Sometimes the best memories are the spur of the moment plans that pop up so unexpectedly, don’t you think? File this field trip to the not-so-local apple orchard under that.
I have been dying to visit YaYa Farm & Orchard for the last few years, but it’s a bit of a hike from where we are (about an hour & a half north of us) and for the last few years that has been deterrent enough. Well, a few weeks ago I was wide awake at midnight one night and thought I’d check to see if they had any last minute reservations available (less crowds is a tender mercy of this Covid-season). It turns out they weren’t able to offer so many of the fun activities they normally do (like apple-picking, hay rides, and a fall festival complete with a grass roots band playing from that vintage truck bed). BUT! They were allowing walk-ins on week day afternoons. So I thought, what the hay! And the next day, we picked Quinny up from school and drove the hour and a half north with the hopes of enjoying a little fall festive fun.
The farm was so. stinking. cute!! And we were literally the only people there, aside from the owner and her sweet mama! We toodled around, met the animals, and ate way too many apple spice donuts. The kids loaded up bags of apples and we bought a few jams and apple butters to take home. It was absolute magic and I am already dreaming of going back next year (crossing our fingers we’ll be able to enjoy the full festive line-up)!
Well worth the 3-hour round trip drive. One month later and we are still nursing the last of our apples and I have absolutely hidden the apple butter from my family (no shame). Aaaand I’m trying to figure out how we can squeeze a mini orchard into our backyard right next to our pumpkin patch 😉 If you are local, here are the other farms on my list:
- Berry Patch Farms (headed there this week!)
- Red Daisy Farm (the family’s story is so sweet and they grow THE MOST STUNNING flowers)
- Anderson Farms
Do you have a favorite pumpkin patch // apple orchard // farm in Colorado that I didn’t list here? Tell me about it in the comments.
