Alpha Loop Trail
Alpharetta·All ages·Outdoor
Alpha Loop Trail is a paved, flat loop through downtown Alpharetta connecting parks, shops, and green space. A little fresh air and forward motion can do wonders for the family mood.
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Outdoor places to explore with kids
Trails, farms, lakes, and wide-open spaces where a little dirt is a good sign. Pack water and sunscreen, and let the kids set the pace.
Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge
Dawsonville·All Ages·Outdoor
Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge is an outdoor stop in Dawsonville built around the tallest waterfall in the Southeast. For young kids or a stroller, the West Ridge Access Trail is the easier route — a short paved path to a bridge overlooking the falls — while the trail down to the base reflection pool involves a steep staircase. The reflection pool is a good spot for kids to wade and look for creek critters. Pack the dry clothes where you can actually reach them—not underneath everything else in the car.
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Anna Ruby Falls
Cleveland·All ages, best for families with children·Outdoor
Anna Ruby Falls is a short double-waterfall hike in Cleveland that is a good fit for families, though the paved path is steep in stretches. A jogging stroller or child carrier handles the climb better than a standard stroller for younger kids. Stone benches line the path for a breather on the way back up. A good pick when you want fresh air, easy conversation, and fewer things beeping at everyone.
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B.J. Reece Orchards
Dawsonville·All ages·Outdoor
B. J. The farm market and bakery are known for the fried pies and apple cider doughnuts that are the reason people leave with two boxes. A nice way to change the scenery while keeping the family logistics within reason.
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Babyland General Hospital (Cabbage Patch Kids)
Cleveland·Indoor·Free
Babyland General Hospital (Cabbage Patch Kids) is a hands-on stop in Cleveland built around watching a Cabbage Patch Kid "born" and adopting a doll to take home. It's a self-guided visit — most families spend about an hour — and it appeals across ages: younger kids often head straight for the play area with strollers to push around, while older kids and doll fans linger longest in the nursery rooms. It is the kind of outing that can rescue a day that started with a little too much indoor energy.
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Big Creek Greenway
Cumming·All Ages·Outdoor
Big Creek Greenway is one long paved outing with several ways in, not a collection of separate parks. The Cumming access at Fowler Park (Carolene Way) and Alpharetta access points at Rock Mill Park (Kimball Bridge Road) and Marconi Drive let families choose a shorter stretch for little legs, strollers, scooters, or bikes. The path itself is flat and paved throughout. A straightforward outdoor reset for days when the walls feel a little too close together.
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Boggs Creek Recreation Area
Dahlonega·All ages with supervision near the water·Outdoor·Free
Boggs Creek is the simplest kind of mountain outing: a day-use picnic area along a stocked trout stream fifteen miles north of Dahlonega. There's no trail to conquer — just picnic tables near moving water where kids can look for minnows while somebody casts a line. A little fresh air and forward motion can do wonders for the family mood.
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Bottoms Christmas Tree Farm
Cumming·All ages are welcome, especially families with children.·Outdoor
Bottoms Christmas Tree Farm is a choose-and-cut outing in Cumming, at its best right after Thanksgiving when the fields still have plenty of good trees to pick from — though that's also the busiest stretch. Kids can roam the rows while you help saw down a tree, and pre-cut Fraser firs are available too. Santa stops by on select Saturdays each season for free family photos — check the farm's site for this year's dates. A useful option when everyone needs a plan, but nobody needs the plan to become a production.
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Buford Corn Maze
Buford·All ages, particularly families with children.·Outdoor
Buford Corn Maze in Buford centers on a corn maze, a giant corn pit, and a jumping pillow in the Kids' CORNer. Pets aren't allowed except registered service animals. It is an easy outing to keep in rotation when you want the day to feel special but still manageable.
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Burt's Pumpkin Farm
Dawsonville·All ages·Outdoor·Free
Burt's is the classic North Georgia pumpkin stop, mountains of pumpkins in every size just down the road from Amicalola Falls. Farm-provided wheelbarrows make hauling your picks easier than carrying them, and a baby carrier works better than a stroller since the yard is mulched. There's BBQ, popcorn, and baked goods on site if you'd rather buy lunch. It gives the day a destination without requiring a spreadsheet, matching shirts, or heroic levels of preparation.
