We Can’t Get Enough of This Small Town Farm With Candy Apples, Ice Cream, and a Cow Train

Fall is easily my favorite season of the year: It's when the weather gets cooler and the farms are in full swing with seasonal offerings and delicious treats. While many of Iowa's farms are packed this time of year with massive fall festivals, there are also quite a few small-town farms that offer the same charm without the massive crowds. A perfect example of this is the best farm in Fort Dodge, Iowa - the humbly-named Community Orchard. This laid-back local institution is known for its popular apple season with a huge-selection of pre-picked apples, along with a host of snacks available only in fall and some great family-friendly activities. Let's take a look inside The Community Orchard, which has been the pride of Fort Dodge since 1952.

The Community Orchard in Fort Dodge is one of those places that feels like it could be right out of a storybook, but this charming farm and orchard really comes alive in fall with a massive selection of apples and some big surprises.

Unlike many of Iowa's apple orchards, this isn't a you-pick farm. Sometimes I just like to have my apples ready to go without wandering the rows of trees - and this is an impressive crop. Over 20 varieties of apples are available here, ranging from iconic flavors like Red Delicious to rare local variants like Paula Red and Zestar.

Many of those same apples make their way over to the beloved Apple Orchard Cafe, which offers sandwiches, baked goods, and some of the best caramel apples in all of Iowa. The specials here change throughout the season, so you'll want to make some return trips!

For the adults on the farm, the apples also go into the popular Dale's Apple Ale, which is a seasonal small-batch drink with a devoted following. Stay tuned for news on the arrival of this year's cans!

The Back 40 Playground is full of activities all year, but never more so than during Applefest - the Community Orchard's celebration of all things fall. The cow train, a small hayride, is one of the most popular attractions among kids. As the season goes on, the pumpkin patch will open for finding the perfect Halloween gourd.

It might be fall and the weather might be cooler, but we still can't resist finishing the day with a scoop or two at The Community Orchard's beloved ice cream stand, which offers up some one-of-a-kind seasonal flavors.

Have you visited The Community Orchard in Fort Dodge? Tell us what you thought about the best farm in Fort Dodge, Iowa in the comments section, and let us know what you're looking forward to this fall season! You can find out more about the seasonal offerings on the Community Orchard website, and the Community Orchard Facebook page has all the latest announcements. They do things old-school in Fort Dodge, so while you're in town, we highly recommend getting one of the delicious sandwiches at the Tom Thumb Drive-In. If you're looking for a place to stay in town, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fort Dodge is a great place for families at an affordable rate.