Family Farm Days

Twenty-one farms across twelve counties that are made for a family day out: petting zoos and barnyard animals, hayrides and corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and u-pick fields where kids can eat as much as they pick. Some are big fall destinations with dozens of attractions; others are small family farms where you can meet the animals up close.

Meet the animals

West Maple Farm in Monsey is a 15-acre farm built around hands-on visits, with a petting zoo of cows, sheep, donkeys, alpacas, goats, and peacocks, plus hayride tours, gem mining, and honeybee tours. Hull-O Farms in Durham is an eighth-generation farm where guests on farm stays can milk cows and gather eggs, and June Farms in West Sand Lake is a heritage-breed sanctuary with Scottish Highland cows and giant Shire horses. A. Ooms & Sons Dairy Farm in Valatie offers farm tours and a petting area, and Kristy's Barn in Schodack, a century farm since 1910, has a petting paddock and weekend hayrides.

Fall destination farms

Ellms Family Farm in Ballston Spa has more than 40 attractions, including a corn maze, pumpkin patch, and hayrides. Liberty Ridge Farm in Schaghticoke and Schuyler Farms in Schuylerville both run corn mazes, pumpkin picking, and hayrides, and Engelke Farm near Troy has a pumpkin patch, hayrides, and pick-your-own in the fall. Hicks Orchard in Granville, New York's oldest u-pick orchard, adds barnyard animals, wood-fired pizza, cider donuts, and live music on weekends.

Pick-your-own days

• Barton Orchards — Poughquag. One of the region's premier u-pick destinations, open mid-July through October, with a farm market.
• Masker Orchards — Warwick. Drive right up to the tree on 200 acres, with no admission fee.
• Ochs Orchard — Warwick. U-pick from strawberries in June to apples in fall, with homemade ice cream and cider donuts on weekends.
• Greig Farm — Red Hook. Pick-your-own berries and fruit and family-friendly farm activities, open daily.
• East Durham Farms — East Durham. A family-friendly farm with u-pick apples, peaches, and flowers and a two-story barn store.
• Middlefield Orchard — Cooperstown. U-pick berries and more than 20 apple varieties, with pumpkins and hayrides in fall.
• Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard — North Salem. U-pick apples, pumpkins, and strawberries and a seasonal café.
• Boehm Farm — Climax. A family apple farm since 1903 with u-pick apples, peaches, and cherries.

More family outings

• Dry Brook Sugar House — Salem. A pancake breakfast and horse-drawn wagon rides during NYS Maple Weekend in March.
• Warren County Fish Hatchery — Warrensburg. A public hatchery with ten display ponds of trout and salmon.
• Delaware & Ulster Railroad — Arkville. Scenic train rides through the Catskills.

A few practical notes

The big fall farms get very busy on October weekends; go on a weekday or right at opening if you can. Many charge admission for attractions while the farm market stays free, and some sell tickets online in advance. Wear shoes that can get muddy, bring hand sanitizer for after the petting zoo, and ask before feeding any animal. U-pick crops depend on the weather, so check the farm's picking report before you drive.

Explore more of the region's theme guides on Explore by Theme, or see more u-pick farms on Farm Stands, Orchards & Pick-Your-Own.

Muddy boots, sticky fingers, and a kid asleep in the back seat before you're out of the driveway.