farm also has plenty of fun activities for the kids. There is a petting zoo, corn maze, pony rides, hay rides, pumpkin patch and pedal karts.
5. Symmetree Orchard, Luseland, Saskatchewan
You might not associate the Canadian Prairies with apples but Symmetree Orchard could soon change that. The orchard is dedicated towards cultivating the freshest and healthiest apples available, and the short growing season in Saskatchewan allows for the cultivation of very rare and unusual apple hybrids. These prairie apples are sure to impress the family. Along with apples, the prairie orchard has sour cherries, Saskatoon berries and other cold-weather fruits.
4. Vergers Hillspring, Franklin, Quebec
For a very special autumn experience in Quebec, stop by Vergers Hillspring in Franklin. This farm features fresh and delicious apples in a beautiful setting. The farm also has a shop and restaurant with some of the best cider doughnuts in the country. Along with the orchard, the farm has an outdoor park complete with outdoor petting zoo.
3. Black Fox Farm & Distillery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
This unique farm in Saskatoon specializes in flowers along with an award-winning distillery. It’s not every day that you can pick up flowers alongside spirits, but at Black Fox Farm & Distillery all things are possible. Along with zinnias, peonies, lilies, sunflowers and other flowers, you can take home some of their Black Fox Gin and Liqueur.
2. Chudleigh’s Farm, Halton Hills, Ontario
Founded in 1967, Chudleigh’s Farm has become an Ontario institution. The opportunity to pick apples, ride a pony and enjoy a relaxing country lunch brings thousands of families to this farm every year. The farm still provides u-pick apples along with a bakery and café that offers delicious apple turnovers, upside-down cakes and pies. Much of the treats are also frozen fresh, letting you take home their special harvest.
1. Shaw’s Maple Syrup Bush, Orillia, Ontario
For a special autumn and winter experience, stop by Shaw’s Maple Syrup Bush. This maple farm has over four thousand trees on the farm and offers walking and horse drawn tours of the farm. In the winter, the farm offers horse-drawn sleighs for a fun family activity.
Along with the tours, the farm has a pancake house that serves delicious pancakes featuring the farm’s famous maple products. If a syrup catches your eye, the farm store offers many varieties of syrup along with plenty of other maple flavoured products.
Any one of these local farms is sure to be a delight for the whole family. Book your next trip through Expedia and enjoy these great local farms.