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Caney Creek Preserve
Cumming·All ages·Outdoor
Caney Creek Preserve in Cumming has two separate entrances: one leads to the playground, which includes a dinosaur-dig sand feature and a spider-web climbing net, and the other leads to a shaded loop trail along the creek, where kids often wade in the shallow water. This keeps the family plan light while still giving the day a proper change of scenery.
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Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area--Bowmans Island North Unit
Buford·All ages·Outdoor
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area--Bowmans Island North Unit is an outdoor explore option in Buford along the river, with an easy riverside trail that's shaded in summer - one family reported both a 4-year-old and a 9-year-old managing it comfortably and enjoying the fishing. A nice choice for moving little legs while giving grown-up brains a bit of breathing room.
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Consolidated Gold Mine
Dahlonega·Best for children aged 3 and up.·Indoor
Consolidated Gold Mine takes families about 200 feet underground for a guided tour of Dahlonega's mining history. The roughly 40-minute underground tour is not physically demanding, and guides keep it interactive, often pulling kids in as volunteers. For younger children, many families pair it with the separate gem-panning add-on, which gives little ones a quicker, more immediate payoff than the tour alone. It is enough of an adventure to feel worthwhile without taking over the entire day.
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Cool River Tubing
Cleveland·Ages 2 and up·Outdoor
Cool River floats families down the Chattahoochee through Helen, with the tube, life jacket, and shuttle ride all included in the price. Kids can ride from age 2 (the minimum can rise when the water runs high), and you pick a shorter or longer float depending on attention spans. Kid-sized tubes have enclosed bottoms, and everyone 12 and under wears a provided life jacket. This one adds a little interest to the day without demanding every ounce of parental organization.
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Crisson Gold Mine
Dahlonega·All ages·Outdoor
Crisson Gold Mine is an outdoor gold panning and gem mining stop in Dahlonega that works across a wide age range, from young grandchildren to teens. Staff walk each visitor through panning and gem sifting, with patient help whenever kids need a hand or a break partway through. Both activities can be done under cover, so a rainy day doesn't rule out a visit. This fits the sweet spot between ‘we should do something’ and ‘we have somehow packed for a week.’
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DeLay Nature Park
Suwanee·All ages·Outdoor
DeLay Nature Park is a wooded nature stop along Brushy Creek in Suwanee, best paired with a visit to the adjacent PlayTown Suwanee playground. A half-mile paved and boardwalk trail connects the two areas, with an underground tunnel and ADA ramps so families can move between them without crossing a street. PlayTown Suwanee has separate sections for toddlers and older kids across almost an acre of swings, slides, and sandboxes. This outing asks very little beyond shoes and water, which is part of its charm.
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DeSoto Falls Recreation Area
Dahlonega·All ages for the lower falls·Outdoor
DeSoto Falls is one of the easiest real waterfalls to reach with little kids in the national forest north of Dahlonega — the lower falls sits only about a quarter mile from the trailhead on a natural forest path. The upper falls adds real distance, so with toddlers, call the lower falls the destination and the picnic tables the reward. The Forest Service posts waterfall-danger warnings for a reason: keep kids off the wet rocks and ledges. This is a good one for getting outside without turning the walk into a major expedition.
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Don Carter State Park
Gainesville·All ages·Outdoor
Don Carter State Park sits on Lake Lanier in Gainesville and is best known for its wide, gently sloping sand beach, set back from boat traffic and well suited to kids, with large, clean restrooms and showers nearby. The park's trails lean toward beginner-friendly, including paved, ADA-accessible sections, and there's a small playground near the cottages, separate from the beach. The practical move is to assume everything will get wet, including the item you thought was safely tucked away.
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Duckett Mill Park
Oakwood·All ages·Outdoor
Duckett Mill Park is a family campground on Lake Sidney Lanier in Oakwood, popular for fishing, swimming and lake access rather than dedicated kid amenities. Weekdays are quiet; weekends bring more boat and RV traffic, plus kids biking around the campsite loops, so drive slowly. Bathhouses have older but clean fixtures, with laundry available at one of them. The kids handle the splashing; your main job is remembering where you put the towels.
