Pumpkin Picking? Here Are Our Picks.

By Mary Jane Solomon
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, October 12, 2007

You don't have to be a kid to fall for October's abundant charms. From bumpy wagon rides around fields dotted with pumpkins to meandering mazes cut through cornstalks to lazy picnics surrounded by changing foliage, the simple joys of autumn provide welcome distractions.

Whether you have an entire day to spend savoring the season or only a tiny window of time in which to experience a taste of fall, you'll find a cornucopia of options close at hand and within a scenic drive of the Washington area. Wherever you go, you'll find pumpkins and other fall produce, decorations and such specialty food items as apples and fresh-pressed cider, gourds, vegetables, jams, honey, baked goods and even homemade ice cream with flavors such as pumpkin and apple pie. Most places offer concessions on weekends, and you'll also generally find picnic tables and portable toilets.

All locations recommend calling before visits to check weather conditions and confirm availability of pumpkins or other items. For safety's sake, leave dogs at home, supervise children and pay attention to rules regarding smoking, often more stringent during drought conditions. Dress comfortably, bring a camera and don't forget a flashlight if you're planning to tackle a corn maze after dark.

Not sure where to go? Check out these foolproof picks organized by the type of activity you're interested in.

Day-Long Family Outing

If you're looking forward to a day-long outing with the whole family and don't mind crowds, head for a fall festival at a huge farm. The 27th annual Pumpkin Festival at Butler's Orchard (22200 Davis Mill Rd., Germantown; 301-972-3299; http://www.butlersorchard.com) features a wide array of activities, spread across much of the 300-acre family farm. New combine and tube slides join additional slides, a straw maze, one-acre corn maze, farm animals, a pumpkin coach ride and "Pumpkinland," featuring decorated pumpkin characters. Hayrides also are popular and can be arranged not just during the day but also during evenings, when groups reserve their own spaces for bonfire picnics and take hayrides around the moonlit farm.

With more than 90 acres of activities, Cox Farms (15621 Braddock Rd., about five miles west of Centreville; 703-830-4121; http://www.coxfarms.com) is the big kahuna of farms with fall festivities in Northern Virginia. Its much-anticipated hayride travels through a field filled with surprises, including numerous cutout and 3-D characters, a boisterous barn and friendly space aliens.

Along with hayrides to 20 acres of pick-your-own pumpkins, Great Country Farms (18780 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont; 540-554-2073; http://www.greatcountryfarms.com) in Loudoun County includes five mazes and pig racing. The farm's annual Glow Night on Oct. 27 features 1,600 jack-o'-lanterns carved by more than 3,000 schoolchildren. The scenic drive to this farm is part of the appeal.

For the Littlest Ones

Just outside of Leesburg, Pumpkinville (Leesburg Animal Park, 19270 James Monroe Hwy., Leesburg; 703-433-0002; http://www.leesburganimalpark.com/pumpkinville.htm) features lots of kid-pleasing attractions, including animals, a new sea monster moon bounce, pirate ship, giant slides, a small hay maze and all-you-can-eat apples and cider.

In Howard County, Clark's Elioak Farm (10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City; 410-730-4049; http://www.clarklandfarm.com) houses many restored scenes from the now-closed 1950s Enchanted Forest amusement park, including Willie the Whale, Little Toot, the Merry Miller's House and Humpty Dumpty. A hayride snakes past the displays as youngsters squeal with delight and parents and grandparents enjoy their memories of the original park. Clark's also has a large petting farm and a play area for little kids.

Corn-Mazing

You'll find cornstalk mazes in a range of sizes and designs at numerous area farms. If you're maze-crazed, head for Frederick County, Md., which offers several. Brookfield Pumpkins (8302 Ramsburg Rd., Thurmont; 301-898-3527; http://www.brookfieldpumpkins.com) has its second annual Corn Maze for the Cure. Fifty percent of the receipts from admission to the six-acre maze will be donated to a local cancer charity. The seventh annual maze at nearby Crumland Farms (7612 Willow Rd., Frederick; 301-845-8099; http://www.crumland.com) features an eight-acre design cut into the shape of Mazey the Cow, the farm's bovine mascot; maze-goers can complete a puzzle to discover Mazey's latest wacky identity. Bring a flashlight to Lawyer's Winterbrook Farm (13001 Creagerstown Rd., Thurmont; 301-748-7646 or 301-271-4826; http://www.mazeplay.com, click on "Maze Locator," then "Maryland," then "Thurmont"), where the 14-acre Moonlight Maze features seven miles of trails and 24 checkpoints that can be especially challenging to navigate in the dark.

In Virginia, the Corn Maze in The Plains (Route 245 north, just off Interstate 66 west, The Plains; 540-456-7339; http://www.cornmazeintheplains.com) features a five-acre organically grown design with an educational map activity. The 14-acre Maize at Temple Hall Farm Regional Park (15789 Temple Hall Lane, Leesburg; 703-779-9372; http://www.nvrpa.org/parks/themaize/index.php) depicts farm scenes and offers educational activities to help visitors find their way.

Pastoral Pumpkins

If you're hankering to pick your own pumpkins in a genuine rural setting with abundant fall scenery, head for a traditional farm, such as Homestead Farm (15600 Sugarland Rd., Poolesville; 301-977-3761; http://www.homestead-farm.net), where the pick-your-own apple orchard and pumpkin patch and accompanying fall activities have a mountainous backdrop. Larriland Farm (2415 Woodbine Rd., Woodbine; 301-854-6110; http://www.pickyourown.com) in Howard County offers several pick-your-own crops in addition to hayrides and children's activities.

You'll find free hayrides at Scenic View Orchards (16239 Sabillasville Rd., Sabillasville; 301-271-2149; http://www.scenicvieworchards.com) in Frederick County, Sharp's at Waterford Fa rm (4003 Jennings Chapel Rd., Brookeville; 410-489-2572; http://www.sharpfarm.com) in Howard County, Rock Hill Orchard (28600 Ridge Rd., Mount Airy; 301-831-7427; http://www.rockhillorchard.com) in Montgomery County and Hartland Orchard (3064 Hartland Lane, Markham; 540-364-2316; http://www.hartlandorchard.com) in Fauquier County.


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