If you're looking for a fun and festive fall field trip, where you won't have to worry about the skittish ones getting scared -- set the GPS for Pumpkintown USA located on Route 66 in East Hampton, CT.
Pumpkintown is just what it sounds like -- a little village made up of over 70 pumpkin heads. There is nothing scary or gory, just fun 'day in the life' scenes. Kids can freely explore the little houses and scenes in a fenced in area including a fire house, barber shop, fast food restaurant, church, and others. Some of the houses have interactive elements such as the fire house where kids can clamor through a simple maze and end up at a little fire pole they can slide down.
My girls' favorite activity was the Pumpkintown Post Office, where you can actually send a post card postmarked from Pumpkintown USA. (Stamped post cards can be purchased in the harvest shop for $.75). There is also a kids' hay maze and tire bounce area (bouncing around on inflated inner tubes) included in the village admission. Although Eden, 9, had a great time, Pumpkintown is really geared toward the littlest set -- some of the activities are for those under 54" in height.
Heading to Pumpkintown on a weekday is an absolute steal -- admission is only $2/person. On weekends, the price goes up to $6/person. The weekend fare includes some additional activities such as face painting, a bounce house, and a sling shot game. There is also a mile-long wagon ride you can purchase for $7/person any day of the week. The ride takes you through the forest across the street from Pumkintown to see additional pumpkiny scenes.
The Pumpkintown area is quite small so it is easy to keep an eye on more than one kid at a time. On the other hand, I can imagine it gets pretty crowded on weekends. If your little one gets overwhelmed easily, it is probably best to make the trip on a weekday. There are tons of cute photo opps scattered throughout the site, not only the pumpkin displays, but lots of wooden cutouts that kids can stick their heads through and become part of the scene. There is also a farm stand and harvest shop on site where you can purchase apples, pumpkins, corn on the cob, and other local delights.
Pumpkintown USA is located at Paul's and Sandy's Too, 93 East High St., East Hampton, CT -- just about 45 minutes from the lower Pioneer Valley. It is open daily from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (weather permitting), through Halloween.
The destination features daily hay rides through the mile-long Pumpkintown Forest, along with a harvest shop with fresh produce and beautiful mums.
Posted by: Canada | 12/28/2016 at 05:45 AM