Vala’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard - Plus More!
There are few days each year I enjoy more than a day with my family at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard. My family has gone to Vala’s every year except 2020 and it is always a great time for all of us. What’s not to love? A day at Vala’s or any pumpkin patch or orchard includes lots of yummy homemade food and drinks, fun activities for all ages, plenty of photo ops, and the opportunity to hand-pick your own pumpkin directly from the field or apples directly from the tree. It is the quintessential autumn activity for all of us.
We’ve watched Vala’s grow and include more attractions over time. It has been an amazing transformation. Vala’s has gorgeous landscaping and flowers, more indoor and covered outdoor places to eat a wide variety of foods, and more attractions than ever before - even some amusement park rides! And while I’m featuring Vala’s with this post, I will include information about other orchards and pumpkin patches at the end.
If you and your family wish to go to a pumpkin patch or orchard, there are some things you need to do ahead of time. Here are my recommendations:
Check the weather and plan accordingly. Dress in layers. Bring a hat, jacket, and sunscreen as needed.
Go early in the day, preferably when it opens. If you’ve ever seen the unbelievably huge and possibly distant parking lots at some of these places, you’ll thank me.
Head first to the most popular attractions, particularly those furthest from the entrance. You will have few (or very short) lines for at least the first hour. Encourage your family to pick their favorite activity ahead of time and spend extra time doing those for the first hour or two. Most folks will stop at the first activity or attraction they come across. You and your family will beat the crowds for at least half the day. We followed this plan and it worked out wonderfully. By the time we met at 11:00 for an early lunch, we had already experienced many attractions on our list. Awesome!
Eat meals at “off” times. I would suggest eating a light breakfast at home and planning where you want to have lunch ahead of time. Today we ate lunch at 11:00. There was no line, plenty of places to sit, and I even found a place to charge my phone. It was very enjoyable and the food was delicious.
5. If you have younger children, plan ahead and research online where the restrooms are. If that’s not possible, ask at the entrance. As most parents of littles know, sometimes you are not given a bunch of leeway to find a restroom. I let two slightly-panicked mothers with small children cut in line so they were next and one thanked me profusely and the other one called me an angel. 😇
6. If you have small children, bring a stroller or wagon. Some pumpkin patches are huge and it is tough on everyone when the kiddos get too tired to walk. In addition, throw in a blanket, wet wipes, and possibly an extra change of clothes for each young child. You never know when those items will come in handy!
7. Bring water, snacks, and even a picnic lunch if it is allowed. You’ll save money, avoid long lines, and overly hungry and thirsty kids. Try to let your kids select one treat to eat at home or with your picnic lunch. After all, the food is part of the fun at pumpkin patches and orchards.
8. If you live nearby, consider purchasing a season pass, if offered. If not, I’d encourage you not to try to do everything in one day. If the place is smaller, you might be able to do everything. The last thing you want, though, is crabby, overtired kids paired with frustrated and short-tempered parents on a day that’s supposed to be fun. You can do more activities either at another time - or next year. We’ve never been able to do everything offered at Vala’s in a single day, but know we’ll put it on our radar for next year.
9. Consider allowing your older children, especially, to bring a friend. We have done this for years and everyone enjoys the day even more. Work out money with friends’ parents ahead of time, though, to avoid hard feelings and awkward moments.
10. Bring fully-charged phones and/or cameras. Also consider bringing a portable phone charger. You don’t want to miss those great photo opportunities and opportunities to relive memories in the future.
11. If pumpkin or apple picking are on your to-do list, plan strategically. Ideally you will want to do those activities last or make a trip to the car with your items. Some places do have carts or wheelbarrows, but it is still a bit inconvenient to carry, push, or pull these items around for the rest of the day.
For Omaha Metro-area pumpkin patches and apple orchards, check out this article. Explore more options for patches and orchards in the Midwest. And, lastly, read a recent blog post about the best pumpkin patches and apple orchards in the United States, See The Travel Channel’s recommendations here. You will find Vala’s in the last link.
There are many pumpkin patches and orchards in all price ranges to enjoy so be sure to do a few minutes of research in your area for the ones that will best fit for your family. Most of all, have a great time and enjoy the fall foliage, activities, food, and fun!
Lots of gourds and pumpkins available!
