Fall, Phase 2

One of our favorite things to do in the Fall, probably THE favorite, is to visit Cox Farms. In looking back through our blog, I wanted to link up to past posts I'd done about Cox, then realized I've NEVER DONE ONE! I can't believe this, especially since this place is so amazing. So I've come up with a Top 10 list for you in case you've never been.

Top 10 Reasons to Pay a Visit to Cox Farms:
1. It's one of the cheapest family dates around. In fact, up until this year, it's been absolutely free. Now, for online members (I get their newsletter once a year), it only costs $5 per person (over 2). Amazing deal, right? For our entire family to partake in 5 fun-filled hours of farming goodness, it was all of $15. DEAL.

2. The slides. Take a look at the pictures. 'Nuf said.

3. The hayride, which just keeps getting better every year. From Dora to Strawberry Shortcake to dancing aliens to the presidential line-up, just about every pop culture icon imaginable is there to greet you on this zany hayride.

4. Goat Village. A chance for kids to feed the goats from an ice cream cone filled with goat feed in it. We were convinced they starve the poor goats for 2 weeks previous to opening weekend, just so they'll eagerly engage with "the hand that feeds them".

5. A plethora of wood cutouts for picture posers. This is the first year I haven't had to bribe Makenna with oodles of kettle corn in order to get her to pose behind the creepy wooden figures. In fact, she was BEGGING me to take her picture. "Look Mom! I'm a farmer!" "Look Mom, I'm Dorothy!" and "Here Addison, stand here and stick your head through there. It's not scary."

6. The PHAT hay bales that dot the festival for kids of all ages to jump off. Makenna put many kids her age to shame by unhesitatingly taking a leap off the top.

7. Free apples and apple cider. Enough to get you drunk off its goodness. The first year we went, we spotted families filling up canteens and jugs with the cider(I thought it was a little shady, but I didn't blame them- IT'S SO GOOD). Then last year they had signs up everywhere, warning those hoarders to "beware".

8. A fun chance to hang out with friends. We've been going with the same friends for the past three years, which is always a blast. This year, though, word got out and we had a ton more families there with us!

9. Free pumpkins to take home! Each person scores a little pumpkin upon their departure.

10. Perfect Fall photo-op, resulting in tons of cute shots of the kids and family.

Love this place. If you live in the area, we'll see you there next year. If not, go find a rockin' Fall Festival near you and enjoy this gorgeous time of year!