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Apple Farm Outings

by Stephany Wiestling

Late summer and all of fall is a great time to visit an apple orchard. The delicious Honeycrisp apple was developed by our own University of Minnesota and is sought out worldwide for its sweet, crunchy flavor. Apples can last a long time at home if properly stored. Keep a damp towel in the plastic store bag to extend the life of your apples. Some varieties keep longer than others. Soft-fleshed summer apples last only a few days to a week. The Honeycrisp lasts a few weeks. While the firmer apples, like Haralson or Keepsake, can last for a month or more when properly stored. Of course, in our house, they rarely last long enough for me to even learn a recipe for applesauce.

A great place to spend a fall day is in Stillwater at Aamodt's Apple Farm (www.AamodtsAppleFarm.com). Besides the apples, there are several things for the kiddos to do, like a hay maze, the John Deere Kiddie Trike Tractor Park, wagon ride, and pony rides. Call ahead to see when the hot air balloons are launching for a magical touch.

Next door is the St. Croix Vineyards Winery (www.scvwines.com) and a grape stomp in early September. Nearby is the Sun Country Farm for pumpkins, petting farm, and hay rides. Head downtown Stillwater for dinner, then a romp in Teddy Bear Park.

Fall Harvest in Delano (www.FallHarvestOrchard.com) has become a family tradition for Kris Albrecht, mother of 2, and her family. Their favorite is the tractor ride into the fields to look for Indian corn, then a picture of the kids in the huge pumpkin patch. Since it's a working farm, kids can see all kinds ofanimals in a real farm setting. They offer several apple varieties, including Honeycrisp, and serve lunch on the weekends.

Stephany is a travel writer mom who lives in Minneapolis and loves to explore this and other cities with her family. You can find more travel tips at her website, BestKidFriendlyTravel.com