 Pick your own with the kiddos! Heading out to a farm and picking your own produce is a great summer activity with kids. They’ll love the chance to pick (and eat!) their favorite fruits and vegetables, and they’ll learn a bit about where their food comes from in the process. Plus it’s a great chance to get everybody outside and enjoying the summer weather. Read on for our top five tips on making your pick-your-own experience a success, plus recommendations of pick your own farms to love in the Front Royal area. 1. Pick What You’ll Eat  Start picking! This one might seem obvious, but when you’re faced with a field full of delicious looking fruit, it’s easy to get carried away. Focus on planning your outing around fruit you know you’ll still enjoy when you get it home. Your kids will probably enjoy the outing more if they’re picking a favorite food too. As well as picking what you like, it’s also a good idea to keep in mind how much you’ll be able to eat when you get it home. It’s easy to pick a lot in the field and feel overwhelmed when it’s in your kitchen. We have some more tips below on using up excess, but it’s good to plan ahead too to minimize waste. 2. Call or Check Social Media before Heading Out  Plan ahead Farming (and public fruit picking!) are not completely predictable, and supply at a pick-your-own farm varies from day to day. It’s a good idea to call the farm before you get there to make sure they have fruit available for picking. Many pick your own farms will also post updates on their social media pages so you can make sure there’s fruit available and avoid disappointment. The good news is that there are so many pick your own farms in Front Royal you should be able to find another one if your first choice is picked out. 3. Pack a Picnic  Picnic paradise Farms are beautiful places, especially around Front Royal, with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains all around. Plan for being able to take it slow and enjoy your surroundings when you get there. Most pick-your-own farms welcome visitors to bring picnics and enjoy their time in the fields. Bring foods that’ll tasted good with whatever you’re picking for maximum picnic success! Pair whipped cream and shortcake cookies with strawberries or peaches, or bring cheese and crackers on your apple picking expedition. 4. Be Prepared for the Heat  Remember to hydrate! It’s hard for kids to remember to take care of themselves when they’re outdoors in the sun and busy having fun. But summer’s heat in Virginia is something to take seriously. There’s nothing fun about starting to feel sick in the middle of an outing. To help prevent heat-related problems, make sure everyone wears hats. Be sure to pack water bottles or electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade or coconut water and hydrate frequently. 4. Get Creative with Your Haul  Jams and jellies, oh my! Even if you limit yourself when you’re out picking, it’s still likely you’ll get home and find that what you’ve brought looks like a lot more on your kitchen table than it did in the field. Don’t give in to overwhelm and let it go bad before you can eat it. Having surplus fruit can be a great learning experience for everyone. Trying baking up a fruit dessert together. Cobblers and crisps are classic favorites that are both simple and healthy. You can even eat the leftovers with yogurt for a yummy and nutritious breakfast. Or take the chance to teach kids about fruit preservation (and enjoy your pickings for much longer!) You can preserve fruit by making jams and jellies and canning them, or for a super easy solution freeze your haul and save it for smoothies and more! Where to Pick Your Own in Front Royal  Hartland Orchard - Markham, VA If you’re ready to get started picking your own produce, Front Royal is a great place to be! Hartland Orchard is a popular option that’s easy to access (and find!) from I-66, although it can be crowded. Hollins Farm is a slightly further drive, but it’s great option with lots of variety, including pick your own veggies as well as fruits, and even dig-your-own peanuts! And Valley View Farm is a great place to spend a whole day with opportunities for farm tours, local cider and wine tasting, and more! For peaches and apples in a scenic setting that’s a bit more removed from the hustle and bustle, try Stribling Orchard. It’s a beautiful place to pick your own and enjoy a picnic.  Valley View Farm - Delaplane, VA Flowers aren’t (usually) edible, but they’re still fun to pick. Head to Clover Hill Farm to enjoy pick your own a different way, with gorgeous blooms available to pick spring through fall. Sign up for a kids class too, and you can pick flowers and learn more about gardening all at the same time.
