When the air gets crisp and you begin to pull your fall layers out of the closet, you can take advantage of the beautiful outdoor weather by visiting local farms to pick pumpkins. Whether you visit to spend time together as a family or to support a local business, there are many reasons a pumpkin patch is a wonderful fall destination.

6 Reasons To Visit A Pumpkin Patch

When I shared my family’s photos from visiting a pumpkin farm on my Instagram page recently, some people were surprised that visiting a pumpkin patch was a popular activity for families around Halloween time. Although when I was growing up, I never partook in this activity, I have enjoyed bringing my children to a local spot to pick pumpkins for the past three years. Check out six reasons why you should take your child to a local pumpkin patch.

1. To Get Outside As A Family

When the weather gets cooler, it’s easy to forget to exercise. Get in an invigorating walk, while also spending time together as a family. Doing a healthy group activity is inspiring to the whole family. From toddlers to teens, families love doing this outdoor activity together.

At Larriland Farm where we visited, it was quite a trek from one side to the other! This was a good reminder to all of us that even though we don’t have a Disney vacation to get fit for (you can check out this throwback article for more info), we should still be getting outside more often for some light exercise at least a few days a week.

2. To Show Your Children Nature

If your children don’t explore the outdoors frequently, they can get a unique opportunity to discover nature. Seeing how pumpkins grow out of the ground and are attached to vines is very educational!

While visiting a pumpkin patch, your children can run free and make discoveries independently. This is a great opportunity for children to think about the things that they find and what these items do in nature.

In fall, my children get into the routine of doing indoor activities. Seeing your children go outside and enjoy the outdoors is a wonderful and incredible activity, both for them and for you.

3. To Enjoy The Beautiful, Little Moments

Moms need to take time to enjoy the beautiful, little moments in life. For many moms, this means relaxing with a coffee or having “Me” time that you don’t spend with your family. If you visit a pumpkin patch, you can take a few moments for yourself to see the small and lovely parts of nature that you would usually overlook.

You don’t have to leave your family behind to get some quiet time. The kids will be so busy and happy playing in the field, that they’ll give you plenty of space.

Some of the best moments are when you see your children playing. I loved finding candid moments when my daughters made each other laugh. When both girls tried to sit on one pumpkin to post for a picture and fell off, I couldn’t help but snap a photo of how giddy and happy they were.

Visiting a pumpkin patch can be a very simple weekend activity that doesn’t require a lot of planning. We skipped the hayride and other activities to make this a quick and easy way to spend the afternoon.

4. To Teach Your Children About Working Outside

From the second we arrived, my children ran off with smiles, but quickly, they realized how much work it was to be in a field of pumpkins! Even running took work since the vines were everywhere, waiting to trip little, toddler-sized running feet.

Pushing a wheelbarrow was another lesson in the benefits of hard work! It took quite a long time and plenty of effort to push the wheelbarrow through the field, past vines, pumpkins, and more. I love seeing smiles when my children are doing work because it reminds me of how hard working they are.

In the end, all the work paid off wonderfully. We had more than enough pumpkins to carry home! Both girls loved pitching in and learning how to push a full wheelbarrow back to the car.

Although my daughters don’t have the opportunity to live on a farm, visiting one gave them a great lesson about what life would be like if we needed to farm.

5. For The Adorable Photo Shoot Opportunity

Pumpkin patches offer a beautiful backdrop for fall photos. Whether you’re facing the sun or not, you can get gorgeous photos.

All of the pumpkins in the background give the pictures an interesting look. You should take some photos that are posed, but the unposed, impromptu pictures are incredibly fun and beautiful.

When you have the whole family together doing a fall activity, getting good pictures is a must do. Even if you only take photos on your phone, you should make sure that you capture these wonderful memories.

You don’t have to be a professional photography (or hire one) to get good pictures at a pumpkin patch. With a beautiful, natural backdrop, nature takes care of most of the work for you. Check that your family has appropriate, seasonal outfits on and their hair styled nicely, and you’ll end up with nice photos.

6. To Support A Local Business

One great reason to visit a pumpkin patch is to support your local farmers. At the farm where we visited, Larriland Farm in Howard County, Maryland, a lot of the land nearby has become townhomes, and as the area gets more and more built up, supporting local businesses takes on a more significant role.

Not only do the rolling hills and open space that farms provide make the area spectacular and beautiful, but they also add fun recreational activities for families. 

When you’re thinking of fun fall activities, visiting a local pumpkin patch should be on your list of things to do! Not only is it an enjoyable, invigorating experience for the whole family, but it is also a great way to support a local business. Pin the photo below to remind others of why to visit a pumpkin patch!

Did you visit a pumpkin patch this fall? Share your experience in the comments!

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