Dear Crabby,
Now that the weather is starting to turn a bit cooler, I can’t wait to do some of my favorite fall activities. I thought I’d try a corn maze or head to a pumpkin patch. What do you think?
Thanks,
Gala Gourd
Dear Gala Gourd,
I was enjoying the sunny temperatures we had last weekend, but it’s hard to beat fall in Michigan. The changing colors of the leaves, watching football on the weekend… there are just so many reasons why fall in Michigan makes it worth living here. That and it’s not Ohio. I like your question. Most people head straight for cider mills when the air turns crisp. And while I like a hot cinnamon donut washed down by freshly pressed cider as much as the next person, the lines seem extra-long now that everyone has to stand six feet apart and I just don’t have the patience for that anymore. So, I think choosing to visit a pumpkin patch or meandering through a corn maze is a great alternative. Just be prepared to drive a bit to enjoy either one.
The folks over at MetroParent usually put together a list of family-friendly fall activities, so if you see one of their free papers when you’re out running errands, you should pick one up. As fate would have it, Mrs. Crabby brought one home and I noticed that Diehl’s Orchard and Cider Mill out in Holly has a corn maze that’s between a half-mile and a mile long. I guess it varies from year to year, but it sounds like you’ll get your exercise. Then there’s Westview Orchards and Adventure Farm over in Washington Township. Their maze covers over two miles of trail. Of course, there are some corn mazes out there that are haunted, but real life is scary enough these days, so I wouldn’t recommend causing yourself any unnecessary stress. I would also suggest you skip a corn maze altogether if you are in any way directionally deficient. That is just a recipe for disaster. Oh! Skip it if you have allergies too. With everyone hyper-vigilant about germs these days, one sneeze and you could find yourself surrounded by a hazmat team! For my money, I think I would head to a pumpkin patch.
When I was a kid, one of the girls in the neighborhood was reading the Little House on the Prairie series. In one of the books, someone decides to grow pumpkins, so this girl decided she was going to give it a try too. Now, remember, we lived in Detroit where we didn’t have access to an abundance of open land, but she and her dad figured out a way to cultivate a little patch and once they were ready for picking, she set up a stand and sold them. So, while going to an orchard to find your perfect pumpkin is one way to do it, maybe take some time when you’re out driving to support a local farm or budding entrepreneur with your pumpkin dollars. If you’re like me and past the age of buying pumpkins to carve and display, then you might want to check out the annual Stonewall Pumpkin Festival at Van Hoosen Farms in Rochester Hills on Saturday, October 10, from 9:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 11, from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Of course, like everything this year, it will be done a bit differently. Instead of wandering around looking at all the pumpkins, you can drive through on either night from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Hey. It’s better than nothing at all.
Just remember, whether you choose a corn maze or pumpkin patch, make sure you call ahead or check out their website so you know all the rules.
Hope this answers your question!
Dear Crabby
Stuck in a rut? Need some biased advice from a crabby old baby-boomer? Then email me your question at dearcrabby@rochestermedia.com. You can also head on over to my Facebook page and tell me how wonderful I am.
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