Carlson Orchards, Harvard MA

115 Oak Hill Road, Harvard, MA 01451

800.286.3916

carlsonorchards.com

I actually went here on a trip with my daughter's preschool. Living so close for practically my whole life, you'd think I'd have been here before; but no, I haven't. I have had their apple cider, though. I'm very picky about apple cider, and prefer unpasteurized (my hands-down favorite is from Derby's in Stow, MA), but the cider from here is good. Even if it is pasteurized. I don't know how other places do it, but their cider is heated and cooled so quickly (I think they told us the process takes only 14 seconds), that it preserves the apple flavor. Whatever it is, the end result is pretty delicious. They sell juice boxes of it, too, if you're looking for portable, kid-friendly drinks. You can find their cider in stores and farmstands around the state.

Since it's pumpkin season now, they had all their pumpkins out for sale. Before checking out this pumpkin display, I wandered around the orchard, helping to herd a pack of preschoolers. Watching them pick apples was pretty funny. Early Macs (MacIntosh), which they had, are my absolute favorites. Maybe it's because they are only crisp and tart for just so long that makes them so special. Once you get Macs that have been stored for a while, they lose their tartness and crispness and they just aren't the same. Time to eat up before it's too late!

They have a retail store here which is open year-round and sells apples, cider, locally-produced honey, jams, preserves, and frozen pies and crisps.

Smolak Farms, North Andover MA: Pumpkin Festival

315 South Bradford Street, North Andover, MA 01845

978.682.6332

smolakfarms.com

This was a fun time--the Pumpkin Festival at Smolak Farms in North Andover, MA. This place used to be a lot smaller, but they have done a lot of work to make it a destination for families. Their playground has been totally redone since we last came here (in the spring, maybe). We got to see one of our favorite local kid bands, Ben Rudnick and Friends, play. This was an added bonus (for us and our three-year-old).

It was a bit crazy, but not overwhelming. They had games, a bounce house, and  tons of food. One of the best things they had was a ride where you got into a long train of radio flyer-style wagons and got pulled around by a little tractor. They also had a big wagon/tractor ride, but we passed on that one this time. As usual, they also had delicious cider donuts. We brought home a dozen--they are so good. We didn't actually get a pumpkin, though, since we have a while to go until Halloween.