Something about seeking a spectacular chol hamoed activity that also happens to be inexpensive and not too far away turns me into the kind of indecisive woman I despise.
This Sukkos was no exception. I kid you not, I spent a full hour researching pumpkin farms. And I already had a list of farms in the area.
Tuns out, picking a pumpkin farm is a lot like picking the perfect pumpkin–you need to know your end goal. Choose a Jack-O-Lantern pumpkin for your pie, and you’ll have too much of a bad thing.
My goal in choosing a pumpkin farm had been to stroll through a corn maze, take a hay ride and see some farm animals.
Instead, I got caught up in everything from moon bounces and blow up slides to pony and camel rides. My wholesome day on the farm nearly became a $70 affair an hour-and-a-half away.
It took me an hour to figure out that the first farm I found, Krolls Farm in Waukegan (34 minutes away) was perfect.
For a full hour, we fed goats, waddled after free range chickens, peeked in a bunny hutch and spied on miniature horses, llamas and a donkey. We took a hay ride around the corn maze and marveled at morroccas made from gourds.
We left with pockets full of seeds and lots of memories. And all I spent was $12.
Sometimes less is more.
If you go, make it a day and head to the best park in all of Chicagoland, only 5 miles away–Bowen Park on Sheridan Rd. in Waukegan.
granoladox.com 
Yay! You did it! Looks like you had a great time. Next time we¹ll have to come with you!
Missed you! We found friends to come along, though, so all was well
Loved pics of your beautiful children
Sent from my iPhone