Happiest of Fall to you all! That time of year when you dress like it is winter on your way to work, but strip down to a t-shirt and shorts on your way home. A time of year when Michigan beers and wine just taste a little better, and a time of year when we partake in one of Michigan’s oldest traditions; a trip to the local pumpkin patch!
Michigan is home to over 50 different pumpkin patches, so how do you choose which one to visit? We are here to help, by letting you in on our top 5 favorite patches to visit in Michigan!
1. Lewis Adventure Farm and Zoo | New Era, MI
What makes a farm an ADVENTURE FARM? Well, outside of the seemingly miles and miles of pumpkins, apple orchards, and fruit stands, you will find exotic animals, peddle karts, bounce pillows, bird aviaries, apple cannons, pig races, petting zoos, corn mazes, slides, and so SO much more. This is a yearly tradition in our family, and once you visit, it will be yours as well!
2. Jacob’s Farm and Corn Maze | Traverse City, MI
But what about the adults, you ask? Jacob’s Farm, coincidentally owned by my cousins, is here to serve, literally! Outside of an incredible fruit and veggie stand, u-pick apples, and of course pumpkin patches, Jacob’s has an absolutely incredible full bar featuring local wines, beers, and spirits from our friends at Mammoth Distilling. Oh, and did I mention the pizza? Believe it or not, some of the best pizza in Michigan comes from a farm! Bring your kids, or don’t, either way, you will have a blast at Jacob’s!
3. Pahl’s Pumpkin Patch | Buckley, MI
For the more traditional pumpkin patch experience, head to Buckley for Pahl’s. Smaller than most patches on this list, Pahl’s features a wonderful haunted hayride(not scary, so don’t worry about kids going on it), corn mazes, apple cannons, and delicious baked goods from their farm stand. And no trip is complete without feeding the goats!
4. Wiard’s Orchard | Ypsilanti, MI
Next door to our beloved Wolverines of Ann Arbor, Wiard’s has been entertaining kids and adults alike since 1837!!! Featuring MASSIVE bounce houses and inflatable slides, petting zoos, paintball, corn mazes, wagon rides, mini golf and fire engine rides, Wiard’s is a destination for family fun, but stick around at night in October, when Wiard’s becomes The Haunted Thrill Park, not for the weak of heart!
5. Uncle John’s Cider Mill | St. Johns, MI
Last but certainly not least, Uncle John’s(yes, of the hard cider fame) has one of the most beautiful pumpkin patches around! For the kids; wagon ride, corn mazes, gemstone mining, and petting zoo. For the adults; live music, baked goods(try the donuts, trust me), and of course, the best hard cider in Michigan!
Hopefully, this inspires you to head out this weekend, take in the color changes, and hit up some of these wonderful pumpkin patches. Obviously, we can only report on patches that we have visited(which is a lot), and there are probably a lot of awesome places that are not on this list, so I ask you to tell us your favorite pumpkin patch, and why, in the comments below!