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Dukes Creek Falls
Cleveland·Viewing platform works for all ages; full trail for confident hikers·Outdoor
Dukes Creek Falls drops 150 feet in tiers, and the family-sized version of this hike is the short paved stretch from the parking lot to the upper viewing platform — the full trail down to the base is long and steep, better saved for kids with real hiking legs. This is a viewing waterfall, not a wading one. The day-use fee can be paid at the on-site fee box, by credit card, or through the Recreation. This outing asks very little beyond shoes and water, which is part of its charm.
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Eagle's Beak Park
Cumming·All ages·Outdoor
Eagle's Beak Park runs along the Etowah River in northwest Forsyth County with a 1. 25-mile paved walking trail — stroller and scooter friendly — plus a separate, less-marked nature trail, river overlooks, and Trail of Tears historical markers worth pausing at with older kids. There's an inclusive playground (fully shaded only at the swings) and picnic pavilions. It is just structured enough to count as an outing and relaxed enough to follow the kids’ pace.
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Edge of the World Trail
Dawsonville·All ages·Outdoor
Edge of the World Trail follows the Amicalola River from a small parking area, with a roughly half-mile boardwalk section that works well with a stroller, and a rougher 2. 5-mile forest loop beyond it that does not. The river here includes swimming holes and rapids that draw summer visitors, so keep little ones close to the water. Expect wet children, big opinions about leaving, and a strong case for bringing two towels instead of one.
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Garnett Street Walking Trail
Buford·All ages·Outdoor
Garnett Street Walking Trail is a walking path in Buford surrounded by trees, a straightforward stop for a short outdoor stretch close to downtown. The route offers enough adventure to feel special without making the day unnecessarily complicated.
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Helen Tubing & Waterpark
Cleveland·Tubing from age 2; slides require 42 inches·Outdoor
Helen Tubing runs river floats right next to a small waterpark, solving the mixed-ages problem: older kids and adults can hit the slides while littles float or splash instead. Toddlers can join the tubing as long as they can walk on their own. Weekday mornings move a lot faster than weekends — tube-shuttle waits can be as short as five minutes, while weekend lines can stretch around the block. Keep snacks and dry clothes ready for the post-water crash—it arrives with impressive consistency.
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Helton Creek Falls
Cleveland·Best with steady walkers or a carrier for littles·Outdoor·Free
Helton Creek Falls gives you a double waterfall for a 0. 2-mile walk — one of the best effort-to-payoff ratios in the mountains, though the short path has abrupt ups and downs, so this is carrier territory rather than stroller territory. The lower falls has a shallow, clear pool where kids can wade in warm weather, but the rocks nearby stay slick with mist and moss. The practical move is to assume everything will get wet, including the item you thought was safely tucked away.
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Ivy Creek Greenway
Suwanee·All ages·Outdoor
Ivy Creek Greenway ties its Suwanee and Buford sections into one family trail system, with paved and natural stretches, boardwalks, creek views, and several places to begin. It's a quiet, low-traffic trail with heavy shade, but there are no restrooms or water along the route itself — only at the George Pierce Park and Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center trailheads. The Heritage Center trailhead serves the Buford side, Westbrook Road offers the newer Suwanee connection, and the Mall of Georgia area has its own access point. This keeps the family plan light while still giving the day a proper change of scenery.
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Jaemor Farms
Gainesville·All ages·Outdoor
Jaemor is the farm market North Georgia drives to, with peaches, apples, and fried pies depending on the season, about twenty minutes up Highway 365 from Gainesville. Come fall, the corn maze and seasonal activities take over, with hayrides among the draws. The market run is a quick stop; the fall season is the full outing. This is a manageable little adventure—the kind that can fit around real family life.
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Kinsey Family Farm
Gainesville·All ages·Outdoor·Free
Kinsey is a working nursery on the Forsyth-Hall line that turns into a family destination twice a year: pumpkins, hayrides, and fish feeding in fall, then live and cut-your-own Christmas trees after Thanksgiving — the only cut-your-own tree stop currently in the guide. Kids especially enjoy petting the horses, donkeys, pigs, and goats, and visiting early in each season tends to mean better selection before pumpkins or trees get picked over. It feels like a proper outing without asking you to organize the household around it.
