Photo courtesy of Legare Farms
Legare Farms
Johns Island, South Carolina
Family-owned since its founding in 1725, Legare Farms is among the oldest working farms in the country. Located by the Stono River and just a short drive from Charleston, the 300-acre farm offers plenty of year-round fun, but fall is the ideal time for a visit. On weekends in October, head to the farm for after-dark pumpkin picking, gem mining, hayrides, and a build-your-own scarecrow factory. While you’re there, pick up one-of-a-kind homemade products, such as bacon salsa, pumpkin butter, and sweet tea jelly.
Photo by Crystal Freemon Photography
Lucky Ladd Farms
Eagleville, Tennessee
The largest petting farm in Tennessee, Lucky Ladd Farms is home to hundreds of animals and offers a host of interactive attractions on its sixty acres. Saddle up for a pony ride, and stop by the petting zoo to meet and feed cows, sheep, and llamas, as well as the farm’s rare livestock, including Tennessee fainting goats and miniature donkeys. Visit during fall to explore the corn maze, try your hand at archery, and pick the perfect pumpkin—or even launch one from a giant slingshot.
Photo courtesy of Burt's Farm
Burt’s Farm
Dawsonville, Georgia
The surrounding Appalachian Mountains lend this farm a spectacular setting, and its two-mile hayrides offer glimpses of Amicalola Falls, the highest waterfall in the state. But the farm’s main claim to fame is its pumpkin patch, with pumpkins ranging from several ounces to 150 pounds. In addition to offering nearly seventy acres of pumpkins ripe for the picking, Burt’s sells pumpkin pie, pumpkin rolls, and pumpkin bread. Check out the homemade cosmetics line, which includes a selection of skin- and hair-care products created from pumpkins and squash grown on the farm.
Photo courtesy of 4D Farm
4D Farm
Cullman, Alabama
With 4D Farm’s wide assortment of family-friendly activities, from a mechanical bull to an obstacle course, visitors can easily spend a whole day (or two) at the North Alabama attraction. Enjoy 4D’s classic offerings, such as the corn maze and giant jumping pillow, and be sure to check out some of the more exhilarating options, including a vintage roller coaster, 250-foot zip line, and tubing slides. The farm is kid-friendly in every respect, but the little ones will especially love the chicken show, candy cannon, and pig races.
Photo courtesy of Mitchell Farms
Mitchell Farms
Collins, Mississippi
Located in the piney woods of southeast Mississippi, Mitchell Farms specializes in peanuts, so it’s no surprise that its 1,500 acres are home to the Mississippi Peanut Festival each October. Celebrating ten years this fall, the festival features more than seventy-five craft and food vendors, antique tractors and historic log cabin tours, and all the boiled peanuts and peanut brittle you can eat. In addition to the peanut fest, Mitchell Farms offers other fall attractions, including a six-acre corn maze, sunflower field, and pumpkin patch.
This article appears in the Fall/Winter 2020 issue of Southbound.
