A Guide to Fall Fun with Toddlers in the Shenandoah Valley
There are a lot of opportunities for fall fun with toddlers in the Shenandoah Valley when the temperatures start to drop.
Whether you’re visiting or you live here, there are so many activities. Continue reading for all my favorite haunts with toddlers in the fall.
Pumpkin Patches are the Epitome of Fall Fun with Toddlers
We have multiple favorite pumpkin patches in the Shenandoah Valley. If your’re near Harrisonburg I reccomend going to Back Home on the Farm. And if your in the Staunton/Waynesboro area Endless View Farms is a lot of fun.
Back Home on the Farm, Harrisonburg, Virginia
We did not make it to Back Home on the Farm this fall. But the last two seasons we had a blast.
Back Home on the Farm is a little west of Harrisonburg City. It is not a far drive from the busy suburbs to the calm quiet farm. Fall Fun with toddlers at Back Home on the Farm starts September 1 and the pumpkin patch is open September 15th – October 30th. They have the best hours of any pumpkin patch in the area.
Hours:
- Tuesday-Friday 3-7pm
- Saturday 10 am -7 pm
- Sunday 12 – 6 pm
In my experience, weekdays are the least crowded. But there are only a few employees so only one to two activities are operating at a time. You have to pay attentin to when the cow train or carosel are going or when the hay ride is leaving for the pumpkin patch.
Weekends are far more crowded, but if you arrive right when they open then you have made your way to the activities further in before the crowds come behind you. There is so much to do from a fun slide through the hilside and a carosel to a hay ride up to the pumpkin patch where you can pick your own. The “cow train” runs loops and is fun to ride. There are horse swings and a market with lots of yummy fall goodies.
Endless View Farms, Crimora, Virginia
One of my favorite stops this fall with my toddlers is Endless View Farms near Waynesboro, Virgina, and I think it will be one of yours too.
Endless View Farms is a newer pumpkin patch in the area. I had never gone, but I will definitely go back. The farm itself is on a knoll overlooking wide swaths of the Shenandoah Valley. You can see for miles. They have a Sunflower Festival the first few weekends in September and then the Fall Festival the rest of September and every weekend in October. We did miss the Sunflower Festival. But I have heard it is worth the visit as well.
Hours: Saturday and Sunday 10-6; September 9th – October 30th
We enjoyed our time one Sunday at the Fall Festival. There is so much for toddlers to do. We jumped on a big orange blob, dug through a bin of dried corn kernals -expect to get dusty- and rode a barrel train. My little one didn’t want to leave. You can also feed animals, eat lunch at the picnic tables and search for the perfect pumpkin in the pumpkin patch. And if you’re feeling adventurous there is a corn maze included in the cost.
Price:
- $14 per person/under 2 free
- $12 for seniors, military, teachers & first responders with id
I will be finding my way back to Endless View Farms next fall and hope you enjoy your visit!
Pumpkin Patches are not the only Fun to be had in the Fall with toddlers. Apple Orchards are next in line.
Chile’s Family Peach Orchard, Crozet, Virginia
Chile’s Family Peach Orchard…I know what you’re thinking – a peach orchard? But Chile’s Family Peach Orchards is more than just for picking peaches. They have a wonderful farm market – which has the best cider donuts. I stop there every year just for the donuts. They also have many jams, jellies and fresh produce. Plus their ice cream is always a fun and yummy treat for your toddlers!
Chiles family – owned by the same family who owns the more popular Carter Mountain – offers many pick your own opportunities. My favorite is perfect for fun fall activities with toddlers – apple picking. There is a bit of a walk to the trees. It’s not too far but I did end up carrying my 18 month old for the second half. You can bring a stroller down the path but you have to park it before going into the trees to pick.
My almost three year old could reach many apples on his own. And once we filled our bag he was sad it was time to leave. The apples are so yummy that my toddler ate an entire one on the car ride home.
If you’re feeling more adventourours than we were, you can also pick your own pumpkins and flowers in the fall
On the weekends in October you do need to buy tickets to pick your own. Anyone over the age of 12 needs a ticket. Weekdays – which is when we went- you don’t need a ticket.
Pricing for apple picking is pre pay:
- A small bag is $12
- A large bag is $24
Pumpkin Patches and Apple Orchards are not the only fun fall activites for Toddlers in the Shenandoah valley
Emerald Hill Farm, McGaheysville, Virginia
Wednesday mornings in the fall from 9-12:30 you can take your toddlers to Emerald Hill Farm near Harrisonburg in McGaheysville (pronounces Mick-GAK-he’s-ville).
This year the program is running from September 6th -October 25th
- $7 per child per visit.
- Play passes available for $50 for the season.
My boys enjoyed digging in a sandbox, practicing their vet skills on stuffed animals and cooking in a mud kitchen. Your kids are sure to find plenty to keep them busy. We were there from almost the beginning and left near the end. My kids were never board and didn’t want to leave.
After playing for awhile you can visit the farm animals around the play area. We saw chickens, goats, pigs, and many more animals. My boys loved throwing chicken feed to the chickens and hay through the fence to the goats and sheep.
We will definitely go back.
Emerald Hill Farm also offers play mornings in the spring and on some days when local schools are closed. They have summer camps through the summer for older kids.
Check out my Instagram @_thetravelingtoddlers_ for more pictures of our fall adventures.
Written by, Sarah Adair
I am no sponsered by the venues.
Photos by, Sarah Adair
Pricing/hours information is from each venue’s website.
All other information is from my personal experience
Pictures are taken by me (Sarah Adair) of my children