No matter how old you get, there's no more fall fun to be had than heading out to the patch to pick out your pumpkin.
However, seemingly gone are the days when you could just head on over to your local farm, pick up a few gourds for your jack-o-lanterns and leave. These days, pumpkin patches are crammed with entertaining rides and novelty games, petting zoos and a party spirit.
The following four pumpkin patches are perennially considered to be some of America's finest.
Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm(Waukegan, Illinois)
Like any good pumpkin patch worth its seeds, Kroll's features rows upon rows of specialty breed pumpkins of every size, shape and color.
The hayrides here are educational as well as fun. Each year, the farm picks a different theme around which to give a short talk during the ride. Kids can learn about pollination or how pumpkins are grown before heading over to the farm animal area to pet the goats, donkeys and llamas.
For many, the highlight of Kroll's is the intricately carved corn maze. Each year, the maze is cut to spell out a different design. Spoiler alert: this year it says "I've Gotta Crow 2017", with a picture of a rooster.
Roba Family Farms(North Abington Township, Pennsylvania)
A large number of attractions at this 52-acre family farm make it ideal for an autumn day out.
After picking out your pumpkin at one of the two patches, you can meander through two different corn mazes (one large and one small), take a scenic wagon ride past the farm's Christmas trees, feed the bunnies, goats and chickens at the animal center or shoot apples and pumpkins from cannons (because why not?)
As if that wasn't enough, Roba also offers pony rides, face painting, a playground and fort, plus regular appearances from a barnyard animal band and some racing pigs. (Yup, you'll just have to come and see it for yourself.)
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Papa's Pumpkin Patch (Bismarck, North Dakota)
Papa's started with humble beginnings: The owners planting a few pumpkins on the farm for a family friend. These days, it opens to around 70,000 people each year and features more than 25 different fun activities.
Visitors of all ages can stroll through the bale maze, take horse-drawn hay rides and (once again) fire pumpkins from a cannon. Youngsters get to have their own fun on the mini zip wires, tire climbing pile and the apple dash obstacle course.
Naturally, there's pumpkin cookies and pumpkin pie available whenever you need to refuel for more fun.
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Craven Farm(Snohomish, Washington)
This family-run farm has been hosting their annual fall festival since the early '80s, and their pumpkin patch now extends over 20 acres, featuring 30 different varieties of pumpkins.
There are two mazes: one 15-acre corn maze themed around Alice in Wonderland and a smaller children's adventure maze that features storybook scenes and an obstacle course.
The hayride (which only runs at weekends) skirts the length of the farm, around which have been dotted several Minions. Spot the correct number, and you could win a prize at the end.
Miniature golf, duck races, a pig pen, pumpkin slinging and a story barn can also be found on site.
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