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55 & 56 West Somerset Street, Raritan, New Jersey 08869 Phone: 908.595.6980 RaritanMusicCenter.com Facebook.com/RaritanMusicCenter Besides the autumn poets sing, A few prosaic days A little this side of the snow And that side of the haze. – Emily Dickinson The change of seasons from sum- mer to fall conjures up so many images, from the cool, crisp air and uniquely blue skies to the glorious colors of the leaves. While the shorter days and increasingly cold temperatures confirm that the summer has gone, there is something so spe- cial about this time of year that inspires us to take advantage of the great outdoors before the winter approaches. Lucky for us, we live in an area surrounded by farm country, and one of the great joys of the sea- son is to spend the day at a farm picking apples or pumpkins, enjoying hayrides, petting ani- mals, navigating a corn maze, and maybe enjoying a fresh donut or cup of cider. There are so many great farms in New Jersey, so I am highlighting just a few that have stood the test of time. Most are open from late September to early November, but check the websites for directions, dates and hours of operations and special events. Best All-Around Terhune Orchards, Princeton - The Family Fun weekends here are filled with activities for families including pumpkin picking, food, music, pony rides, farm animals, adventure barn and hay rides. The adults will also not want to miss the farm store and winery. Ort Farms, Long Valley - Pumpkin picking, hayrides, train rides, pony rides, farm animals and a petting zoo. There is also a farm stand with produce and deli- cious cider and treats Alstede Farms, Chester - Take a hayride to the pumpkin patch and then enjoy the farm animals, bluegrass music and farm stand, including honey made from local hives around the farm. Best Apple Picking No need to go far for delicious apples Melick’s Orchards in Oldwick and Hillview Farms in Gillete have plenty of varieties to pick your own apples for snacking and baking. For Maze-Crazed Kids Wightman’s Farms, Morris- town - In addition to pick your own apples and an on-site pro- duce market, Wightman’s fea- tures a crawl maze, a giant hay maze, a pipe maze and a corn maze. A-MAZ-ing! Least Crowded If you are looking for less of a scene, Conklin Farm U-Pick in Montville has it all but in a small- er, quieter way. Here you will find pumpkin picking, a corn maze, and hayrides for families, and haunted hay rides for older chil- dren. A farm stand offers hot cider, fresh donuts and candy apples. Fall Festival Worth the Drive Heaven Hills Farm, Vernon - The Great Pumpkin Festival, held from September 20 - October 31, is the largest fall festival in north- ern New Jersey. Open Wednesday - Sunday, activities include pump- kin picking, hay rides, pig races, carnival rides on weekends, corn and hay mazes, farm animals, a boo barn, and more. FALL PICKING ON THE FARM By: Jill Stolz www.theconnectionsnj.com