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Family-Friendly Farms in New York State

1. Queens County Farm Museum – Floral Park, Queens

You don’t have to leave the five boroughs to enjoy a day at the farm! With a range of seasonal events—from the Amazing Maize Maze in the fall to wreath-making workshops in the winter—this charming escape is open year-round. Visitors can explore the farmers market, meet animals at the petting zoo, dive into educational classes for all ages, and so much more. Admission to the farm is FREE, but special events like the Amazing Maize Maze and seasonal festivals do require tickets for a fee.

2. Greig Farm – Red Hook

This picturesque Hudson Valley gem has it all: berry picking, pumpkin picking, a friendly family of goats waiting for treats, a farm market, a craft market, and even an art gallery. You can even feed a pond full of koi fish! After grabbing a dozen apple cider doughnuts from the market or a beer from the tap room, you can explore four miles of scenic trails and soak in the stunning views. For a longer escape from the city, visitors can stay overnight in its school house, which is available for booking on Airbnb for a peaceful, extended weekend. There are no parking or entry fees; just pay for what you pick!

Kelder's Farm has more than 30 attractions to explore during your country day trip. Photo courtesy of the farm

3. Kelder’s Farm – Kerhonkson

Guarding the entrance to Kelder’s Farm in Kerhonkson, New York, is the World’s Largest Garden Gnome. It is more than just a roadside attraction: It’s the gateway to a full-day outing! Take a picture with Gnome Chomsky, as he’s known, and then enjoy the seasonal fun on this pick-your-own farm. Check out the schedule to see what’s in season. The farm features asparagus, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, flowers, apples, pumpkins, and more for the picking. There’s a Farmer’s Grill on the weekends and a taproom is open daily. Kids love the jumping pillow, the petting zoo, and the playground! Buy tickets in advance online. Prices are higher at the farm.

4. Schmitt’s Family Farm – Melville

Head to the open fields of Schmitt's Family Farm for its beloved weekend fall festival which celebrates the season’s finest. Enjoy activities like sunflower and pumpkin picking, visit the petting zoo, or let the little ones have a blast on the mini-golf course. And, of course, treat yourself to candy apples and sweet corn. Kids have a blast hopping on the tractor to explore the farm. Check the website for details.

5. Harbes Farm – Multiple Long Island Locations

The Harbes family has perfected the art of a rustic day trip with not one, but three delightful farms on Long Island's North Fork. These attractions offer a wealth of family-friendly fun, from pumpkin picking and corn mazes to live entertainment and wine tasting. Check out its website to explore what each location is offering, but keep in mind: Most of the family-focused activities are centered on the Harbes Family Farm in Mattituck, New York. The barnyard features baby animals, weekly pig races, and hayrides. Weekdays, Fridays, and weekend days are all priced differently. Buy your tickets online in advance.

6 . Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard – North Salem

Bring the family to Harvest Moon & Orchard to enjoy apple picking, barbecues, live music, scenic orchard walks, and much more. Advance reservations and admission tickets are required. Be sure to bring your appetite for a farm-fresh menu of breakfast and lunch favorites. Another bonus here: The fun extends well beyond the harvest season as the orchard hosts a brilliantly lit nighttime winter walk.

7 . Outhouse Orchard – North Salem

Enjoy a 15-minute tractor ride around Outhouse Orchards and take in some great views of the gardens, apple trees, and other area farms. Afterward, pick apples and pumpkins, get lost in a corn maze, and shop for fresh produce grown right on the farm. Check out the bubble and bounce houses, and be sure to buy tickets in advance online to save!

RELATED: Farm Stays near NYC for a Farm-Themed Vacation

Dig into the fun at Alstede Farm's corn box, complete with plenty of trucks and tractors to play with. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala

New Jersey Farms with Entertainment for Kids

8. Alstead Farm – Chester

This 600-acre, family-owned farm takes fun seriously. The corn maze, pony rides, hayrides, and bouncy house are available daily—not just on weekends—though separate tickets are needed for the moon bounce and pony rides. After a trip to the fields to pick your own strawberries, apples, pumpkins, or other produce, kids can check out the mazes (corn, evergreen, and sunflower) or meet the many friendly animals, including cows, horses, sheep, goats, chickens, bunnies, ducks, and pigs that are begging to be fed. Special events include seasonal festivals, breakfasts with Santa, and Easter egg hunts. Shop the farm store for organic fruits and veggies, local honey, homemade pies, apple cider doughnuts, and add a scoop of fresh ice cream mixed with fruit from the farm. Alstede charges an admission fee for pick-your-own sessions (which include a hayride, mazes, hay pyramid, and a small amount of produce), and it tends to get very crowded on the weekends, so plan ahead. Tickets should be purchased in advance for events. We love that you can take public transit to this local farm near NYC.

9. Happy Day Farm – Manalapan

It’s hard not to have a fantastic day at this beautiful family-friendly farm in New Jersey. With pick-your-own fruits, flowers, and pumpkins, the Manalapan farm is ideal if you’re looking for a bouquet of sunflowers or a perfect pumpkin for your stoop. The Fall Harvest activities are a major highlight, offering endless fun for families with a corn maze, pumpkin bowling, tractor rides, giant Jenga, and bee barn visits. The Pumpkinville area is perfect for memorable family photos. Good to know: The farm is cash-only. Tickets are required, but children under 2 are FREE.

10. Riamede Farm – Chester

Riamede Farm describes itself as “an old-fashioned apple farm, dedicated to preserving our agricultural heritage, the tradition of the harvest, and the unique charm of our vintage apple trees.” Riamede offers more than 50 varieties of apples ranging from traditional classics to heirloom specialties and modern favorites. The rows of trees are very well-labeled and my children delight in choosing a few apples from several different varieties. At the cut-your-own pumpkin patch, kids can snare some scissors and cut a potential jack-o'-lantern right from the vine! We brought home way too many apples, decorative gourdes, and pumpkins and enjoyed our cider doughnuts and fresh cider in the car on the way home. While this farm doesn’t have as many activities as some of the other farms, it is very reasonably priced and my kids loved it. Weekday and weekend prices vary. Buy tickets online to save.

11. Wightman Farm – Morristown

Family-owned and operated for more than 90 years, Wightman Farms is tucked away off a quaint stretch of Route 202, just minutes away from downtown Morristown’s shopping and dining district. Weekend attractions include scenic hayrides with amazing views of the orchards and a corn maze. There’s even a corn-filled sandbox that’s popular with little ones. Before leaving, try some freshly squeezed apple cider, pressed from apples picked right at the farm, and pick up homemade pies, apple butter, and cider doughnuts to take home. Food stands located around the farm sell freshly roasted corn on the cob and giant pickles-on-a-stick.

Family-Friendly Farms in Connecticut

12. Stamford Museum and Nature Center – Stamford

Located right off the Merritt Parkway, there’s a range of activities to satisfy everyone’s interests at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center. Highlights include the 10-acre Heckscher Farm with its barns, a maple sugar house dozens of farm animals, an otter pond, a playground built into the woods, a planetarium, and rotating art exhibits.

Additional reporting by Jody Mercier, Raven Snook, and Sonia Gonzalez.