Bates Nut Farm

We went to Bates Nut Farm for the first time last year and we enjoyed it so much, we decided to return again this year. However, this year we learned from our previous mistakes.  We left first thing in the morning this time to avoid traffic, didn't go into the general store (just too crowded), and made sure to grab a wheelbarrow to cart our pumpkins to the car. :)

I have to say that the whole thing is a bit of a nightmare - it's SO CROWDED so there are long lines for everything - tickets, rides, bounce houses, food, buying pumpkins, etc and the charm of a real pumpkin patch gets lost in the all of the chaos/crowds.  And this year, the pumpkins still on the vines (the huge ones) were few and far between or smashed open.  It was pretty sad.  But, that being said, Ben still had fun going through the corn maze (and he was just there days before for his school field trip), on the tractor ride, in the bounce house, and getting ice cream.  Oliver again enjoyed playing in the hay and with his stroller - lol!

And we did pick out our pumpkins, so one more halloween task was checked off of the list!

Ben and Jim waiting to go on the hay ride

Oliver and I stayed behind :)

We made a quick trip to the petting area this time

Going into the corn maze (HOT weather again!)

Ben is a pro at finding the stamp stations now

Look at this crazy kid!

Playing with his stroller while Ben went into a bounce house

Ice cream time!

Time to get our pumpkins!

Ben picked all 4 for us this year :)

Such a big helper these days!

Successful day at Bates!