Take a Fall Day Trip with Apple!
From fall festivals and Trunk-or-Treat events to fall crafts in the classroom and much more, the season is in full swing at Apple! To celebrate all things autumn, we'll be sharing a few festive day trip ideas from our Apple staff - fun things you can do with your family & friends right here in New Jersey! Stay tuned for more throughout the coming weeks!
What do YOU love to do in the fall? What are your family's traditions?
Here are some of ours...
Ms. Sepulveda, infant teacher, Wayne:
"I spent an awesome day apple picking at Alstede Farm (Chester, N.J.) with my grandkids! We go every year and try to find the best apples, which are always at the top of the tree. We seem to eat more apples there then we bring home. Whoops! When we're done picking apples, the kids love to spend some time in the kiddie area. It is always a great day when you get to spend it with your family!”
Ms. Fish, marketing specialist & former teacher/administrator:
"Samaha's Farm on Lloyd Road is Aberdeen, N.J., is the perfect one-stop fall spot! All activities are toddler- and family-friendly. They have a non-scary hayride, petting zoo, corn sensory table (a favorite of ours!), pumpkin tic-tac-toe, special stage performances, and so much more! Their Fall Festival runs through Halloween. There is an adorable little market that sells fresh fruits, veggies, flowers and apple cider donuts - don’t pass those up! And don’t pass up all of the photo opportunities!
Another favorite of ours is to drive around and see all the leaves changing colors on the trees. If you time it right, they sometimes look like fireworks! We follow New Jersey Forest Service on Facebook to see when they best time to venture out and explore is in different areas! They report and map the foliage conditions every Friday during the season. This is also a great time to get out and explore some local parks and collect some pieces of nature for art projects - leaves, sticks, pinecones, acorns, etc. You make a little scavenger hunt out of it!
Finally, while the Adventure Aquarium in Camden is a year-round hit for our family, they do an exceptionally good job with their fall and winter themes and displays. This is usually a stop on or around my son Jack’s October birthday and then over his Winter Recess. In addition to seeing all of the incredible sea life and interactive exhibits, there are glowing ghords and underwater pumpkin patches! Our favorite part of every visit is the shark bridge! Did you know that Adventure Aquarium offers free PreK memberships to children ages to children ages 2-5? Check out the details here.
Ms. Aguero, teacher, Woodbridge Avenue:
"Casola Farm is a fantastic family-oriented destination that offers a memorable experience for visitors of all ages. The chance to feed animals creates a hands-on connection with nature, while pony rides add an element of fun for the kids. The face painting is a delightful activity that sparks creativity, and the hay rides provide a charming way to explore the farm. Don't miss the sunflower ride! It's a beautiful backdrop for photos! The Wild West show is also a highlight, entertaining families with engaging performances. Overall, Casola Farm is a must-visit for a day of wholesome fun and adventure!"
Ms. Sinisi, director, Oakland:
"Sundays are for baking Mini Pumpkin Muffins! Here is the recipe we follow:
One box of spice cake mix
15oz can of pumpkin purée
Mini chocolate chips
Set oven to 350
Grease your mini muffin pan.
Scoop your mixture into the liner.
Top with mini chocolate chips.
Bake for 8-10 minutes! Enjoy!"
Ms. Pastor, assistant director, Wayne:
"My favorite farm is Alstede Farm in Chester, N.J., because it is huge! I went with my mom, brother, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew earlier this fall. We originally planned to go apple picking, but it seemed like all the apples had been picked, so we headed to the pumpkin patch and vegetable patches. We had won a family pass at a tricky tray event this year that included tickets for all the extra children's activities as well. My niece and nephew enjoyed the tractor/hayride, bounce house, and horseback riding. We ended the day with some homemade ice cream. I love spending time with my family and getting to be a big kid again as I run around with my niece and nephew. The weather was also too beautiful to stay inside!"
Ms. Aquino, toddler co-teacher, Wayne:
"My daugher and I went to Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park in the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford this fall. We not only had fun riding the kiddie rides, but even rode the unicorn ride-on throughout the first floor of the mall! Nothing like arriving in style! It is a great place to go when the weather starts getting a little chilly because this mall offers a variety of different activities for children of all ages. We were able to spend the whole day there and still feel like we didn't do everything!"
Ms. Choudhury, toddler teacher, Wayne:
"I recently went to Donaldson Farms Farm Market in Hackettstown, N.J. with my two daughters. We went raspberry and pumpkin picking. I taught them how to look for the ripe berries and when they are ready to be picked. We also looked at the different sized pumpkins and tried to see which one was the biggest. I love taking the girls out of the house and spending time in nature creating memories."
