Center Grove Orchard 2014

Another year, another visit to the Center Grove Orchard in Cambridge, IA.  We never got around to visiting a pumpkin patch last year, so it was super vital we got to one this year.  We had so much fun on our last visit in 2012 that we wanted to go back, and they have added so much to make it even more amazing.  There were dozens of activities for the kids and I love how spread out everything is, other pumpkin patches that I've been to have felt so close together, like they're trying to pack as many people into a small space as possible.

 There are so many animals to pet and feed, it's usually what sways our decision and gets the kids most excited.

In addition, the corn pool is always a favorite of the kids, we usually have to drag them out of there after an hour of fun.  Something they've added is the large eating area, there are yummy sandwiches, soups, a full cafe of latte choices, and of course, the amazing apple cider.

The kids had so much fun jumping on the giant jumping pillows, and took endless turns on the huge slide.  In addition to these awesome attractions, they also have a pedal tractor race track, a hay maze perfect for little people, a giant, rope spider web, bounce horse play area, and a concert venue for weekend shows.  It's, literally, hours of fun and that's before we even got to the corn maze.

 There are a bunch of spots throughout the grounds that are perfect for photo opportunities.

The only thing that would distract Charlie from the corn pool was getting on the tractor to go to the corn maze.

Next stop on the tractor ride is the pumpkin patch.  They've been open for a month and they still had plenty of choices.  There were HUGE pumpkin, baby pumpkins, gourds, and regular sized pumpkins.  It was so much fun and it's become a wonderful family tradition to pick our own pumpkins.

On our way out we stopped and got some sweets from their shop; candy apples, pumpkin bread mix, apple pie, and honey.  It put the cherry on an already wonderful day.  I will always highly recommend the Center Grove Orchard.

For more information on the Center Grove Orchard, please visit their website here.

To view my blog post from the last time we visited the orchard, which has a lot more photos to see, please click here.

Center Grove Orchard

Yesterday we took the kids to the local pumpkin patch with a friend of mine.  It was a blast, we went to Center Grove Orchard in Cambridge, IA.  It was like the Disney World of pumpkin patches.

Entering into the pumpkin patch!

We hadn't even entered the site and there was a bunch of fun stuff to play on!  Faith thought this was it and she loved it!

My flying baby!

When we first walked in there was a huge spread of pre-picked pumpkins.  The kids played on them for a little bit, made for a great photo opportunity!

I love his hair here! My handsome boy!

My friend, Jennifer's little girl, Josie!  Love her pigtails! 

Charlie's friend Julian!

From there we went to the animals, the little boys went CRAZY, running around looking at all the animals!  It was hilarious, they were in such a rush like the animals would leave!  There was also a little race track and pedal tractors.

She is getting into it!

My friend Jennifer, under a goat!  Potential to be dangerous!

I loved the little obstacle course for the animals!

Meant to lasso, better for riding!

They had a little kid sized town complete with an Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter tea party and the three little pigs and their homes.

Inside the piggies house!

Next was the corn pool, yes, it's as awesome as it sounds!

Then we took the tractor to the pumpkin patch and corn maze!  We were given a piece of paper on the tractor for the maze hunt.  Throughout the maze there were items we needed to find, match with the image on the paper and use the hole puncher by the item.  It was pretty cool and a great exercise.

At this spot we found a tractor and matched it up with our paper.

Here is a pig we matched up!

Buddies for life!

Tractor waiting place!

When we got back from the corn maze we explored some more after we got some hot apple cider!  The pumpkin patch is also an apple orchard, which makes for some amazing apple cider.

Faith just loved bouncing around on these things!

Charlie enjoyed being a Spiderman, as he said!

Looks awesome, was scary when sitting at the top looking down, again awesome on the way down!

My husband actually loved these more than she did.

Faith showing me her splits on the giant jumping pillow!

If you would like more information on the Center Grove Orchard in Cambridge, IA please visit their website at www.centergroveorchard.com/