🍁 Fall is in the air 🍁—and around here, that means apple orchards, pumpkin patches, hayrides, and all the cozy family traditions that come with the season. The kids are already asking when we’re going apple picking, and honestly, I love that it has become “our thing” every fall. There’s something special about bundling up in sweaters, crunching through the leaves, and watching the kids light up when they find the perfect apple or pumpkin.
Apple picking is one of those simple outings that turns into a full day of fun. Many farms offer so much more than apples: tractor rides, corn pits, playgrounds, petting zoos, and of course, those sweet fall treats that taste even better after a little outdoor play. And pumpkin patches? They’re the heart of the season—because nothing says fall quite like loading a wagon with pumpkins and gourds for decorating, carving, or baking.
Here’s a guide to some of our favorite family-friendly spots in the Southeast Twin Cities area, plus a couple that are absolutely worth the drive.
🍂 South East Twin Cities Area 🍂 |
Schiltgen Farms (Afton)
📍 Location: 12800 15th St S, Afton, MN 55001
📅 Season: September–October, Hours TBD
✨ Highlights: Over 75 pumpkin varieties, gourds, corn stalks, straw bales, and gorgeous fall photo backdrops.
🔗 Website: https://www.schiltgenfarms.com/
Ziertman’s Pumpkin Farm (Lake Elmo)
📍 Location: 5761 Keats Ave N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042
📅 Season: Opens September 27, 2025 (Sat–Sun, 10 am–5 pm; closed weekdays)
✨ Highlights: A family-run patch with pumpkins from 2 to 200 lbs, goats to feed, tractors for climbing, plus squash, gourds, and decorative corn.
🔗 Website:
https://ziertmanspumpkinfarm.com/
Country Sun Farm (Lake Elmo)
📍 Location: 11211 60th Street N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042
📅 Season: September–October, 2025 (Open Now: Mon-Fri, 9am - 7pm; Sat - Sun, 10am - 5pm; Thurs Oct 31, 9am-3pm; Petting Zoo final day is October 30) Open MEA Weekend.
✨ Highlights: Corn maze, corn pit, hayrides, petting zoo, and a bustling farm market with pumpkins, gourds, and squash. Petting Zoo is free, all other activities require payment. Cash only for outside activities including inside corn pit.
🔗 Website:
https://www.countrysunfarm.com/
Aamodt’s Apple Farm (Stillwater)
📍 Location: 6428 Manning Ave N, Stillwater, MN 55082
📅 Season: Open 7 Days a week; 10am - 6pm; Pick Your Own Apples: September - October
✨ Highlights: Apple picking, Honeycrisp Express kiddie train, goat farm, hayrides, hay bale maze, cider, and a bakery. Wagon and train rides available Saturday and Sunday 11am - 5pm and MEA Thursday and Friday 11am - 5pm.
🔗 Website:
https://www.aamodtsapplefarm.com/
Afton Apple Orchard (Hastings)
📍 Location: 14421 90th St S, Hastings, MN 55033
📅 Season: Opens August 23–October 31, 2025, daily. Check Facebook page for any updates.
💲 Admission: $5 for ages 5 and older including adults, $4 for ages 4 and under
✨ Highlights: A full-day destination with apple picking, raspberry picking, pumpkins, a playground, petting zoo, hayrides, and a giant corn maze starting mid-September.
🔗 Website:
https://www.aftonapple.com/
Whistling Wells Farm (Hastings)
📍 Location: 8973 St. Croix Trail S, Hastings, MN 55033
📅 Season: Opens Labor Day weekend - November, Daily 9am - 6pm
✨ Highlights: Free admission, pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, kids’ play area, and pet-friendly fun. Live Music and food trucks on some weekends.
🔗 Website:
https://whistlingwellfarm.com/
Rockpoint Church Corn Maze (Lake Elmo)
📍 Location: 5825 Kelvin Ave N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042
📅 Season: Saturdays only, Sept 15–Oct 5, 11 am–5 pm
✨ Highlights: Corn maze, pedal karts, and wagon rides. Small but fun — ideal if you’re short on time or have littles who can’t handle a huge maze.
