My kids caught their first glimpse of Cherry Crest Adventure Farm while we were riding the train at Strasburg Rail Road. They couldn't wait to get off the train ride and head over to explore what looked like the coolest place.
Cherry Crest is but a short five-minute drive from Strasburg and has plenty of free and convenient parking. We also could have opted to get off the train, spend a few hours and take a train back to Strasburg.
The first thing my kids ran to was their measuring station (this was our summer obsession since they each became the next candy category at Hersheypark this year). You were measured by types of cornstalks and then given appropriate-sized wristbands for the attractions.
Right away my kids were asking about the corn maze, so I was relieved to find out that they had different difficulty levels that allows everyone regardless of age or ability to enjoy the fun. Since my kids are 5 and 3, we chose the easy option that has yellow posts to guide you along the outer edge and can be completed in about 15 minutes.
There is also an intermediate option and the ultimate challenge, which both sounded like fun if you have older teens who are looking for a fun night out. You can even carry a flag with you to wave if you run into trouble, and they have staff who wander through the maze to ensure no one is lost.
Along with the maze, there are dozens of fun activities for kids -- and adults (we took my parents and they loved it, too!). Cherry Crest is split into two primary areas, the Barnyard and the Courtyard.
The Courtyard is closer to the main entrance and home to the Maze and Petting Zoo with sheep, goats, pigs and other animals. This area is also where you can hold a baby chick, something both of my kids really thought was special.
Pedal Karts, a wagon ride and a wagon tour all reside in the Courtyard area as well, plus a variety of food. I was very impressed with their options, plenty of grill items like burgers and chicken, but also kid-friendly things like pb&j, yogurt, fruit and string cheese. I also thought the prices were very reasonable compared to some other attractions that we have visited.
After lunch, we ventured up to the Barnyard for what my daughter had first eyed from the train - a giant inflatable pillow bounce! I thought that would be her favorite, but then she discovered the Straw Bale Racer and Giant Hay Chute slides. A word of warning here though, really young kids will need help climbing up the side of the hill to get to the top of the slides, although the slides are plenty big enough for parents to put little ones on their lap and enjoy the fun, too!
In the Barnyard, my son loved exploring the Hay Tunnel and climbing on the piles of hay bales (although some young kids were saying they were afraid of the dark passage inside and it was too small for an adult to fit in). The Giant Slinger was also another must-do for my sports-obsessed kid and he liked trying to hit the targets using the ball and slingshot.
What I've highlighted here is just the tip of the offerings for family fun at Cherry Crest. There were many other attractions we just ran out of time to visit, so naturally my kids are already asking when they can go play there again.
I definitely recommend this as a fall destination for kids of all ages. While little ones may not be able to enjoy every attraction, there is still plenty for them to get exhausted and take a great nap for you on the way home! And, even teenagers can enjoy the challenge of the maze and helping younger siblings.
Cherry Crest is open through Nov. 9, although hours and admission rates vary by day. I recommend checking their website, and keeping up with them on facebook (they aren't open during bad weather) for the latest information and special offers. Some special events to watch out for is a Family Fun Day on Sept. 14, Harvest Festival with additional offerings on Saturdays from Sept. 21 through Oct. 26, and Pumpkin Madness on Nov. 2.
Disclosure: My family received complimentary admission to facilitate this review. However, all opinions expressed are my own.
