If you’re looking for a place to pick fresh produce, keep the kids busy with farm activities, and indulge in a wine tasting (yes, please)—Terhune Orchards checks off all the boxes. This family-owned and operated 250-acre, sustainable farm in Princeton, NJ, is an all-season favorite, especially with events that reflect the seasons, like Fall Fun Family Weekends and a Firefly Festival in June. And no matter what time of year, you can stop by the farm store with fresh fruits, vegetables, apple cider, pies, and cookies. It’s no wonder that Terhune Orchards is on our list of best farms to visit in NJ. (featured photo credit: NJ MOM)
A Farm Day Trip For The Whole Family
Terhune Orchards is full of hands-on activities. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Climb, play, and meet the animals
Kids will find lots to love at Terhune Orchards, including visiting and feeding the sheep, goats, and donkeys that call Terhune Orchards home. Beyond the animals, the farm has more than enough family-friendly things to do to entertain from morning to afternoon. Stop by the Kids’ Garden to see how plants grow, or take the Farm Trail Discovery Walk to explore the cherry orchard, large pond, and wildlife on the one-mile walk. And a trip to Terhune isn’t complete without a ride on the pedal tractors, made especially for your little farmer. Still need to get the energy out before you go home? Kids can climb the tractor-themed play structures that look just like real farm tractors and have a blast (they may never want to leave).
Feed the goats at Terhune Orchards. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Experience hands-on learning
Want to make it a more educational experience? Terhune Orchards is where you can sneak in some learning about working farms. Kids can “milk” a wooden cow in the hands-on Discovery Barn or walk on the pollinator trail to understand how insects can help plants. Terhune Orchards has programs throughout the year, which include the Read & Pick program, reading stories and discussing how crops are grown, then picking fruit or completing a craft activity. During winter, stay connected to the Farm during the Read & Explore program, which combines hands-on activities with reading a story. Summer camp is another option for kids to get their hands dirty and lean into farm life.
In the fall, the corn maze is a fun stop to let out some energy. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Pick your own (with wine)
What’s a farm without picking? At Terhune Orchards, you can pick your own fruits and veggies in their growing fields and orchards. While apple picking and pumpkin picking are fall highlights, other seasons include cherries, berries, and various flowers. Before you go, visit the farm store—they have fresh produce, baked goods, and other local products. A must-try treat for visitors of all ages is the apple cider donuts or the apple cider slushies, typically made with apples grown on the farm. The farm store is open all year round, or you can shop online if you can’t make it out to the orchards. And parents can take a pit stop at the winery and tasting room in the Wine Orchard to sip flights of their award-winning white, red, and fruit wines fresh from their vineyards and orchards. Terhune Orchards is one of the few operating family farms in the Garden State that also has a winery and tasting room, and if you want to take some home, they sell it on-site at the winery, farm store, and online.
Pumpkin picking is the perfect fall activity at Terhune Orchards. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Enjoy the farm during any season
If you love a festival (and really, who doesn’t), then Terhune is the place to be. Fall is when apple and pumpkin picking ramp up, and their Fall Festival days are full of activities like a corn maze, food tents offering freshly baked treats, and the newly added Barnyard Sports Barn with a basketball toss, baseball throw, and pumpkin bowling. During the holidays, Santa visits the kids while there are fire pits and lots of hot cider, s’more kits, and mulled wine for the adults. In spring, check out the cherry blossoms and the Terhune Bunny Trail Spring Festival, and in May, Kite Day is an annual tradition at the orchard. During the summer, you can pick blueberries, blackberries, and flowers or stop by for the Firefly Festival in June, Blueberry Bash in July, or Just Peachy Festival in August. Whichever festival you go to, expect a lively day filled with music from local bands, wine tastings, special games and activities, and tons of family fun.
There are loads of photo opportunities at Terhune Orchards. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
What to know before you go
If you plan to visit Terhune, arrive early to avoid crowds and wear comfortable clothing and suitable footwear, especially if you are heading out into the orchards. Pack a stroller with good wheels or a wagon to stash all your goodies. Before you head to Terhune Orchards, check the calendar for one of their special events for max family fun. And if you’re apple picking, be aware that the apple orchard is around the corner from the main farm (13 Van Kirk Road). NJMOM tip—buying tickets for a festival weekend online ahead of time is a good idea. You’ll get a discount and a guaranteed spot since tickets tend to sell out during special events.
For more information, visit the Terhune Orchards website, Instagram, and Facebook.
Terhune Orchards
330 Cold Soil Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
Terhune Pick-Your-Own Apple Orchard
13 Van Kirk Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
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