Pick The Perfect Produce

While most supermarkets and local grocers offer a great selection of pumpkins in October (many of which have already put their pumpkins out, so be sure to snag yours early to get the pick of the patch), pumpkin and apple picking is a great, engaging fall activity to share with kids. Lucky for us, there are tons of nearby locations that make finding the perfect pumpkin a memorable experience, perfect for an autumn Saturday.

At the Queens Farm Museum every weekend during the month of October, kids can pick their own pumpkins from the planting field at the Queens Farm Museum. Admission is free and the pumpkins are reasonably priced (determined by their weight.) While you're there, make sure to check out the Amazing Maize Maze, an interactive cornfield adventure for kids!

Soon's Orchards in New Hampton, New York (about an hour's drive from the city) offers tons of festive fun for families. Kids can dine on fresh-picked apples and real apple cider ( as well as other homemade goodies, like pies and apple cider donuts) and even take a hayride to the pumpkin patch on weekends.

Stuart’s Farm is one great institution to try. The oldest working farm in Westchester County, kids will love picking pumpkins there, straight off the vine!

Sun High Orchards in Randolph, New Jersey, is another festive destination; families can take a hayride to the pumpkin patch during the weekends. Parents will also love stocking up on ripe heirloom tomatoes and other home-grown vegetables, as well as homemade bread, pies and more.

Terhune Orchards: This orchard in Princeton, NJ is a family affair, run by the Mount family since 1975. Apples and pumpkins abound on this 185-acre farm, and they host Fall Family Fun Weekends full of music, food, an Adventure Barn, pumpkin painting, barnyard animals, and other seasonal delights.

Pennings Orchard & Farm Market in Warwick, New Tor has it all: fifteen different kinds of apples to pick from, as well as hayrides and a petting zoo known affectionately as the Barnyard Buddies. Kids can also make their own scarecrow, get lost in the corn stalk maze, and ride a pony! To round out your autumn excursion, there’s also a varied farm market, a continuously blooming garden center, and old-fashioned ice-cream stand. 

 Voted Best Pick-Your-Own in the Mid-Hudson Valley, Dubois Farms has a wide array of fruits to choose from besides apples and pumpkins if you’re so inclined, like plums, nectarines, grapes, gourds, pears, and peaches. Until November 7^th, you can take advantage of their free kids activities, like games, tractor pulled wagon rides, a corn maze, pony rides, and playing with farm animals. You can also check out their upcoming festivals and jamborees online. 

Applewood Orchards: Don’t let the name fool you! You can pick both apples and pumpkins at this charming orchard, also in Warwick, New York. Kids will also enjoy wagon rides, face painting, and puppet shows, and you can indulge in the relaxing scenery of the farm’s surrounding ponds, and maybe even sample their famous cider and wine.

Creative Carving

You can find free carving templates and instructions pretty easily online with a Google search – just be aware that following templates can be tricky without a sharp knife, and often requires some adult intervention.

 The go-to jack-o-lantern tool is usually the biggest and sharpest knife in the drawer, so kids often get left out of the carving process. Encourage your children to get creative with their carving designs, and they will be able to try a wider variety of instruments that are more kid-friendly than the butcher knife.

 MarthaStewart.com has a photo gallery of unexpected pumpkin-carving tools, some safer than others. Two childproof suggestions: use a melon-baller to scoop shallow holes in the pumpkin’s shell – the candlelight will glow through. Also, have your kids try cookie cutters to cut fun shapes out of the pumpkin. They can use a rubber mallet with the cutters to break through the shell.

For more traditional carving tools, Pumpkin Masters offers a great array of kits for different age groups, for sale on Amazon.com and starting at around $3. Its website is also a helpful resource for patterns and for tips on carving.

 If you’re working on a pumpkin masterpiece and plan on doing the cutting yourself, try the Creative Versa Tool, a heated tool with interchangeable points. For $29.99, it’s available on Amazon or you can pick it up at a crafts store like Michael’s. The store’s website also has detailed instructions for some elaborate pumpkin carving projects, like this lion.

Make Some Savory Seeds...

There are plenty of recipes available to make use of all the seeds you’ll have after carving your pumpkins. The Food Network website has a pretty varied assortment of recipes using pumpkin seeds—we particularly like this tasty (and portable) pumpkin seed and dried cherry trail mix recipe, perfect for an on-the-go snack.

 If you have a bit more time, try this recipe from Real Simple for sweet and salty roasted pumpkin seeds. 

 Or add a minimalist twist to a seasonal favorite – pumpkin pie-spiced seeds! Less calories and less mess, this treat from The Chow.com is nonetheless just as sweet as the real deal. (Check out The Chow's website more great modern takes on delicious seed seasoning ideas)

All Recipes also offers an addictive caramelized and spice option for your seeds. With just enough of a cayenne kick for mom, it’s still kid-palate approved.

...Or An Apple Sweet Treat

The first bite of a crisp, freshly picked apple is the most delicious reminder that Fall is finally here. If you do happen to pick more apples than you can bite into, there are fun and healthy cooking options for those leftover fruit besides caramelized apples.

Why not try these warm and rich Baked Apples from the Food Network? They won’t stick to your kids or their clothes!

Or keep crunching on these super-easy to make Cinnamon Apple Chips from Rachael Ray. 

 Epicurious offers an alternative to the usual breakfast fare: this Puffed Apple Pancake recipe is treat for both the eyes and the stomach!

by Rachael Horowitz and Cris de Oliveira