If you’re looking for somewhere to relax and soak up the joy of the autumn season, check out the Fall Festival & Corn Maze at Barton Hill Farms, open every weekend through Nov. 8, 2015. Do512 Family content manager, Heidi, had a chance to visit the farm with her family during this year’s opening weekend. Read all about it…

Barton Hill Farms is gorgeous. It’s a really picture-perfect landscape next to the Colorado River, where you’ll find plenty of families lounging and playing in the expansive grassy area and picnicking under the shade of the enormous 100 year old cottonwood trees.

Besides being a very pretty destination, Barton Hill Farms packs on the fall FUN! You could spend an entire day on the farm with all of the activities to choose from. Our kids go nuts on the giant jumping pillow (think open-air bouncy house). They love the giant slides, playing in the old fort, going for a bumpy ride on the cow train, racing each other on the pony hops (inflatable horses that you bounce on) trying to beat each other to the finish line on the trike race track, and they can’t resist playing in the huge pirate ship sandbox.

New this year, you’ll find barrel race game called rat racers that you climb in and push to the finish line. You’ll also find a tractor-pulled Grain Train that even grown-ups can ride. And the pumpkin patch got a big upgrade this year. There’s a new barn where you can purchase pumpkins, rent red wagons or get feed for the pigs, sheep and goats.

Our favorite part about visiting Barton Hill Farms is the corn maze! This year’s maze features the Great Pumpkin, Snoopy and Woodstock, which our kids thought was super cool. When you’re ready to start the maze, you first pick from a variety of themed clue cards with 10 questions on each card that help you navigate through the maze. (When you answer a question at each numbered station, you’ll then find out which direction to head next.) You can tackle the full maze with 10 questions, which took my family about 35 minutes (although we were told to expect about 45 min.)  But you also get the options to duck out after completing 5 questions if you feel like you’re not up for the full maze. Or, if you have little ones in your group, you can complete the smaller, easier family maze featuring the character “Spookly”.

Navigating the corn maze is pretty thrilling. Looking out for dead ends and wrong turns makes it all the more exciting. I will admit we did get lost at one point along the way, and we asked one of the guides stationed within the maze for a little advice. But we were very proud of ourselves when we got to the exit. My oldest thinks doing the maze by flashlight would be awesome, but I am personally happy to stick to daylight hours.

–> What to Know Before You Go:

• Wear closed-toe shoes — You’re on farm terrain with prickers occasional ant piles, etc. Your feet will be happier in socks & shoes vs. flip flops.
• Don’t forget sunscreen and hats — While there are many shade structures, you’ll find yourself in the sun for most activities.
• The bathrooms are porta potties — There are plenty of them and they were very clean, but I always like to know to expect these types of facilities in advance so I can pack wipes, tissue, hand sanitizer, etc.
• You can bring strollers and wagons or you can rent a red wagon for $5/hr
• You may wish to bring a blanket to spread out for a picnic, although there are many picnic tables available as well.
• There’s plenty of food and drinks (even beer) for purchase while you’re there such as bbq, Boomerang pies, kettle corn & popsicles. Click here to learn more about food options.
• If you purchase a pumpkin in the pumpkin patch, you can paint it for free with an Adventure Pass.
• General admission is $8 for ages 3-10 and $11 for ages 11 & up and includes entry into the grounds, the corn maze, pumpkin patch and slides. An Adventure Pass can be purchased for $11 for ages 3-10 and $15 for ages 11 & up and includes unlimited access to the jumping pillow, cow train, trike track, pumpkin painting, and pony hops. Children ages 2 and under are free.
• You can save a $1 on admission if you purchase your tickets online.

–> Adventure Pass Giveaway! We have a family 4-pack of Adventure Passes to use anytime between now and November 8, 2015. Enter below. Good luck!
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered.