North Carolina
You’ll have nearly two dozen varieties of apples to pick at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard near Hendersonville, along with pumpkins, and (some weeks) sunflowers and zinnias.
Activities:
• corn maze
• apple cannon
• jump pad
• wagon rides
• pick-your-own apples, pumpkins, sunflowers, and grapes
Oklahoma
The Orr Family Farm near Oklahoma City is almost more of an amusement park than a farm in the autumn, offering all sorts of family-friendly rides, games, and shows. Don’t worry, though: You’ll still see multitudes of pumpkins, smell the irresistible aroma of kettle corn, and interact with adorable barnyard animals (they won’t smell as good as the kettle corn). The farm has a campground for overnight stays.
Activities:
• barn animals
• barrel train
• corn maze
• climbable hay mountain
• hayrides
• games
• playground
• “Chicken Show”
• pick-your-own pumpkins
Tennessee
Calling itself an “Ag-venture farm fun park,” Lucky Ladd Farms (pictured above) outside of Nashville has what’s billed as the state’s largest petting zoo. The farm’s 60 acres of rides and activities also encompass huge slides, playgrounds, an aviary, and more.
Activities:
• nature trails
• corn and ropes mazes
• petting zoo
• pony rides
• swings, slides, and climbing obstacles
• tricycle race track for all ages
• wagon rides