happyly approved

Bowman's Orchard

147 Sugar Hill Road Rexford, NY 12148

9AM - 5PM Every day of the week

$$

seasonal-activities, farms-orchards

Apples, and pumpkins, and doughnuts, oh my!

Bowman’s Orchard is a great family-friendly pick your own farm less than 30 minutes away from Albany.  We visited on Columbus Day and I was expecting it to be a madhouse but was pleasantly surprised that it was not too crowded. The farm opens at 9 am but we were there from 10 am to 12:30 and it seemed to be a perfect time. I can tell that it can get busy because I noticed several signs for “waiting lines” but we didn’t wait for anything. Also, expect it to be busier in September when apple picking season is at its peak. Mid October is late for apple season so the apples were not plentiful but we were still able to fill our bag within half an hour. 

After picking apples we decided to hit up the bakery for some cider doughnuts. (of course!) The doughnuts were delicious and reasonably priced but they were already pre-packaged and did not serve any hot off the press. Admittedly, I was a little disappointed by this but it certainly didn’t spoil our day. There was a patio with tables where we were able to sit and enjoy our doughnuts before heading into the activities.

The activities were fantastic. They have a wooden playground complete with a boat, truck, slides, ladders, and more. It was a large area so the kids had tons of space and were able to run around and play.  Alongside the play area, there were goats, billy goats, pigs, and chickens fenced in. No workers were manning the animal's areas and all of the animals were very friendly. They had food for the animals for 25 cents and the kids got to feed the animals. Adjacent to the play area were HUGE stacks of hay that the kids loved. They climbed, jumped, and ran around and through the haystacks. Our kids literally spent over 20 minutes at just this location. While they were playing the adults got to take in the beautiful upstate New York fall foliage. Especially if you are on a budget, this is a great place to bring the kids.

There are more activities for an extra charge.  Across from the play area is a ticket booth. One ticket is equal to one dollar. I bought 20 tickets for my two young children (ages 3 and 1) and myself. Pony/horse rides are the most expensive at 5 tickets per ride and each ride is really just one loop around. Then there is a cow train ride for 2 tickets (my one-year-old was free) which takes the kids (and adults) through the farm. The whole ride took about 5 minutes. They also had a corn maze and hayride available although we didn’t get a chance to try those. The price for the corn maze is $8 for adults and $5 for children 5 and up. 

My son’s favorite activity was the apple cannon. Yep, you guessed it. It’s a cannon that shoots apples. For 2 tickets, you get to launch 5 apples. They have a target set up if you want to get technical but my 3-year-old was satisfied just shooting his apples into the air and watching the parabolic curve it made in the air. This $2 activity made our whole day. They also offer pedal cards for 4 tickets but only on Saturdays and Sundays.  

For convenience purposes, Bowman’s has upscale porta-potties (with a baby changing area) on a trailer in the main area right in the middle of the activities. This was nice because there is nothing worse than having to take a small child into a portapotty. Unfortunately, the only restrooms that I saw in the apple orchards were regular portapotties so definitely plan to use the restrooms after you pick your apples!

 

Features

Parking Restrooms Good for All Ages Changing Table Admission Free Has Food Seasonal Animals
Thoughtfully captured by:
Jenna Orapello
Jenna Orapello was born and raised about an hour north of New York City and moved to Albany to attend the University at Albany (SUNY) and never looked back! After meeting her now husband Rob, completing her bachelors and masters degree, and becoming a math teacher at Albany High School, she knew the capital region was her place to call home. Fast forward a few years and she is a mom to two young boys who always keep her on the move. Sure, she enjoys curling up on the couch with a good movie every now and then but Jenna is a firm believer that active kids are happy kids so she and her family spend their weekends and summers frequenting any and all activities they come across. Jenna feels blessed to live in such a vibrant community where the options to be active are endless and she enjoys sharing them with other families. Jenna also has the travel bug and believes that her children learn so much through each adventure so she is always planning their next family vacation (even if it is just a weekend getaway). Traveling with kids can certainly be intimidating but the more you do it, the easier it gets. Her kids (ages 3 and 1) have traveled via plane to the Grand Canyon, North Carolina, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Jenna is thrilled to be a Happy Active Family ambassador so that she can play a small role in helping other families stay active and happy!
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