Search Results for: blog family fun apple picking

Post-Apple Picking Fun

You know what’s fun? Not wasting the $15 you spent on apples at the u-pick farm. Apparently, my 8-year-old doesn’t see the f-u-n in consuming the pounds and pounds and pounds of apples she picked during our latest seasonal adventure. She sure looked like she was having fun plucking the red, yellow and green orbs from their branches and tossing them into the bright blue basket we brought from home. However, when it came time to eat the fruits of her labor, she shut down after day two. Cue the creativity; because I will not let those fall apples go … Continue reading →

Simple and Affordable Seasonal Fun

Summer 2012 officially ends on Friday. However, that doesn’t mean the end of outdoor family fun. Fall marks the start of apple and pumpkin-picking season. Whether you live in the north, south or mid-Atlantic, the nation is teeming with farms that allow visitors of all ages to pick their own produce. These u-pick farms offer fresh fruits and vegetables at affordable prices. What’s more, you will be able to bond with your clan in the great outdoors, which is a priceless experience for most folks. In addition, if you have kids, visiting a farm is a great way to show … Continue reading →

Affordable Fall Family Fun

The first day of autumn is just two weeks away, and just because Wal-Mart and Target already have their Christmas displays up doesn’t mean you should fast forward over this wonderful season. Fall is a great time to bond with your family in the great outdoors before Old Man Winter arrives and your kids refuse to move away from the warm TV. To help spice up the season, consider attending ones of the following fall-themed parades, festivals and kid-friendly events that won’t bust your family’s budget: Half Moon Art and Pumpkin Festival, San Francisco, California: On October 13-14, you can … Continue reading →

Affordable Holiday Fun

For most American families, Labor Day weekend is the last hurrah of the summer. It’s a time set aside for picnics, parties and last-minute back-to-school shopping. Of course, the latter is no fun and the two former options can be pricey if you aren’t careful. So, what can you do to make the last long weekend of summer memorable if you don’t have money to burn? Here are some ideas: Dress-Up: This idea is perfect for young kids who enjoy imaginary play. Collect clothes from around the house that can double as uniforms. You can help your children celebrate the … Continue reading →

Cheap Labor Day Fun

Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer. The end of summer! That’s no fun. Or, is it? For most families, the long holiday weekend is the last chance to relax and enjoy each other’s company without the stress of homework, scheduled sporting events and other school-related functions. However, if you are trying to keep a handle on your spending habits, Labor Day may not be the time to splurge on an expensive getaway. Fortunately, you can have a blast bidding summer a fond farewell, bond with your family and preserve your budget, all at the same time. Here’s how: … Continue reading →

Fall Fun with Apples

Tis the season for apple overload. My family went bananas at a local u-pick apple orchard last month. We hauled home more than 20 pounds of the healthy fruit and still have more than a dozen individual apples left. They won’t be good for much longer, which is why I have been desperately looking for ways (besides making yet another pie) to make the most of the shiny orbs. Fortunately, there is no shortage of ideas floating around cyberspace. I tested a few of the more unique options from Women’s Day and several other reputable sites, then narrowed down my … Continue reading →

Johnny Appleseed Day Fun

I am very aware that Johnny Appleseed Day was yesterday, but, how much fun would it be to celebrate the event all! week! long! Yeah, my 7-year-old didn’t buy it either, especially since I made the suggestion after forgetting to send apple treats to school yesterday. There’s nothing fun about being labeled “That Mom.” The one who can’t remember to place pre-packaged applesauce into her only kid’s backpack. The fun part comes in trying to make up for my mistake. As my daughter shared tidbits about John Chapman (a.k.a. Johnny Appleseed) and the orchards he planted in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, … Continue reading →

Apple Picking: Know Before You Go

U-pick apple orchards are ideal settings for a weekend of fun with the entire family. My young daughter looks forward to our annual trip each fall. She gets to ride a tractor, hand-pick her favorite fruit, scurry around in a corn maze, pet some farm animals, and stuff her face with caramel apples, apple muffins and apple pie. Yes, it’s fall family fun at its finest, if you go in prepared, and I’m not talking about prepping to schlepp 20 pounds of apples and a whiny 30-pound kid back to the pay stations. I’m talking about crunching numbers before you … Continue reading →

Making the Most of Your Apple Haul

Making apple tarts, pies, and cakes is fun for the whole family, but what happens when you exhaust all of your favorite recipes and you still have more than 20 pounds of the shiny red fruit leftover? If you are my neighbor, you invite a bunch of kids from the cul-de-sac to your home and let them go wild making every apple craft known to man, including some of my family’s favorites suitable for children of all ages (and an adult to supervise), such as: APPLE CANDLEHOLDERS Materials: Large red apples Candles Waxed paper Potato peeler Apple corer Lemon juice … Continue reading →

Oh My Apple!

It’s apple harvest time in Northern Wisconsin; time to have some serious family fun with the crunchy fruit that promises to keep the doctor away. Primetime for apple picking varies depending on where you live in North America, though the season typically starts winding down for most areas by the end of October. That gives you several weeks to plan a fun-filled trip to the orchard, so that you can stock up on the kid-friendly fruit. While we haven’t made our annual trip to the u-pick farm, our neighbor has and came back with a whopping 40 pounds of McIntosh, … Continue reading →