Places to Go - Cox Farm's Fall Festival (Centreville, VA) & Cherish This Day

We tried to go to Cox Farms twice over Columbus Day weekend and failed. The first time some rain kept us away. And the second time the farm was so crazy crowded that I promised the kids I'd take them out of school for an afternoon if we turned around.

So this Tuesday I made good on my promise and we finally spent and afternoon at one of the DC area's premiere fall festivals. A storm was on its way, making the day rather chilly and overcast (perfect for photos!), so we practically had the place to ourselves.

I've had my busiest photography season ever this year, which I'm so grateful for, but it means that I'm not home much on weekends. And weekdays are always so full of practices and homework. I can't explain how nice it felt to take an afternoon off and play with my children.

I've taken so many photos lately, of so many wonderful people. But it felt so good to finally take some of my own kids. I've missed days like this.

Cox is open daily through November 3rd, so if your kids have next Tuesday off school think about making a visit. Click here for more info. HAVE A GREAT HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!! Don't forget to check out this week's awesome on Cherish This Day.






Slide through the wild west? We'll check that off our bucket list.










Every year the cornmaze is my favorite part.










We've been on this hayride SO MANY TIMES, yet year the kids can't wait to go again.

Places to Go - Cox Farm's Fall Festival (Centreville, VA)

First of all, my children didn't shrink (thank god), these are last year's pictures. While we have been to Cox Farms this year, the day was really hot and sunny - making me too tired to get the camera out. Plus the baby was walking/running/attacking everything in site. Luckily, Cox doesn't change very much year after year (why mess with perfection?).

For those of you that live in the DC region, Cox Farms is the best of the best when it comes to fall festivals. It's quite large - we've never managed to see the whole thing in one visit. They have rides and activities for every age group, especially slides. So so many slides. That range from super small to quite large (as pictured, the castle slide was quite the thrill for grandma and the dinosaur slide requires a "sack" to sit on and is almost like a mini-roller coaster, I could have ridden it all day long. over and over again). They also have tons of animals and a petting zoo with goats. Haystacks to climb. Lots of free apple cider and apples (along with food you can buy). Decorations as far as the eye can see. And on weekends they have a stage with live music (watching F "groove" to bluegrass was one of the highlights of my month). Seriously, this place is beyond belief.

As great as all of the above is, I think anyone who has visited Cox will agree that the absolute highlight is the hayride. The pictures below do not do it justice (last year T was only four months old when we went and it's hard to carry a baby and take pictures on a hayride). The hayride has every common children's character you can imagine - the Cat in the Hat, Beauty and the Beast, rugrats, etc. Plus, a haunted barn, alien attackers, and other live action fun. I literally spend the whole year looking forward to this (yes, I'm that dorky).

Has anyone else been this year? Any other "favorites" you'd like to share? I'm sure I'm leaving tons of stuff out.

Click here for all the details - http://www.coxfarms.com/