Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Stellwag's Hidden Acres Farm

Location:116 Hartford Rd. Delran, NJ
Bathrooms: Yes
Eating area: Yes
Attractions: Rose Garden, animals for viewing, short hiking trail, garden center
Fee: $5 per person for the hayride to pick a small pumpkin.
Cost of the pumpkin is included in the $5 price.


This past weekend the family and I took advantage of the nice weather and finally went pumpkin picking.  This year, we tried the much talked about Stellwag's Farm not far from our home. This was our first time on their hayride, although we have visited the garden center several times to purchase plants. We couldn't beat the price of only $5 per person,  including the cost of the pumpkin! Oh...and did I mention there was hot cider when we returned? Sweet!

We went to the farm at about 11am on a Sunday and found it to be very quiet. There was hardly any one there, and no lines to wait in. We paid our $5 for our hayride and pumpkins, and off we went. However, the ride to the pumpkin patch was a very different when compared to previous pumpkin patch trips.  You don't take a ride around a farm, but instead you ride through a heavily shaded wooded area.  It was so cool! The kids kept saying, "We're off to find the witch's house, which house? The witch's house!"  It wasn't scary by any means but it was shaded, making it darker and a retreat from the bright sun. Along the way, you will find various decorative scarecrows in the woods for some visual entertainment. I never knew that Stellwag's had that much property! I could imagine a hayride at night would be pretty awesome through the woods and I wonder why they haven't ventured into that market?

After the ride through the woods, the tractor stops at the pumpkin patch where loads of pumpkins are waiting to be picked.  I liked the fenced in area...perfect for little ones! So easy to watch them, they could run free and I didn't have to worry! The pumpkins were small, but again it was the perfect sized for my 3 and 4 year old to carry themselves. That was real nice! I imagine that these small pumpkins would not satisfy older children who hunt for the "great pumpkin," but I think it should satisfy most kids about 10 and under. Within the patch, there was even a setup to take pictures of your kids with their chosen pumpkin.

When you are finished picking, the tractor will take you back to the garden center/gift shop and you are free to explore the rest of the farm...for FREE!!  Yes, viewing the animals, the nature trail, and rose garden are all free! You will find goats, various pheasants, sheep, wild turkey, and more! Make sure to stop and smell the roses in the rose garden maze, and enjoy a nature trail that will take you over the a bridge and through the woods leading to the animal pens. There is also a covered area with picnic tables for eating. Make sure to call ahead if you need those tables, because that is also where the birthday parties are held.  You may be out of luck if there is a party. Also, the garden center does not sell food, so you do need to bring your own. Inside the garden center/gift shop you will find the restrooms.

If you are looking to pick pumpkins without breaking the bank, have little ones, and don't want to spend all day looking through a huge pumpkin field for pumpkins, then Stellwags is for you. Your kids will enjoy it, they will get a pumpkin, a hayride, see some animals, run through the woods....and you can just take it all in and relax. Everyone wins!

Happy Fall!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Just My 2 Cents: The Weekends Best Events (Oct. 8th and 9th)

So much to do this week! Here are just a FEW of my favorites. Make sure to check the Family Penny Pincher calendar for event details and for additional events happening this week



Saturday Oct.8th

Haddonfield Farmer's Market. Haddonfield, NJ. 8am to 12pm. Free Admission. Enjoy a friendly market experience that’s fun for the whole family. The Haddonfield Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday, rain or shine, May thru October and Oct. 8th is the last day until it reopens in the spring! Supposed to be a beautiful day! After shopping the Farmer's Market take a stroll through downtown Haddonfield!




Autumn in Moorestown Festival. Moorestown, NJ. 9am to 4pm. FREE Admission. Downtown Moorestown will welcome the fall season in a big way - from fine arts and crafts to antique and classic cars, scarecrows and pumpkin painting - our Main Street business distict will be alive with activities for all ages and interests. Again this year, the Lakes Corvette Club will host the annual Antique and Classic Car Show along Main Street.


Apple Festival. Historic Kirby's Mill in Medford, NJ. 9am. FREE Admission. This is THE event for all apple-lovers! Enjoy home-churned apple ice cream, apple cider donuts, which are made right there at the festival, apple cobbler, and other yummy treats. Visit numerous unique crafters, live entertainment, and  tour the historic Kirby's Mill, the last operating commercial mill in New Jersey, operating right up until 1969!




Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic. Local Lowe's Stores. 10am. FREE.  Build and Grow kid's clinics are a great way to help build kids' confidence! Bring the kids into any Lowe's store and build a FREE wooden project. Each participant also receives a free apron, goggles, a project themed patch, and a certification of merit upon completion of their project. This week create the Monster Machine, just in time for Halloween.


Rainbow Fish at the Scottish Rite Auditorium. Collingswood, NJ. 1pm and 3:30pm. $5 tickets.  This is a brand new musical adaptation of the story of Rainbow Fish, the most beautiful fish in the ocean, based on Marcus Pfister's award winning book, "The Rainbow Fish".  With a  lively and refreshing musical soundtrack, and sparkling, specially created costumes, cute puppets and a wonderful underwater world, it's a musical presentation for the whole family.  A fun and lively story, with colorful characters for the young ones, and an interactive and funny script for the older ones.  And a lesson for all - young or old. Could combine theatre and dinner in Collingswood for the 2nd Saturday event!


 Sunday Oct.9th

Eureka! Make Art Together. Abington Art Center. Jenkintown, PA. 11am to 3pm. $5/per project. Each month Abington Art Center hosts EUREKA! a fun workshop for families of any size, shape and artistic ability to play and make art together. This month's workshop will feature mask making! Come make a funny, scary or artistic mask. All art supplies will be provided. Drop-in anytime between 11am & 3pm! No reservations are required.


Lenape Village Tours. Churchville Nature Center. Churchville, PA. 1:00pm and 2:30pm. $5. Take a tour of the Lenape Village and experience a 1500’s era working village. The village is  a hands-on, living history exhibit that gives students and other members of the community the opportunity to experience first-hand what is was like to live in our area as a Native American, just before contact with European settlers. Each week there will be a different craft or skill featured.  Reservations are requested in advance. This weekend learn about Lenape cooking.

Have a great weekend!

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