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Lake Lanier Olympic Park
Gainesville·All ages·Outdoor·Free
The 1996 Olympic rowing and kayaking races ran right here, and the timing tower still stands over the water. Today it's an ADA-accessible lakeside park with a public beach area, picnic pavilions, a butterfly garden, and fishing spots — and on lucky mornings the kids can watch real rowing crews slice past. Bring a bag for wet gear unless you enjoy discovering a damp surprise in the car the next morning.
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Lake Zwerner / Yahoola Creek Reservoir
Dahlonega·All ages, but particularly suited for older children who enjoy hiking and fishing.·Outdoor
In Dahlonega, Lake Zwerner / Yahoola Creek Reservoir is a lakeside walking and fishing stop, best suited to families with kids old enough for a roughly 3-mile loop trail (easy-to-moderate, about 1 to 1. The plan is pleasantly simple: comfortable shoes, water, and whatever pace the shortest legs choose.
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Mary Alice Park Beach
Cumming·All ages·Outdoor
Mary Alice Park is a bring-the-whole-car beach day on Lake Lanier, with sand, picnic space and room to settle in for several hours. Restrooms sit just before the beach area. Pets and alcohol aren't allowed on the grounds, and it's worth checking current swimming conditions before you head over. The fun is wonderfully straightforward; the laundry afterward is simply part of the package.
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Midland Greenway
Gainesville·Preschool to elementary school·Outdoor
Midland Greenway is an easy outdoor win in Gainesville, good for when the family needs room to move without a full-day commitment. The trail passes public art, a stream, and open lawn space where kids can run or throw a ball, and it sits next to the Gainesville Skate Park for older kids. The city has also hosted seasonal family events there, like trick-or-treating and Easter egg hunts. A straightforward outdoor reset for days when the walls feel a little too close together.
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Mill Creek Nature Center
Buford·Outdoor
Mill Creek Nature Center is a quiet wetlands preserve behind the Mall of Georgia in Buford, best for families who want a nature walk without a big production. The trail network mixes boardwalk sections with natural dirt paths, crossing two bridges and passing an observation tower and deck, which makes it a nice spot for birdwatching, though some stretches get muddy and uneven, so a full loop can be tough with a stroller or wheelchair. Trails are foot traffic only, and leashed dogs are welcome. It is a manageable dose of nature for families who enjoy the outdoors but also enjoy getting home before bedtime.
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Nix Bridge Park
Dawsonville·All ages·Outdoor
In Dawsonville, Nix Bridge Park is a Lake Lanier day-use spot, best suited to families heading out to fish or launch a boat rather than a playground visit — there's no playground on site. It works as a spot for a lakeside picnic. This one keeps the plan simple and the kids occupied, which is sometimes the whole assignment.
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Old Federal Day Use Park
Flowery Branch·All ages·Outdoor
Old Federal is a Lake Lanier day-use park in Flowery Branch with a sandy designated swimming beach, restrooms with showers, and picnic shelters — the full beach-day kit without leaving Hall County. Pets aren't permitted at the day-use area. There's no lifeguard confirmed, so life vests for little swimmers are the move. A full change of clothes turns the ride home from a negotiation into something much more civilized.
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Poole's Mill Park
Cumming·All ages·Outdoor
The 1901 covered bridge over Settingdown Creek is the postcard, but the smooth rock shoals below it are what fill the parking lot on warm days — an unofficial, unsupervised splash spot, so judge the water yourself and stay close on the slick rocks. The shallow area right at the bridge tends to suit newly-walking toddlers, while older kids gravitate to a deeper stretch downstream with tubes or floats. Bring a bag for wet gear unless you enjoy discovering a damp surprise in the car the next morning.
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Rock Creek Greenway & Veterans Park
Gainesville·All ages·Outdoor
Rock Creek Greenway & Veterans Park gives families a paved, tree-shaded walking and biking path with a memorial park stop honoring World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans. The route links downtown Gainesville toward Lake Lanier through connected park space, with a few gentle hills and a downhill stretch from the memorial area that means the return walk asks a little more of tired legs. It works for strollers, scooters, and a low-key history moment, which is about as efficient as parenting outings get.
