Fore the Planet! Indoor Minature Golf

Location: Linvilla Orchards

Website: http://www.linvilla.com/

Bathrooms: Yes

Eating area: Yes (indoor and out) and food for purchase at Linvilla Grill

Parking: Yes and free

Attractions: 300-acre farm, Christmas tree maze ($5), playground ($1), animals for feeding, hayrides in fall, pick your own fruit

Hours: Open Everyday until March 17

Sunday through Thursday 9am to 5pm

Friday and Saturday 9am to 8pm

 Price: $6.95 (ages 11 & over)
$4.95 (ages 10 & under)

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A recent birthday party brought us to Linvilla Orchards and its latest special event, "Fore the Planet" indoor miniature golf. I was really excited to get the opportunity to visit the 300 acre farm after hearing great things about it. We made the trip on a Saturday morning leaving our home at around 10am and arriving at 10:30.  I understand that it is usually a 45 minute to an hour drive, so I guess that is not typical.  There was no traffic on 95....I swear it was not my heavy foot!!

Early February is probably not the best time to take advantage of the farm, due to the dark, damp, chilly, and unpredictable weather, but on this particular day it was not too cold, so we were able to enjoy all the farm's attractions. Our first stop was to head indoors to the indoor market and play some miniature golf. It was bright, colorful and inviting. This my kids first time playing, so I didn't know what to expect. My oldest had no problems getting right in there and was speeding right along.  My youngest got a little frustrated on some of the harder holes, but overall they both proclaimed that they wanted to play golf again.  We even went home and set up a golf course in the house. So this definitely left a mark on the kiddos.  

However, I think the educational message of "Save the Planet" was lost on just one round of the golf. The kids were so excited and overwhelmed that the meaning went right over their head. It would have been nice to go a second round, slow down and read the information that went with each hole. 

After golfing, we explored the Christmas tree maze.  That was quite an experience! A little frighting for me as my daughter kept running ahead. But we all made it out alive.

Next, we went to the playground area to feed the turkeys, chickens, and peacocks and play on the large playground.  This area also has a maze.  Donation to the playground is $1 and you place it in a bucket as part of the honor system.

We finally left the farm at around 2pm, so weather permitting, you could spend quite a while exploring the farm and you will get a lot for the money. My kids also fell asleep in the car on the way home, so I would say this day was hole in one!

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Tips:

• I would not suggest getting off Exit 6 from 95.  It dropped us off in a seedy area that had me locking my doors. Okay, I admit, I am a suburban mom, but I am not used to seeing drug transactions occur right before my eyes.  Next time,  I will go a little further on 95 and get off at the 452 exit. Hopefully that exit will not have me gripping my wheel and locking my doors.
• Bring your own food and drinks to save money! Have a picnic at the farm.
• Save more money by skipping the Christmas tree maze and have fun with the maze at the playground that comes with your dollar donation
• Play golf on a nice day, even though it is indoors, so that you can take advantage of the playground, maze and animal feedings, especially if you are driving an hour to get  to the farm. You will get more for your money and could make a day of it.

Have a "ball" a Linvilla Orchards!

Stellwag's Hidden Acres Farm

Location:116 Hartford Rd. Delran, NJ

Website: http://www.stellwagshiddenacresfarm.com/

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.

Click HERE for the price guide to other pumpkin picking farms !

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!