Best Pumpkin Patches Near Orlando for Picking the Perfect Pumpkin

Choose the perfect pumpkin at East Lake Pumpkin Patch. Photo by the author

Fall has arrived, and that means it's pumpkin patch season! Central Florida is home to plenty of pumpkin patches, where you can find the perfect pumpkins to carve or paint. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite Orlando pumpkin patches, which make great settings for fall family photos, as well as additional attractions like pony rides, petting zoos, playgrounds, and more. 

Looking for more kid-friendly fall fun? Explore fall festivals around Orlando, check out local corn mazes, and stay tuned for trick-or-treat updates in our Orlando Halloween Guide!

Best Pumpkin Patches for Philly Kids That Are Worth the Drive

Head to Medford for pumpkin picking at Johnson's Corner Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm

It's the quintessential way to welcome the harvest season: a family pumpkin patch adventure! There's no shortage of pumpkin picking patches near Philadelphia: the Philly suburbs abound with places for kids to load up a wagon with their top pumpkin picks and enjoy a whole host of family-friendly activities. 

Wherever you choose to get your pumpkins, you're bound to spend a couple extra hours hanging around once the picking is done. Discover even more for Philly kids in our Fall Activity Guide, where you can find amazing apple picking, our Fall Bucket List, and more.

Best Pumpkin Patches on Long Island for Kids

Head to Harbes Family Farm for a day of pumpkin picking and fall fun.

The best pumpkin patches on Long Island are jam-packed with interactive fall fun and adventures the whole family will love. From Nassau County to the East End, destination farms are brimming with pumpkin patch excitement.

The farms often have festivals, fall treats, and family-friendly activities for kids of all ages. Some farms have an admission fee, particularly on weekends or for certain activities. Check the pumpkin farm sites for the latest details before a visit. We've rounded up a list of as many locations as possible of Long Island's best pumpkin patches to enjoy this season with kids.

Find more seasonal adventures check out our Fall Day Trips with Kids on Long Island Guide and our Long Island Halloween Guide

Best Pumpkin Patches in New Jersey for Families

Pick the largest pumpkin you can carry at Alstede Farms. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala

This year, skip the grocery store pumpkins and head to a New Jersey pumpkin patch, where you're sure to experience other fall fun, including barnyard animals, corn mazes, and plenty of juicy apples that are ripe for the picking. 

Find more Halloween activities in our New Jersey Halloween Guide and check out our New Jersey Fall Fun Guide for the best things to do with kids this autumn.

Best Pumpkin Patches near NYC for Families

Pluck a perfect pumpkin from the pumpkin patch at Alstede Farm in New Jersey. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala

These local pumpkin patches make for a perfect fall day trip. Since we can't fight the arrival of the Halloween season, we might as well celebrate it. And what's the holiday without a perfect pumpkin plucked from the vine at one of these pumpkin patches near NYC?

Sure, you can grab a pumpkin from the local farmers market, grocery store, or one of the pumpkin patches in New York City, but for a more immersive experience, head to the country and visit one of these family-friendly pumpkin patches near NYC.

In addition to pumpkin picking, many of these local farms and orchards in the Hudson Valley, on Long Island, and in New Jersey offer additional activities for kids, including hayrides, corn mazes, and apple picking.

These 12 pumpkin patches near NYC are all about an hour from Midtown Manhattan by car. We even found a few reachable via public transportation. You can find even more options in our Guide to Farms and Pick-Your-Own Fun near NYC and find plenty of New York City Halloween activities in our New York City Kids Halloween Guide.

Guide to Visiting Mount Rushmore and Rapid City, SD with Kids

To truly understand the wonder of Mount Rushmore, you'll need to see it in person!

There are few national landmarks as iconic as Mount Rushmore, the massive granite sculpture in Keystone, South Dakota depicting four of the country's most beloved presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln) surrounded by the majestic Black Hills and a forest of Ponderosa pine trees. The carvings may even be one of the first images that come to mind when you think of the American landscape.

Mount Rushmore attracts more than two million visitors a year. This year, that included my family. While the landmark is the big draw for a vacation in this part of the country, it's also just one of the many activities offered in the area. (Watch out, Branson, Missouri: South Dakota is becoming a genuine family fun center!)

Here's your guide to visiting Mount Rushmore with kids, plus things to do nearby in Keystone and Rapid City, SD. Also check out our Midwest Family Travel Guide for more vacation ideas.

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