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Sawnee Mountain Preserve & Visitor Center
Cumming·All ages·Both·Free
Sawnee Mountain Preserve can be a full hiking day, a playground outing, or an easy indoor escape with a baby or toddler. The visitor center has live snakes and turtles, plus a small playroom with animal-themed toys, books, and a few soft-play pieces for babies and young toddlers. Outside, the playground has slides, a rock wall, a bridge, and a separate area for younger children. Families can also take a short stroller-friendly walk near the visitor center or tackle the trail toward Indian Seats with older kids. It is a genuinely useful free option when you need to beat the heat—or let everyone run around once the weather cooperates.
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Shakerag Park
Johns Creek·All ages·Outdoor
The playground at Shakerag Park suits toddlers through about age 10, with slides, climbing structures, and tunnels in a shaded area. There's also an easy, shaded Storybook Trail with illustrated story pages along the path — a good low-key option for a short outing with young kids. This works well when everyone needs a reset and the answer is probably trees.
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Smithgall Woods State Park
Cleveland·All ages on the short loops·Outdoor
Smithgall Woods is the quiet cousin of the big-name parks near Helen — a preserve along Dukes Creek with a visitor center and several short interpretive loop trails that suit little legs, including the 1. 6-mile Laurel Ridge Trail with views of Mt. Yonah. There is something deeply useful about a trail where the main activity is simply moving forward.
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Sugar Hill Greenway
Sugar Hill·All ages·Outdoor
Sugar Hill Greenway gives families six useful access points across its first phase. Cornerstone Park is mile zero downtown; E.E. Robinson North enters the woods beyond Sugar Hill Elementary, while Robinson South pairs Greenway access with parking and a splash pad. The PIB entrance near Gwinnett Church leads through dense greenery to Level Creek Road, Gold Mine Park adds restrooms and boardwalks, and Bethany Church marks the phase-one endpoint.
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Suwanee Creek Greenway
Suwanee·All ages·Outdoor
Suwanee Creek Greenway is a paved trail connecting Suwanee Creek Park to George Pierce Park over about 4 miles, an easy choice for an easy walk or ride rather than a full-day outing. The path is paved or boardwalk the whole way, making it workable for wheelchairs, walkers, and jogging strollers. This is a good one for getting outside without turning the walk into a major expedition.
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Toto Creek Park
Dawsonville·All ages, particularly suitable for families with children·Outdoor
Toto Creek Park is a quiet, primitive lakeside campground and day-use area near Dawsonville, good for families comfortable with rustic conditions. The single restroom is near the park entrance, there are no showers or electrical hookups, and a small walking path with picnic tables and grills gives younger kids somewhere to stretch their legs. A walk here feels like an outing, but not one that requires military-level preparation.
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Uncle Shuck's Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch
Dawsonville·All ages by day·Outdoor
Uncle Shuck's is Dawsonville's big fall production: a 15-acre corn maze plus a kiddie maze, unlimited wagon rides, a corn cannon, jumping pad, tire mountain, farm animals to visit, and an evening bonfire with marshmallows — all included with maze admission. Kids under 12 need an adult with them, and festival food stands are available on-site. Keep this one in mind for a straightforward outing with just enough novelty to reset the mood.
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Van Pugh North Beach
Flowery Branch·All ages, but particularly suitable for families with young children·Outdoor
Van Pugh North Beach is a Lake Lanier day-use spot in Flowery Branch with a small sandy beach — good for a lake day with young kids without the commitment of a full campground visit. Water quality is tested weekly in season and results are posted publicly. No pets are allowed anywhere in the park. Plan for splashing, lingering, and at least one child insisting they are not cold while visibly shivering.
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War Hill Park
Dawsonville·All ages, with a better fit for families wanting outdoor activities·Outdoor
War Hill Park is a lakefront campground and day-use spot on Lake Lanier in Dawsonville, best for families wanting to fish, swim, or camp rather than a quick playground visit. It's a quiet, 14-site campground, with several sites letting you swim or fish right from your spot. Weekend noise can carry over from a nearby racetrack. It is a good backup for the moment when ‘let’s just have a quiet day at home’ stops working.
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Warbington Farms
Cumming·All ages·Outdoor
Warbington Farms is a seasonal u-pick farm in Cumming built around strawberry season (spring through early June), with play areas, a petting zoo, hayrides where you can feed the cows, a wildflower-picking area, and seasonal events like an Easter egg hunt and pumpkin picking through the year. No pets are allowed except service animals. Keep it in mind for a day when the kids need action and your house needs a brief vacation from them.
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