This is such a great orchard! My toddler and I visited several times last fall and just had our…read morefirst visit for this year. He LOVES digging in the corn pit! I really appreciate the wagons they have available to borrow. Last year the trees were absolutely covered in apples, this year not quite as many... I'm guessing weather related? But the Sweetango apples we picked taste amazing and have become my very favorite apple. Love this place and will return for sure.

Great place for family adventure! All around family place to see and visit self pick apples!read more

We have been going to Croix farm for years now, this place is part of our fall tradition…read more We prefer going to this place over other similar establishments in the area cause this place is just right, not too big and not too small. The staff is always super friendly. They never nickel and dime you like some other places in the area that even charge you with an admission price. We have never been disappointed with the variety of apples or an abundance of pumpkins to pick from. They have a corn maze for which you do have to buy a ticket but it's very reasonable ($5/pp) and you get to take a hayride to the corn maze. There's always a food truck there with fried goodies and of course apple cider. There is a store there also where you can buy pre-picked apples and other goodies. Tbh - I don't think that prices at this location for hot food, apples, pumpkins or the corn maze have changed at all since we've been coming here.

This is a lovely lavender oasis. I have enjoyed my monthly subscription. In season, I took my…read moregrandchildren lavender picking. Marie is a wealth of botanical knowledge and has wonderful products in the shop.

My mom and I went here for the u-pick lavender experience this past weekend. We were greeted by a…read moreyounger gentleman who gave us the run down on how to cut the lavender. He also gave us a wood ring that we could fill up with any lavender and this was included in the price we paid beforehand. When we went there was tall and short lavender plants (the names are escaping me) and a white lavender which was unique! It was extremely hot but we enjoyed taking in the smells of the lavender and admiring all the busy bees. There is a cute shop onsite with different things made from the lavender grown just feet away!

The Twin Cities is super lucky in that you can be in a concrete jungle one minute and out in…read morebeautiful Hastings picking your own apples the next. There are loads of orchards and pumpkin patches to choose from but you really have to made a pit stop at Fischer's Croix Farm and Orchard. They have a super cute hay bail for kids/adults to climb on but I'll warn you.. you have to be PRETTY agile to get to the top.. There's also some goats and chickens the kiddies can feed along with a tracker ride out to the corn maze! (You can go on the ride without actually going through the maze). There are loads of different apples/pumpkins to pick your own or buy the preselected bags inside the shop! They're all super friendly staff that'll share their love of apples and really help you select the right one :) oh and there's also a food truck in case you get hungry!!

I can't believe this place isn't more popular! This place exceeded my expectations in more ways…read morethan one. It was easy to find, since they have a lot of signs up which have arrows from the main road. The staff here are very friendly, approachable and kind. It seems to be run by an all women staff woo!! The parking is on the grass or dirt parking. Come as early as you can because it gets crowded pretty darn fast, and loud. The inside building has a lot of items you can purchase, like peanut butter, apple pies, caramel apples, and pre picked apples. They also have samples of each apple in their orchard. My personal favorite was their sweet sixteen apple. They have an outside area, with 1 goat for a petting zoo. They have hay bails for kids to climb, and some open area for them to roam around. They have apple trees spread out everywhere and it's labeled with what kind of apple each tree is. It's a perfect photo spot, they also thought ahead and have a huge family bench near the corn maze where you can take cute pics. The corn maze is challenging but doable for kids and adults. They have an APPLE cutout inside the maze so you can find it, something fun in addition to the maze. There's a wagon that takes you out to the maze or you can just walk there. They have wagon rides at 11 am sharp. The pumpkin patch was sort of a disappointment, because some of them were spoiled and others were fungated? The whole place is perfect for instagram pictures, and fall photo shoots. It's free admission, but the corn maze is $3 per person. The apples and pumpkins are charged based on how much they weigh. It was really affordable. They have new hours apparently so call ahead to confirm. Definitely a family oriented fun outing!

What a wonderful small town farm market within walking distance from my Niece's new home! Fresh…read morevegetables, chicken & duck eggs (within shouting distance of the fowl that laid them)! They also offer homemade soups frozen), sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, local honey and a few other locally made items - beautifully arranged on farm tables and in refrigerators. We stopped by twice this week for eggs, sauerkraut (for our local German brats), green beans, garlic scapes (yum!), and eggplant. She and her husband absolutely love this tiny family farm and I can see why. There's a big pizza oven and some table scattered around the yard so maybe they will bring back their pizza nights on the farm? I sure hope so! What a gem!

