Let me be direct about The Farm at Court Manor in New Market, Virginia. This historic 800-acre estate operates primarily as a seasonal fall agritourism destination and wedding venue rather than a traditional flower farm, so if you're specifically hunting for lavender fields or tulip gardens this probably isn't your spot. Established in 2021 under owners Dave and Jewel Yutzy on property dating back to 1800, the history alone makes it worth a visit. General admission runs $12 per person for fall festival weekends (Fridays through Sundays in October) with field trips available at $8 per student. The experience features a 37-acre Zoorama corn maze (yes, 37 acres), a 9-acre pumpkin patch with 50+ pumpkin varieties, exotic animals including zebras and water buffalo wandering around a Virginia farm like it's completely normal, a 120-foot hay slide at the historic round barn, and various family-friendly activities like petting zoos, pedal car tracks, and zip lines. One 2022 article did mention a sunflower field for pick-your-own flowers, but there's no current evidence of extensive flower experiences like lavender farms, tulip gardens, or regular pick-your-own wildflower meadows that would make this a Virginia flower farm destination. The business has received 100% recommendation ratings on Facebook with 26 reviews and multiple 5-star wedding venue reviews praising the breathtaking historic Greek Revival manor house and impeccable grounds. Court Manor also operates year-round as a wedding and event venue with packages starting at $3,999, accommodating up to 200 guests. They host special seasonal events including a Christmas Tea and Tour benefiting the Lacey Spring Food Pantry in late November and December. Fun historical tidbit... the property was the birthplace of 1928 Kentucky Derby winner Reigh Count and hosted Zoorama, a 1950s exotic zoo, making it a unique destination for families seeking fall pumpkin patch experiences and corn maze adventures in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley with stunning mountain views.
Fairview Fun Farm opened in Fall 2020 on a gorgeous 94-acre spread at 316 Fairview Road in Luray, Virginia, and honestly? It's become one of Page County's best family spots faster than anyone expected. Gary Breeden (who also owns DR's Quick Stop and has been hay farming forever) and Darlene Anderson (ran Flotzie's Soft Serve for 19 years) are both Page County natives who wanted to share real farm life with visitors to the Shenandoah Valley. Don't confuse this place with Fairview Farm Events over in Powhatan, that's a wedding venue. The Blue Ridge Mountains views here are unreal. They've already grabbed a TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice award (top 10% of properties) and have a 100% recommend rating on Facebook from 25 reviews, which is pretty wild for a place that's only been around since 2020. Open Saturdays and Sundays only from late September through late October, plus Columbus Day (2025 season runs September 27 through October 26), and they charge $10 per person with kids 2 and under free. That covers everything except food and pumpkins, those you buy separately at the end-of-season sale where wagons go for $10-$20. Plan for at least three hours because there's a ton to do. We're talking U-pick pumpkins and sunflowers, hayrides with scavenger hunts, a barrel train, corn maze, hay mountain, multiple slides including this monster called The Tongue Biter (the name alone tells you something), sandbox with diggers, pedal tractors, adult tricycles, duck races, children's axe throwing, catch-and-release pond fishing, and they're adding a rope course for 2025. Plus goats, ducks, chickens, and rabbits wandering around. Reviews keep mentioning it's clean, family owned, and great for younger kids including those with special needs. People say they can't finish everything even after coming back multiple years. Hours are 10 AM to 6 PM, weather dependent. They book private events too. Food comes from Stanley Volunteer Fire Department volunteers serving lunch alongside cotton candy, candy apples, and snow cones. Location's perfect for day-tripping since you're near Luray Caverns and Shenandoah National Park.
