I went with my wife and toddler to see the tulips here in May. While the farm and flowers…read morethemselves were quite nice, there were several factors that made this a negative experience. The primary one, that I'll write about here, was very poor line management and a huge lack of clarity. They have "Tickets" and "Wristbands" buying a "ticket" makes you eligible for a "wristband, but they are not the same thing. They had a terrible solution. Where you wait in an insanely long line (literally an hour long) to get a "ticket" then you have to go all the way back to another insanely long line to get a "wristband" in order to get in the hayride that takes you to the flowers (they would not allow people to walk). There was not clear signage which lead to a lot of confusion that really slowed things down. What made things worse is that we were there right at opening time, so we completed the idiotic process properly. But about an hour in the staff realized how bad their idea was, and tried to combine the lines which led to a ton of people being able to budge us, which was really unfortunate and frustrating. I certainly would never visit this place again on a weekend. It was such a poor experience. Maybe going during the week when visitation is not at peak could be feasible.

Went back after a few years. It was a lot busier which is to be expected however they can not…read morehandle how many people are going. There are no signs telling you where to get what. We bought tickets online in advance, but there was no sign for online sales. Then once we finally found the right line there's only one iPad so the guy had to walk away to get it to scan our tickets. Once you get out of the main area (we ended up walking because only two trackers were going and the line was super long) it was good. We liked the lower area but the front was a total mess and took way more time than it needed to. Pretty disappointed. Hopefully they can fix the front area before next season. Also, there were SO many bees.

It's pumpkin & gourd season! Time to enjoy the fall foliage on the way to the BMCF! Prices vary…read morefor sizes/varies of pumpkins, squashes and even corn stalks!

Ever since we ran across this roadside pay on your honor stand we have made it a regular stop when…read morewe go for a drive. It's located in the scenic Scandia/Marine on St. Croix area on Manning Ave (15) just north of 4 almost 2 miles. This family owned roadside stand usually has signs to let you know what is available in season. There is enough parking for 10 or so cars just off the street. Whether it's fresh picked sweet corn, pumpkins, squash or other items the produce is either in wagons or set out on the ground for you to choose what you need. The prices are clearly listed and a lockbox allows you to pay for the items. Great idea, great produce and great prices! Love this place! Note for October 2017: We stopped by Saturday 10/13 the sweet corn is long gone for the season and and they were running out of pumpkins for the year. Squash and decorative gourds were still available. This area was hit with a Spring hail that damaged a lot of crops in the area including the nearby Berry Patch. This limited some availability this year.

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!

A great fall spot for families. Admission is $6 per person and includes a hayride, access to see…read morethe animals, and time to explore the farm. There's plenty of space for kids to play, and it never feels too crowded. The coffee cart was a pleasant surprise. In addition to pumpkins, the farm sells fall décor like gourds, straw bales, and Indian corn. Everything is well kept, parking is easy, and the staff are friendly. Simple, relaxed, and worth the visit if you want a low-key fall outing close to the city.

What a really cool place to hold an event! We had a graduation party here today and couldn't have…read morebeen more pleased with the entire experience. From the llamas, sheep, donkeys, goats and miniature horses in the barn. To the roomy event space. It was a beautiful space to hold any event you are having!!!

Excellent adventure for children, especially in fall…read more We went with our homeschooling co-op. Was a great opportunity to showcase bits and pieces of historical farm life. They have some beautiful livestock, and overall a scenic farm. My advice -- (1) be sure to bring a stroller with nice, large wheels so that you can pass through some rocky trails and long grass. (2) bring some food and a picnic blanket. This farm is the perfect place for a family picnic, and (3) bring lots of water. There is a beautiful trail that you'll want to take advantage

I came here for a special event called Tour De Farm, which is a farm to table picnic. The concept…read moreis simple, you eat on the farm a meal which is prepared only from ingredients from the farm. A 3 year old pig was the special guest of honor for the day and she played an important role in most of the dishes. Tour guides from the historical society dressed in time period costumes to give the tours which really gave the whole thing a special ambiance. They also had a horse drawn trolley to take guest around and show them the vast acres of farm land. Animals from pigs, cows, chickens and horses where all there and what makes this farm so special is it is purely educational. No food is sold from here, it is only used to teach people about farming so if you want to experience a farm go to the website find out more about how to take a tour. It's inexpensive, pretty close to the city and great for kids!

Took a little ride from the cities here one rainy Saturday a few weeks ago. Tiny little shop with…read morelots to offer. Milk (varies flavors), jams, cheeses, spreads, ice cream, and more. The lady at the counter was so friendly and sweet. She offered samples of the milk. I would never think about getting strawberry milk, but I had to as it was so good. The chocolate is fantastic too! The quality is like no other! I know this milk is sold in some of the stores around the cities, but it was fun to visit the farm. I'd like to come back for some of the icecream.

Wonderful product selection and service! We're lucky to have a local dairy to support. Their fall…read morefest is really nice too!

My family and I were looking for an affordable way to enjoy fall in the Twin Cities without…read moreboatloads of people. Sunrise River Farm is a hidden gem that checked all our boxes! There's no entry fee. There are plenty of areas staged for cute fall photos and a playground area for kiddos with a sandbox. For minimal fees, they offer: apple picking, train rides, and informational tractor rides that provide information about the farm's establishment. There's also a store on site with all sorts of canned goods and tasty baked apple treats. The ambiance was so lovely- relaxed without crowds of people, plenty of parking and beautiful color-changing leaves to appreciate. We enjoyed our visit to Sunrise River and are looking forward to it being an annual family tradition.

Sunrise River Farm/Apple Orchard is a great time for the family! They have pick your own apples…read morewhere you can buy a large bag or half a bag and go to the orchard and choose the apples you want! They also have bags already prepared if you don't want to pick your own. They have yard games, hayrides but my favorite is the big barn where you can pet the animals. They had donkeys, sheep, baby kittens and bunnies. The store has caramel apples, tons of different homemade jams and salsas, apple cider donuts and other baked goods! They even had life music when I went this past weekend. Parking is super easy. The apple orchard is open Sept-Oct 10am-6pm