It's official. Our favorite type of farm is a PIZZA FARM! We have now made our way to a few…read moredifferent pizza farms. This year we thought we would try a new pizza farm. We have certainly enjoyed the pizza farms that we have previously been too however we also believe that its fun to explore and try new things. What initially attracted us to the Borner Farm Project was their location. Usually our drive to one of the pizza farms is over an hour one way which is fine because it is truly about the journey. That being said, convenience can also be nice and this drive would only be about 20 mn. Their website is detailed on where you are allowed to park. Pizza nights are every other Friday. Never being one that likes to be late, we arrived shortly after 5pm. We were pleased to find parking on the lawn at the farm. There were a couple of nice ladies that greeted us and directed us as where to park. Each pizza farm is unique and Borner is no different. Adjacent to where you park is a grassy area to set up shop. The barn is right there as are the pizza ovens. Borner seems to make more creative pizza's than the other farms we have visited. We ordered our pizza's and picked out a spot near their garden to relax. We ordered a Margherita pizza and a pizza with sausage, corn and zucchini. This was going to be first for us as while we enjoy corn and zucchini, we have never had it on a pizza. It didn't take long and they were calling our numbers. Talk about being in your happy place. Its pizza time! The first thing we noticed was the crust. They make a wheat crust. I thought this had more flavor and was a bit crispier than what we had previously had. While the rest of our group was initially not sure, it seemed to grow on them as we ate more pieces. The Margherita was very good. Fresh tomatoes and fresh mozzarella with a smoky crust from that pizza oven. A great pizza. That pizza with the corn and zucchini was by far and away our favorite. The vegetables were fresh. The corn provided a nice sweetness. I so want to try to make this at home! As we were getting ready to leave we thought being so close we could even pick up our pizza's and take them home sometime if we wanted. But then again there is something about eating pizza outside on a beautiful evening in that type of setting. I know we'll be back to this farm again.

The conservatory is such a magical place! It's amazing that the whole place is completely free. It…read morecan get busy on the weekends, but we went on a rainy Friday afternoon and had the place to ourselves. We love the bonsai exhibit and the Japanese garden. The garden is so beautiful in the springtime! There's plenty of space to walk around both in the conservatory and at the zoo. Even the grounds outside of the conservatory is beautiful!

FLORA & FAUNA This…read morefabulous public zoo in Saint Paul is fun, multi-faceted, and FREE! When researching things to do in the Twin Cities, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory popped up on numerous "best of" lists, including best places to bring kids, best free attractions, and other recommended activities. The family and I came here in early June, and we had a lovely time. Parking is free but lots fill up quickly and street spots are on a first-come basis, so the longer you wait, the further you'll have to walk.  My advice is to get here early to avoid the gauntlet of busses filled with school groups, summer camps, and other families heading to the zoo. They suggest a voluntary donation of $5/kid and $8/adult; we chipped in $20 for our family of four.  By comparison, Brookfield Zoo in Illinois charges $30/adult and $21/kid....the 4 of us would have paid $100 PLUS parking.  The Shedd Aquarium in downtown Chicago is even pricier, so this was a welcome relief. We saw giraffes, a gorilla, polar bears, zebras, fishes, turtles, colorful dart frogs, a tiger, and lots more.  Within the zoo is a small amusement park with a handful of kiddie rides and a 'Galaxy' model roller coaster, as well as a splendid carousel outside the park that's $4/pp.  All rides are open seasonally from May-Sept. The sea lion show seemed mid.  They made a big deal of it (not to mention amassing a huge crowd) and all I saw were some volunteers trying to complete some goofy task faster than a sea lion would.  There was a lot of narration but very little actual activity from what I could tell.  yawn. We couldn't get anything to eat or drink outside of the visitor center cafe.  None of the snack stands were open (despite it being 11:45) and every pop machine was either unplugged, sold out, or all the plastic bottles were removed for environmental reasons.  Thank goodness we packed snacks for the kiddos. The conservatory was breathtaking: lush jungles with funky plants like the Ipecac tree, air potato, chocolate, cacti, and aloe.  We encountered a logjam of people near the fruit tree section with everyone stopping to admire fig, papaya, coffee, and sugarcane plants. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory was home to a legendary 81" tall corpse flower named 'Frederick' in 2025.  These plants, considered some of the rarest and smelliest on earth, bloom once every few years and last for only 1-2 days.  Witnessing this in person takes incredible (lucky) timing or tremendous patience. 'Horace', their latest corpse flower, displayed his magnificent burgundy bloom from 6/7/26 to 6/9/26.  We missed it by less than a week!  These generate quite a crowd, with lines stretching for hours and people waiting outside to view (and smell) a once-in-a-lifetime botanical event. * TL;DR * A cool zoo, an even cooler conservatory, and the coolest part?  You don't even have to crack open your wallet. Spending a day at Como Park Zoo is perfect for those wishing to embark on budget-friendly adventures.  Pack a lunch, wear comfortable walking shoes, and get here around opening to take advantage of decent parking.  The animals appeared to be well taken care of, and the grounds were clean. The conservatory is stunning although the narrow pathways can get crowded during peak hours.  We loved our time spent here and would highly recommend Como Park Zoo & Conservatory for families or solo travelers seeking to kill a few hours in the Twin Cities.