🔗 Website:
https://rockpoint.church/maze/
🚗Worth the Drive🚗 |
Dehn’s Pumpkin Farm (Dayton, MN)
📍 Location: 17270 125th Ave N, Dayton, MN 55327
📅 Season: September–October; Mon-Fri 12pm - 6pm (October Fridays 12pm - 9pm), Sat and Sun 9am - 6pm. MEA Thurs 9am- 6pm, Fri 9am - 9pm
✨ Highlights: A fall wonderland with a massive enclosed corn pit, inflatables, pumpkin picking, tractor bikes, corn maze and train rides.
🔗 Website:https://www.dehnspumpkins.com/
🐺Day Trip Combo🐺 |
Pinehaven Farms (Wyoming, MN)
📍 Location: 28186 Kettle River Blvd, Wyoming, MN 55092
📅 Season: September 13th - November 2nd, 2025, Saturday and Sundays only, MEA Weekend: Wednesday to Sunday
✨ Highlights: 30+ attractions of fun including pumpkin picking, corn pit, and farm animals. Admission required.
🔗 Website:
https://www.pinehavenfarm.com/
Wildlife Science Center (Stacy, MN)
📍 Location: 22830 Sunrise Rd NE Stacy, MN, 55079
📅 Season: Open Wednesdays 10am - 12pm; Saturdays 11am - 2pm
✨ Highlights: Meet over 200 animals including wolves, bears, mountain lions and owls. Dogs on leash welcome.
🔗 Website: https://www.wildlifesciencecenter.org/
🍂 Family Tips for a Successful Fall Picking Day
- Bring a wagon or stroller – Great for hauling pumpkins, apples, or tired kids.
- Dress in layers – Mornings can be chilly but afternoons warm up quickly. Boots are helpful if fields are muddy.
- Pack wipes and water bottles – Sticky apple hands and thirsty kids are guaranteed.
- Check farm hours before heading out – Weather and crop conditions can change hours and activities.
- Plan extra time – Most orchards have more than just picking—hayrides, corn pits, and play areas make the outing last longer.
- Bring cash – While many farms take cards, some food stands or activities are cash-only.
🥧 Easy Apple Coffee Cake Recipe
One of my favorite ways to wrap up a fall outing is baking with the apples we just picked. This simple apple coffee cake comes together quickly and makes the house smell amazing — perfect for an after-school snack or cozy weekend breakfast.
Ingredients:
2 cups peeled, chopped apples (Honeycrisp or Haralson)
1 cup sugar
½ cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp salt
Topping:
½ cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp melted butter
Instructions:
▪️ Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 pan.
▪️ Cream butter and sugar; mix in eggs and vanilla.
▪️ Stir in dry ingredients, fold in apples.
▪️ Pour batter into pan, mix topping, and sprinkle on top.
▪️ Bake 35–40 minutes, until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
▪️ Serve warm with coffee for mom (or with ice cream for the kids 😉).
For me, these orchard and pumpkin patch trips aren’t just about bringing home apples or pumpkins—they’re about the little moments with my kids that I know they’ll remember. The way they race to climb hay bales, the pride on their faces when they find “their” pumpkin, or how they crunch into an apple right off the tree (even though most farms say no eating in the orchard). Those are the memories that stick.
If you haven’t gone yet, I promise it’s worth it—pack some snacks, throw an extra sweater in the bag, and make a day of it. These simple fall traditions are the ones that end up meaning the most to our families—and they’re the memories I know I’ll treasure for years.
I’m a local mom and the publisher of Macaroni KID Woodbury–Oakdale–Cottage Grove–Stillwater, your go-to guide for family fun in the South East Metro! Each week, I curate a FREE weekly e-newsletter, update our family-friendly website, and share the latest local events, kid-friendly activities, and small business spotlights on social media to help families like yours stay in the know. Whether you live here, work nearby, or are just visiting, I’m here to make it easy for you to find fun things to do with your kids in Woodbury, Oakdale, Cottage Grove, Stillwater, and beyond. Join our community of moms, dads, grandparents, and caregivers—SUBSCRIBE TODAY and never miss out on local family fun!
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