Showalter's Orchard sits at 17768 Honeyville Road in Timberville, perched on a hilltop with 360-degree views of the Shenandoah Valley that'll make you forget you came for apples. Shannon Showalter's parents started this place back in 1965, and Sarah and Shannon took over in 2003. That's 60 years of family farming on 60 acres. The orchard grows over 30 apple varieties (Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady among them) for pick-your-own from mid-July through November. The trees are dwarf varietiies designed for easy picking without ladders or awkward reaching. For pricing, just call 540-896-7582 because it varies, but they do volume discounts. The real draw here might be Old Hill Hard Cider. They launched it in 2011 using traditional family recipes, and the year-round cider room offers tasting flights that pair nicely with those mountain views. Visitors keep raving about the apple cider donuts (one reviewer called them possibly the best they've ever had). The farm pulls 4.7 stars from 136 Google reviews and 94% recommend on Facebook from 818 reviews. There's a 100-year-old apple grader still running in the historic grading shed... honestly that machine has probably seen more apples than most of us will in a lifetime. Beyond picking, they've got hydroponic greenhouses growing vegetables year-round, farm stays at The Cider House cottage plus AirBnB options, and they participate in the Harvest Host RV program. The Greenhouse venue hosts weddings starting at $5,300 for weekend access to the renovated 4,300-square-foot space. Each October brings the Annual Harvest Celebration Series with local artisans, food trucks, and live music. TripAdvisor gave them Travelers' Choice recognition (top 10% of properties nationwide), and their commitment to sustainable practices shows in everything from their small dwarf trees to diversified agritourism offerings. Three generations in, this Shenandoah Valley orchard has figured out how to balance apple picking, award-winning cider production, and event hosting without losing what made it work in the first place.
Paugh's Orchard has been running since 1990 in Quicksburg, Virginia, making it 34+ years of family operation at 5591 Senedo Road along scenic Route 42 (and just so nobody gets confused, this is different from Paugh's Farm on Turkey Knob Road, which is a separate family enterprise). Harold Paugh started it as a hobby. Now his granddaughter Renee Sharpe owns the place after purchasing it in July 2022 specifically to keep it as a working farm rather than letting it become another vineyard or B&B. The orchard spans 24 acres with 18 acres of fruit trees. U-pick options include apple picking September through November, peach picking after July 4, strawberry picking starting late June, and blackberry picking in August. Pricing is genuinely reasonable: 8 apples for $2, small baskets starting at $6.50. Customers consistently mention it's cheaper than orchards closer to main roads. Ratings are solid with 4.6/5 on TripAdvisor and 94% recommend on Facebook from 69 reviews. People love the deliciously sweet and juicy fruit and that you can sample apples before buying (which honestly should be standard everywhere but isn't). Southern hospitality is real here. The farm market stocks over 500 products including seven peach varieties, popular apples like Honeycrisp and Stayman, locally made honey, jams and jellies, Vidalia onion peach hot sauce, home-grown beef, fresh eggs, and seasonal pumpkins. Kids go wild for the farm animals: barn cats, rabbits, goats, ducks, and chickens wandering around like a casual petting zoo. When the owners are out working the fields, there's an honor box system. Open Wednesday through Monday 9 AM to 6 PM (closed Tuesdays) through Thanksgiving. They host Christmas festivals and work as a school field trip destination too. Shenandoah Caverns is just 4.6 miles away if you want a full day of Shenandoah Valley activities.
