Apple Orchard

For years I've been wanting to take the kids to an apple orchard in the fall, but we'd never found the opportunity.  This year I was determined, so on a recommendation from a friend we headed out to Apple Jack Orchards about 40 minutes west of Minneapolis.  I'd been hoping for a rural setting, pick-your-own apples, fresh cider, games for the kids, wagons, hay rides, donuts, and boatloads of fresh apples.  I was not disappointed!  This orchard had all of charm I'd been hoping for; I just wish we lived close enough to make it an annual visit. 

 Playing on the hay bales.

 Some of the apples were past their peak time, but the kids didn't mind picking up the ground fall ones.

 Jake gets a boost from Dad.

 Such monkeys, all of them.  They had to go for the ones others hadn't been able to reach.

 It was post-card perfect. 

 The best part was tasting all the different varieties.  Honeycrisp was still our hands-down favorite.

 They had a serious corn maze.  Haley, Jake and I ventured in.  We got lost.  We climbed up on platforms and looked for ways out.  We got lost again.  We saw signs where you could text for directions.  We still were lost.  Finally we bush-whacked our way out one of the sides.  Walking back toward Rob and Alex, we noticed a sign that had fallen over near the entrance.  It said "Not for children" and "$10 per ticket."  Oops!  No wonder it was so hard!

 We always spend at least half a day at the Mall of America when we go to Minneapolis.  The kids get to ride at the amusement park and visit their favorite stores.  Jake was thrilled with a new Lego set; Haley had her dolls' hair styled at American Girl.