If you have not had a chance to visit Rusty Bucket Acres, you MUST put it on your Bucket list (pun…read moreintended. LOL). Whether you live in Stillwater, MN, or live in Seattle, Washington - a visit to RBA is a must. The moment you drive up to RBA, you know that you are in for an experience to remember. Lorna and Shelly greet you with big smiles, positive energy and true joy in sharing the amazing animal sanctuary they have worked hard to build, grow, and maintain. The animals are the true stars on this farm. Each one of them has a gift just waiting to be shared. Maybe it is a hug from Zeke (one of the mini donkeys), or for you to kick back and lay on Dave (the mini cow) or let Kenny (one of the goats) snuggle up against you - you will be loved. These animals can pick up on how you are feeling, and they offer the healing capabilities they have to offer. Pull up a mat in the pasture and just let yourself relax. I have had the honor of volunteering AND visiting the farm multiple times and every time is a new experience. I'm so thankful to live close enough to visit as often as I would like. Make sure RBA is on your list too! Tips for when you visit: 1. Dress for a visit to a farm with LIVE ANIMALS: Know you will be licked, rubbed up against, sat on and loved on by animals. You will get dirty, and it is fantastic! 2. Don't be afraid of the animals: These animals are worked with every day, and they know you are there to learn and love. Let yourself love on them - let them love on you. 3. Help keep the farm up and running: It is not mandatory to donate, but I strongly encourage to do so. Whether it is $10 or $100, every dollar is spent to keep this sanctuary available for others to experience. If you can't give money, they also love when people want to come and volunteer. 4. Most importantly - have fun! It is an experience you will always remember!

This farm has something for everyone! You can feed animals, sit on the Healing Hill and the animals…read morecome to you, sit by you, snuggle with you and you will automatically feel the stress leave your body. They will be offering a calendar of classes (which will include a visit with the animals) where you will be using items from the farm to make works of art! They are open to the public (must reserve a spot), will take donations to keep the farm running, and will do private events. They keep adding wonderful new animals (alpacas, sheep, goats, ducks, chickens, a pig, a horse and the donkeys - I've probably forgotten some.) If you are in need of some respite and relaxation, you must try Rusty Bucket Acres - and bring the FAMILY!

Longhouse Feast: I believe I found their event on Facebook…read moreand was able to secure a ticket via Eventbrite. I am happy that I had the opportunity to go to their Longhouse Feast. As I saw some comments complaining that the ticket prices are steep for this feast, but I think it is worth it. It is a 2-hour event. The event took place at Asfolk, a Viking martial art facility. When I entered Asfolk, I felt like I have transported to historic Viking times. The staff members at Viking Festival Minnesota are very friendly, approachable, knowledgeable, and professional. Per their Facebook event page and eventbrite, guests can choose to wear Viking clothes, which I dressed as a shield-maiden, so that was fun and received positive compliments. The food offered at the Longhouse Feast was delicious and a lot of food were given! It was a 4-course dinner and we had drink tokens to redeem mead, beer, or wine. I never like to drink alcohol in my life, but that Acerglyn (maple mead) was delicious!!! I really enjoy the stories about Thor, Loki, Freyja, Heimdall, and Odin. I also enjoyed watching the fighting demonstration with swords, axes, and spears. I also had the opportunity to speak to the members at Viking Festival and learned more about Viking culture.... and held a sword! I look forward to what Viking Fest of Minnesota will continue to offer. I definitely look forward to their festival in October - I already bought my tickets!

Amazing experience and so much to do! I loved the crafting tent and my husband loved the axe…read morethrowing.