Back Home-on the Farm is what happens when a greenhouse hobby from the 1990s turns into Harrisonburg's original agritourism destination with 40+ attractions. Gary and Lynne Hess own it. The 240-acre working Hereford cattle farm has been in Gary's family since the late 1950s, and he'll tell you he never wanted to be anything but a farmer. They added the corn maze and family attractions in 2004, and now they're running three farms totaling nearly 600 acres in Rockingham County. Over 25,000 visitors show up annually to this Virginia pumpkin patch and fall festival farm, plus another 5,000 school kids on field trips aligned with Virginia Standards of Learning. Admission costs $10 on weekdays and $12 on weekends. Kids under 2 get in free, and grandparents pay half-price (nice touch). Pumpkins from the 7-acre patch are sold separately by the pound. The farm-made whoopie pies are kind of legendary around here, and the apple cider donuts and cider slushies are worth the trip alone. TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice recognition (top 10% of properties), 463 Facebook likes, and reviews consistently mention how it's fun for both little ones and parents. Now about those attractions. The 60-foot underground slide built from actual drainage tunnels is exactly as chaotic as it sounds. There's a Virginia History Carousel with 30 hand-painted horses each representing Virginia historical figures. Pig races run multiple times daily (the prize is Oreo cookies, apparently pigs go nuts for those). Cow train rides, barnyard golf, a kid-sized zipline, rubber duck races, and a corn maze that changes themes annually through some 300-farmer collaborative design thing. Wagon rides through the pumpkin patch too. They've also got a 12,000-square-foot greenhouse range selling bedding plants, perennials, and mums. Country Tea parties run year-round with artisan fare and table manner education. Spring brings enchanted fairy gardens. The working farm side includes 100+ purebred Hereford cattle, goats, donkeys, llamas, bunnies, and chickens for authentic agricultural education. Gary and Lynne were both 4-H and FFA members who worked with Virginia State Fair developing beef exhibits, so they get twitchy when people use agritainment instead of agritourism. Education matters here. They repurpose everything creatively (those drainage tunnels became slides, wagon wheels became seesaws, old tractors became play structures). Located at 2915 Willow Run Road near Harrisonburg city limits. Lynne personally responds to reviews, which tells you something about how they run the place.
Ostlund Christmas Tree Farm has been doing the Christmas tree thing since 1986, and Buffy and Fred Ostlund have built something special on their 100 acres (15 of those dedicated to trees) at 6876 Kieffer Road in Singers Glen, Virginia. Thirty-nine years of a family operation in Rockingham County's Shenandoah Valley, and it shows. You can cut your own Norway Spruce, Scotch Pine, White Pine, or Douglas Fir for a flat $65 regardless of size or type, which honestly feels fair these days. All trees 3 feet and up get sheared and shaped yearly. They also carry limited pre-cut Fraser Firs from North Carolina in three sizes if you don't want to do the work. Heads up though, they only take cash or checks. No cards. The Ostlunds homeschooled four kids on this farm, and now their grandchildren run the hot cocoa stands. I love that detail. They went from serving a handful of customers with a crockpot of hot cider to getting absolutely slammed post-pandemic, we're talking 50%+ demand increases, customers blocking traffic, fields getting wiped out. So go early in the season if selection matters to you. They're open Saturdays 9 AM to 5 PM and Sundays 12 PM to 5 PM from the Friday after Thanksgiving through mid-December. Early season is full-service, then it shifts to self-service. Free hot cocoa, free ornament with each tree, a hidden candy cane tree game for kids, Seek & Find games, and a vintage sled for family photos. The Heartland Christmas Market (launched 2020) might be the real draw though. They've got 11-20 local artisans set up in renovated lamb barns, authentic German bratwurst, a Candy Cane Express barrel train, live music, and make-it-take-it activities with genuine Bavarian Christmas market vibes. Bring 10 food items for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and you get a free Bundle O' Boughs, which is a nice touch. Wreaths and garland available too, plus tree pre-tagging if you want to shop early and they'll shake and net your tree for easy transport. One thing to know: they don't irrigate, so they're 100% dependent on rainfall. That's meant tighter supplies some years.
F.T. Valley Farm at Mont Medi sits on 44 scenic acres in Rappahannock County with over 12,000 dwarf and semi-dwarf apple and peach trees, six miles from Sperryville and about 80 miles west of Washington D.C. Algis and Kathy Penkiunas founded it in 2008 and picked up the historic Mont Medi orchard (which dates all the way back to 1838) in 2016. The place has a perfect 5.0-star rating from 37 reviews. That's hard to maintain. They grow 24+ apple varieties including Honeycrisp, EverCrisp, Pink Lady, and the heirloom Albemarle Pippin. Pricing is straightforward: $2/lb for first-quality fruit, $1/lb for baking seconds. The trees are specifically designed for easy picking without ladders, which makes it genuinely family-friendly rather than family-friendly with an asterisk. U-pick season runs mid-August through mid-November, Thursday through Sunday 10am to 5pm (show up by 4pm if you want to actually pick). The orchard sits along Route 231, one of Virginia's Scenic Byways, with Blue Ridge Mountain views and Old Rag Mountain in the backdrop. It's women-owned and dog-friendly. During special events they run guided hayrides, and they host educational school field trips too. The farm market sells fresh-pressed apple cider, grass-fed beef from their 100-head cattle operation, local honey, and homemade apple butter. Here's something that stuck with me: they've donated over 9,000 lbs of apples to regional food banks. That says something about Sperryville's community-minded agricultural spirit. Solid spot for apple picking near the Shenandoah Valley or u-pick peaches in Virginia.
