Kathy’s ‘fall activities’ – including family-friendly attractions – her fall (and winter) blog!
Kathy loves to tell us about a few great things to do with the kids and you asked for the list, so here it is!
Fall Schedule:
1.) The Scarecrow Festival at Peddlers Village – The scarecrows are only part of the attraction in this popular scenic Bucks County spot. Peddlers Village is a great place to go on a sunny day. It’s filled with shopping, restaurants, and beautiful scenery!
2.) Freddy Hill Farm – Their Fallfest includes Hayrides to the pumpkin patch, pony rides, kids’ games, corn maze, giant slide, ice cream & pig races and two mini-golf courses!
3.) Shadybrook Farm in Yardley, PA – Great Halloween attractions and fall festival vibe. There is so much to do! Here is a pic of the pumpkin patch. Advice: finish your latte before getting on the tractor. Our favorite attraction is the giant bounce pillow! The have a bunch of bounce houses, pig races and apple and pumpkin picking. At the end of September, it turns into a haunted farm! But during the day the attractions are no scare. So kids can walk through the houses without being scarred for life. My 6 year old loves the 3D house! Hint: if you have little kids go during the week. Much less crowded and they can spend more time on the moon bounces and other attractions!
4.) Linvilla Orchards – So much to do here. Apple picking, pumpkins, hayrides, cider, playground, shopping, and more. Spend the day! Picture opportunity: hay chair surrounded by pumpkins is my favorite!
Bring it on.🍁🍎🍂☀️🍁🍎🍂☀️🍁🍎🍂☀️🍁🍎🍂☀️🍁🍎🍂☀️🍁🍎🍂☀️🍁🍎🍂☀️🍁🍎🍂☀️🍁🍎🍂☀️🍁🍎🍂☀️🍁🍎🍂☀️🍁🍎🍂☀️🍁🍎🍂☀️🍁🍎🍂☀️🍁🍎🍂☀️🍁🍎🍂☀️ pic.twitter.com/bLvvgFTGev
— Linvilla Orchards (@ILoveThatPlace) September 18, 2017
5.) The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place – This is silly not scary! A character reads to the kids on the hayride through the parking lot, some rides/games are open, and a great parade. Picture opportunities with plenty of characters!
6.) Maple Acres Farm hayride in Plymouth Meeting – Great for small kids. Its a short ride and you get to see the farm animals. Grab a pumpkin and take advantage of the tractor for a picture of the kids.
7.) MerryMead Farm, Lansdale PA – The kids LOVED the corn maze. We walked around and saw all the animals. They have the most enormous pig we’ve ever seen! They have “The Lighting of the Great Pumpkin” event, which is a lot of fun for the kids. We love spending time at this farm however, I will make the drive there solely for the delicious ice cream they sell in their market. They sell it by the cone or the gallon!
8 and 9.) The Philadelphia Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo is always fun but Elmwood Park Zoo’s Harvest Fest is our favorite! It’s the perfect size zoo for young kids! They have done some recent updates to the attractions and have made the zoo even better. They have their own Boo at the Zoo even in addition to a lot of other fall events. This year, they have a drive-in movie showing, breakfast with animals, Brew Beer Garden and a Fire Smart event where the Norristown Fire Department sets up in the parking lot with activities for the kids, tours of the fire trucks, and they kids can operate a fire hose!
10.) Styers Orchards, Langhorne PA – Pick delicious Apples! We’ve been apple picking at a few different places, but these are the best tasting apples! They also have a great tractor for pictures!
11.) Chestnut Hill Harry Potter Festival – And here’s one for Nick! Wands, Wizards, Potions, Pubs, and magical possibilities. Need more? How about Potter Quizzo, Wizard Dance Party AND a Quidditch Tournament?!
The Harry Potter Festival takes place on October 20 and 21.
We hope you enjoyed her schedule of seasonal activities that she and her cousin do with the kids.
A note from Kathy:
“As you can see, we are very busy and will call it a success if we can accomplish the majority of the list! You’ll also notice I’m all about the best picture opportunities!”
Winter/Holiday Schedule:
1.) The highlight of our Holiday season is the Holiday Garden Railway at the Morris Arboretum. If your kids like trains you have to visit this evening outdoor display. Dress warm because you’ll be there for a little while. The train display is brightly lit, fast moving trains above and below you! They give out cookies to the kids while they walk around. Leave time for the kids to play on the rope climb and bird’s nest. We spent almost an hour playing there last year!
2.) Sesame Place Very Furry Christmas – The picture opportunities are unlimited! Characters everywhere, holiday scenes, and more! You can definitely get your holiday card picture while here. They have an excellent Santa and holiday picture setup but be prepared to wait in line. I have a secret on how to beat the line but if I share it then I’ll have to wait in line. If its not too cold you can enjoy some of the rides that are open. The holiday themed character parade is great as usual. And they have a cute train ride too!
3.) Storybook Land, Egg Harbor Twp, NJ – we have never been to this but I hear its a must do! So we’ll definitely be visiting this year!
4.) North Pole Express on the New Hope Railroad – this is another new activity on this year’s list. Since Polar Express is a favorite in the Romano household we will be dressing in our PJ’s, drinking hot chocolate, enjoying cookies and singing with Santa on the train!
5.) Visit Santa at a mall – We have to get some face to face time with Santa to read off the gift lists! And get a horrible photo we can laugh at for years to come.
6.) DIY holiday pictures with Kara Raudenbush Photography – If you want a professional photo for your holiday card but don’t want to pay the professional price, Do It Yourself! I almost don’t want to give her info because the idea is so brilliant and the availability is limited. But we already made our appointment. So here it is……Kara sets up a beautiful holiday scene and allows YOU to take your own pictures with her camera or your own. If you’re not a photographer, don’t worry! She’s there the entire time to assist and make sure you’re getting good pictures.
- Down side is that there is no photoshopping or touching up unless you know how to do it yourself. But for a holiday card you don’t typically need that anyway.
- If you can’t get an appointment she does this same thing for Easter with baby chicks!
7.) Light up a Life Christmas Display in Ambler Pa – Its an extremely elaborate light display on the front lawn of Acteon Networks, LLC President, Jack Yoast’s home. Donations made by visitors throughout the season are split and distributed to local non-profit and charitable organizations. This year donation will go to The Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS Association and the Variety Club Camp & Development Center.
8.) Drive past the elaborate light displays in nearby neighborhoods!
- Candy Cane Lane – Garth Road, Oreland PA. A entire street decorated with large candy canes. If you like to drive around looking at lights with the kids and you’re in the area, this is a good one to see!
9.) Back to Shady Brook Farm again! Very elaborate 2 mile long drive-through light display!
10.) Brunch with Santa at the Elmwood Park Zoo — Crafts, Santa, animals, and a real reindeer! Parents, they have mimosas and bloody marys!
11.) Go to your town’s tree lighting!
12.) Don’t forget to leave time to enjoy the decorations in your own home. Have your child pick the friend or family member they’d like to spend the afternoon with and invite them over to bake cookies and watch a Holiday movie at your house!