Picking your own fruit and flowers is a great activity for kids and adults in the warmer weather. If you’re around the Front Royal area, you’re in a great place to take the family out and pick, with loads of options to find the farm that’s perfect for you. Follow our tips and head on out there for a day of delicious, educational fun!  Sand Volleyball Feeling the sand between your toes, enjoying summer breezes, and making memories with friends and family may sound like a vacation in paradise. But there’s a favorite summer sport that allows you to enjoy all of the above for free at community parks across America. We’re talking about sand volleyball. Read on for five reasons we’re recommending sand volleyball as a perfect pick for a summer sport, as well as tips on where you can play around Front Royal. 1. You Can Play Sand Volleyball in Bare Feet!  Barefoot Fun Playing Sand Volleyball Sand, bare feet, and the outdoors in summer just seem to go together as a combination that spells fun and relaxation. And going barefoot even has health benefits! No need to sweat in a hot pair of tennis shoes on the sand volleyball court! It’s a game that’s made for playing barefoot! Feeling the sand under your feet just adds to the fun! 2. Sand Volleyball is Perfect for Large and Small Groups  If you haven’t much volleyball experience, you may be envisioning a game that requires at least twelve players. But volleyball lovers will tell you that volleyball is actually much more versatile. Put just two or three players on each side of the net and you can enjoy a version of the game that might be even more fast-paced and exciting. Plan on fitting in some extra steps if you play this way! Large group, no problem! Sand volleyball is a great game for a party. Put as many as six on each side to play the game in its full form. Or you can easily rotate in a player or two to incorporate bigger numbers. For an even larger group, try planning a tournament! 3. Sand Volleyball Is Enjoyable at Many Different Skill Levels  Skill and Sand Volleyball Volleyball is one of those great games that can be played at many different skill levels and it’s still fun! If you’re a seasoned volleyball player, you already know how much fun it can be to play at a highly skilled level. But beginners can have a great time while learning the sport. Playing in the sand helps create a fun, relaxed atmosphere where new players can feel comfortable getting started. New to the game? Learning and practicing the simple volleyball passing sequence of bump, set, spike will help you enjoy the game more, play more strategically, and work well with your team members. See here for a simple explanation of this volleyball fundamental, or ask a more experienced player to teach it to you. 4. Sand Volleyball is Affordable  Affordable and fun! With prices rising everywhere in 2022, finding ways to have fun without spending a lot of money are even more exciting than before! Sand volleyball has to be one of the most affordable sports out there! With courts fairly easy to find in public parks, there’s often no fee to play, or only a small one. That means that so long as someone in your group already owns a volleyball, you can probably play for free! And even if you need to go out and buy a volleyball, you should be able to do it for under $30. 5. Sand Volleyball is a Great Way to Bring People Together  Summer fun - Sand Volleyball The perfect activity for a summer evening, sand volleyball is a great way to connect with others and make new friends. The atmosphere is casual and fun, and you’ll get to enjoy the camaraderie of being on a team. Take the socialization a step further by planning a picnic or cook out for after the game, or heading to get ice cream together. Sand Volleyball in Front Royal  Volleyball - Gertrude E. Miller Community Park If you’re interested in trying sand volleyball this summer, it’s time to find a great place to play! Front Royal’s park system has you covered with two fantastic options. Head to Gertrude E. Miller Community Park to find conveniently located sand volleyball right in the middle of town. The large complex has plenty of picnic shelters for a post-game cook out, as well as playgrounds for kids to enjoy.
For a less crowded option, try Burrell Brooks Jr. Community Park. The park is less extensive, but you’ll still find sand volleyball courts, a picnic shelter, and a playground for future volleyball stars to enjoy. Explore sand volleyball in Front Royal this summer, and discover all the fun that comes with this relaxing, budget friendly, barefoot and sandy summer sport. |
AuthorDiscover Front Royal Archives
February 2023
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