10+ Pumpkin Patches & Apple Orchards to Visit in Wisconsin

The Cabin is presented by the Wisconsin Counties Association and this week we’re featuring Manitowoc County; https://www.wicounties.org/counties/manitowoc-county/

The Cabin is also presented by Jolly Good Soda, available in all your classic favorite flavors that we remember from childhood. The diet line offers 0 calories, 0 carbs, 0 sugars, and no caffeine – perfect for mixers or just enjoying on a warm summer day (or any day, for that matter); always Wisconsin-based, you can follow @jollygoodsoda on social for the latest on new flavors, fun promotions, and more. Learn more here; https://bit.ly/3TSFYY4

Eric and Ana highlight some of the best apple orchards and pumpkin patches to maximize your Fall fun now that it’s October. Many of these include not only orchards and/or pumpkin patches, but other fun family-friendly activities from mini-train rides and kart tracks to petting zoos and make-your-own pizzas with fresh farm ingredients. Eric and Ana explored the offerings of Glacier Rock Farms near Ixonia; the popular Apple Holler on the Racine-Kenosha County line along I-41/94;, Ski-Hi Fruit Farm, nestled in the Baraboo Hills; Apple Hut near Beloit; Apple Barn west of Elkhorn; Seehafer Farms outside of Marshfield; Turner’s Fresh Market near Waupaca;, Polly’s Pumpkin Patch near Chilton, a place where Eric had filmed for a Discover Wisconsin episode on Calumet County; Helene’s Hilltop Orchard near Merrill; Basse’s Taste of Country on the Waukesha-Washington County line just west of Menomonee Falls; Mommsen’s Harvest Hills Pumpkin Patch and Orchard south of Rice Lake, where Eric also filmed with Discover Wisconsin and participated in some serious pumpkin chuckin’; Ecker’s Apple Farm outside of Trempealeau, which also offers live music and a craft beer bar; and Shanahan Orchard between Plain and Loganville in Sauk County. The discussion also zoned in on two specific areas known in Wisconsin for growing fruit: Bayfield County and Door County. These two counties feature more maritime climate tendencies than the rest of the state, and as such they’ve attracted clusters of growers. In Bayfield, they discussed Blue Vista Farm, Hauser’s Superior View, Hillcrest Orchards, Rabideaux’s Orchards, Sunset Valley Orchard, and North Wind Organic Farm, all part of a trail you can follow in the hills above Bayfield for a full day - or weekend or more - of fun! In Door County, Eric and Ana checked out Lautenbach’s Orchard Country & Wine Market, the Wood Orchard Market, Wildwood Market, and the Red Barn Corn Maze - which offers quite the challenging maze along with, as so many offer, pick-your-own options.

We wrap up the Campfire Conversation talking about the upcoming Discover Wisconsin episode on West Allis, with its neighborhood renaissance, emerging culinary scene, and renewed civic pride. Apurba Banerjee hosts this episode and Ana, as producer, discusses it all with us ahead of its release on the Discover Wisconsin app this Wednesday, October 4th, and on local broadcast channels as well as all the online stream options this weekend, October 7th & 8th.

 Visit Lake Geneva: https://bit.ly/3wHvilf

Menomonie Chamber: https://bit.ly/3q16T9Y   

Marshfield Clinic: https://bit.ly/3Wj6pYj