Cross Keys Farm has been in the same family since 1868, over 155 years of continuous farming on this Harrisonburg, Virginia property at 3022 Cross Keys Road. Here's what makes it interesting though: the land has passed down exclusively through the women of the family after being deeded to owner Mary Stickley-Godinez's great-grandmother following the Civil War. Mary runs it now with her husband Raul Godinez, and they make a good team, she's got landscape design chops and he grew up working orchards in Washington State. Their modern transformation started Spring 2018 when they planted fruit trees and crops, hit solid production by 2023, and introduced U-pick options about two years ago. They also operate the only commercial grafting business on the East Coast, traveling each April to work with thousands of trees on other farms. That's not something you see. They've earned a 100% recommend rating on Facebook from 7 reviews, and customers love their promise: they grow everything they sell. To their knowledge, they're the only market in the region that can say this honestly (zero reselling from other farms). Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM from June through November. The apple selection alone is ridiculous, 32+ varieties including Honeycrisp, Ambrosia, Pink Lady, and rare heirlooms like Arkansas Black, Albemarle Pippin, and Esopus Spitzenburg. Sometimes they'll have varieties they created themselves. You can also U-pick blackberries, blueberries, red and yellow raspberries, peaches, nectarines, cherries, pears, plus seasonal veggies like asparagus, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and melons. They've got wildflower picking and this clever gourd tunnel that's gorgeous for photos. The farm market sells homemade jams, jellies, chutneys, breads, vinegars, and salsas (all from their own produce), with a loyalty program giving punches for every $10 spent and 10% off when you fill your card. Instead of a traditional CSA, they do Peter Rabbit Passes where you pay once for five half-bushel boxes to fill yourself throughout the season. Smart. Located just past White Oak Lavender Farm, about 10 minutes from downtown Harrisonburg with easy I-81 access. The 30-acre sustainable operation focuses on clean cultivation methods, and their orchard rules are genuinely funny, reminding guests it's all-you-can-pick, not all-you-can-eat.
Hobbit Hill Farm is a beloved USDA certified organic u-pick blueberry farm tucked into the rolling hills of Rockingham County, named after J.R.R. Tolkien's Shire because the original farmhouse was built directly into a hillside—making this Mt Crawford destination a whimsical treat for families and Lord of the Rings fans alike. Founded over 30 years ago by Tom and Martha Pack, who simply "wanted to pick fresh blueberries for pie," the farm has maintained organic practices for more than two decades and is now lovingly operated by their daughter Haley Coloso, who restored the overgrown patch and expanded production with financing from Foodshed Capital. The 53-acre property on the banks of the North River offers pick-your-own organic blueberries at just $6/pound—varieties include Blue Jay, Blue Ray, and Patriot—during a short but spectacular two-week season in June that draws visitors from Harrisonburg, Staunton, and even day-trippers from Charlottesville and D.C. Reviewers rave about the huge bushes full of berries at perfect picking height (no bending required), the refreshing homemade blueberry mint lemonade, and Haley's warm hospitality—earning the farm a TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award. The experience is wonderfully family-friendly, with picnic blankets, berry-themed children's books, small picking buckets for kids, and an annual pop-up farmers market featuring local vendors, live music, and an educational bee observation hive. Located just 1.6 miles from CrossKeys Vineyards and minutes from Grand Caverns, Hobbit Hill Farm is the Shenandoah Valley's hidden gem for organic blueberry picking—call ahead or check Instagram (@hobbithillfarm) to confirm the brief picking window each summer.
