There are only a few days left of summer and that means swapping white sandy beaches and ice cream treats for apple picking, corn mazes, and pumpkin-flavoured baked goods (and there’s a farm-filled day trip experience near Toronto that lets you do all three).
Downey’s Farm has two neighbouring sites in the rolling hills of Caledon, just under a 1-hour drive from Toronto, that make for a perfect day of fall activities.
Downey’s Strawberry & Apple Farm opens at 9:30 a.m., so head over early and begin the day picking your own apples. September and October are prime apple-picking months at the farm, with varieties like Gingergold, Gala, McIntosh and Ambrosia typically ready around this time of year. Guests have the choice of picking a 10 lb bag of apples for $28 (max three people per bag) or a 20 lb bag for $46 (max five people per bag). There are also wagon rides through the orchard, and you can sip on some freshly pressed apple cider and pick up a few candy apples as a souvenir before heading to your second stop.
Afterward, spend the afternoon across the road at the Downey’s Farm Pumpkinfest site, which runs through Oct. 31 this year. The huge autumn festival features more than 40 attractions, including an eight-acre corn maze, Boo Barn, jumping pillows, pedal carts, duck races, farm animals, wagon rides and the Goat Mountain slide.
Wander among the pumpkins and pick one out to take with you (it’s a perfect photo-op, especially if you bring your kids). Before heading home, visit the Downey’s Farm Market and bakery for seasonal baked goods, like pies and other goodies (enough to keep those farm-market fall vibes going well into the week).
And you don’t even need access to a car to get there: take a quick bus trip from downtown Toronto to the farm on Sept. 26 for a self-guided day tour. Parkbus’s round-trip option costs $90 for adults, $81 for students and seniors and $63 for children. Pumpkinfest admission is included and everyone heads home with a 5 lb bag of apples they’ve picked themselves!
Visit Parkbus for more info and Downey’s Farm for fall picture inspo.