Sometimes the love we get at an animal encounter in North Carolina can make a big difference in our day. Darby Acres Farm and Darby Safari are in separate locations in Charlotte offering guided tours. Visit these sweet creatures, feed them, and allow them to tug at your heartstrings. Laughing is guaranteed at this North Carolina ranch.
When you pull into the farm, expect to be greeted by the enthusiastic residents who await your loving attention.
Every visitor must sign a liability waiver before they visit the farm.
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On the hour-long, guided Farm Friends Walking Tour, you may encounter ducks, cows, goats, horses, water buffalos, sheep, pigs, donkeys, llamas, alpacas, and many others.
Animals you get to feed on the tour may include foxes, goats, wallabies, zebras, lemurs, camels, kangaroos, emus, porcupines, and many others. The Capybara is a rodent native to South America.
After he eats, you may find him in a cool bath on these scorching hot days.
For a more intense visit, the Kit and Caboodle experience includes a two-and-a-half-hour guided tour, a feed bucket, and up-close encounters with at least 10 exotic animals.
Fall in Charlotte means there are tons of fun seasonal family events happening. Pumpkin patches, fall festivals, and corn mazes near Charlotte are all fantastic events that everyone will enjoy, so why not test your luck in one of the many complicated corn mazes at farms near Charlotte this weekend? Here are some of the best corn mazes near Charlotte. Enjoy! What would you call the best corn mazes in North Carolina? Let us know.
The Amazing Maize Maze at historic at Rural Hill in Huntersville is a 7-acre maze featuring 2 miles of interconnecting paths. Wander through tall husks of corn and try your luck at finding your way out of this twisty, turning maze.
Once you do make it out, spend some time on the farm and pick out a pumpkin for carving or some gourds to use as fall decor.
The Amazing Maize Maze will be fun for the whole family and makes a great Saturday day trip. The Maze is open seasonally; check out the Rural Hill website for more details.
Hall Family Farm is located right in Charlotte and is a great place to visit any time of the year. In the fall, Hall Family Farm offers visitors a 5-acre corn maze, pumpkin picking, kids' activities, and more.
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Hall Family Farm has a great hayride that kids seem to love, so when you're finished with the corn maze take a ride through the hay.
Typically, In the evenings, the farm features a fall bonfire each night which is a cozy experience for everyone. For more information, check out the Hall Family Farm website.
Lewis Farm is located in Gastonia, right outside of the Queen City. Every weekend in October, the farm hosts a "Fall Festival" where visitors can come out and enjoy horse-drawn hayrides, a hay maze, a hay bale slide, and a petting zoo.
Lewis Farm's maze is perfect for younger children because it is made with bales of hay instead of tall husk of corn.
Wise Acres Farm is located in Indian Trail, NC. A family-owned organic farm, Wise Acres is popular throughout the seasons, with its strawberry picking in the spring and pumpkin picking in the fall.
Wise Acres Farm is one of the only corn mazes in the Charlotte area that offers FREE admission for everyone.
They also have a giant corn pit full of corn kernels that kids love playing in! Another unique thing about Wise Acres is they offer awesome food and beverages for purchase. Enjoy a locally made, organic Wise Pie Wood Fired Oven Pizza or sip on an apple cider slushie as you experience the farm. This place is one of our favorites, so make sure you head out to enjoy one day this fall. Head on over to the Wise Acres Farm website for more information on the farm's fall offerings.
The Big Ears Maze offers an interactive experience where you receive a maze passport and answer trivia questions as you reach certain parts in the maze to receive hints to the next direction. The passport components add an educational aspect that your older kids will love, so put this on your list for your inquisitive investigators at home! Check out the Country Days Corn Maze website to learn more.
Aw Shucks Farms is located in Monroe, NC, and their amazing corn maze is their most popular attraction in the fall. Featuring antique designs each year, this maze is awesome for kids and adults and only takes about 25 minutes to complete.
After the maze, enjoy warm, buttery corn on the cob while strolling through the farm's animal barn.
Included in everyone's admission, the animal barn is full of cute goats, pigs, and rabbits to pet, take pictures with, and love on. Visit the Aw Shucks Farms website for more information.
So, what do you think? Are these the best corn mazes near Charlotte? Did we miss your favorite maze? What are some other ways to celebrate fall in Charlotte? Tell us! The fun farms near Charlotte don’t end with those mentioned above. There are several others to visit during fall in Charlotte, including Hodges Family Farm.
One of the great things about Charlotte is that you don't have to count on your typical grocery store chain for your regular food shopping needs. There are many farmers markets in our city that are great places to secure locally grown, fresh, colorful produce for your family each week. With a farmers market in almost every neighborhood, it's super easy to get out and shop on a Saturday and it's a whole lot of fun too. These neighborhood farmers markets bring the food scene and the social scene together in our city and make for a fun weekend outing for the whole family.
The King's Drive Farmers Market is located in Midtown, and has been serving the residents of Charlotte since the 1940's.
One of the smaller markets in Charlotte, Kings Drive Farmers Market is the perfect place to stop on the way home if your looking for fresh fruits and vegetables for your dinner recipe.
Fresh local strawberries and blackberries, peaches, squash, cucumbers, green peppers, and potatoes are just a few of the items you can find at Kings Drive Farmers Market. Most of the produce at Kings Drive Farmers Market is supplied by Simpson's Produce, a co-op of local farmers that work to bring the freshest food items to the city of Charlotte.
Now, is the perfect time to visit Kings Drive Farmers Market and pick up a few of these beautiful potted mums for your front step or around your yard.
Kings Drive Farmers Market also has a large selection of pumpkins and gourds, so bring the kids this Saturday and pick out your autumn decor! 938 S Kings Dr., Charlotte, NC 28204
The Charlotte Regional Farmers Market is one of the largest farmers markets in our area and is one of four regional markets in the state that is owned operated by the State of North Carolina. The Charlotte Regional Farmers Market is located off of Yorkmont Road out in West Charlotte and is definitely a must-see.
This farmers market has everything from produce, pork products, grass fed beef, goat milk cheese, baked goods, handmade soaps, and more.
There are many local vendors who sell homemade products that are non-food items here as well. You can find handmade handbags, woven scarves, handmade jewelry, and more. We spent hours in this market moving from table to table looking at all the items available, and we are sure you'll want to as well!
The fruit and vegetables are all fresh and homegrown by North Carolina farmers.
Many times the farmers are at the market selling their produce themselves so you can actually talk to the person who grew and harvested your fruit and veggies and ask any questions you might have about the growing process.
So while you are asking your farmer about how those beautiful apples were grown, you can munch on one of them as well to make sure they are up to your standards.
Unique items like local bees wax will also be for sale at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market.
Atherton Market is located in South End over in Atherton Mills shopping center. Every Saturday, local farmers and community artisans head out to the Atherton Market to share their livelihood with the rest of the Charlotte community.
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At this market, you'll find vendors selling fresh produce, meat, seafood, eggs, and dairy. You can even find supplies and information about how you can start your own garden at your home.
The Atherton Market is an indoor market where pets are allowed, so bring your dog on a leash to wander around the market with you and do some shopping this Saturday.
On many Saturdays, there is a food truck parked outside of Atherton Market, so you can grab a delicious local lunch before or after you shop.
The Atherton Market is one of the more social markets in the area, as many residents from the South End neighborhood gather here on Saturdays to catch up and mingle.
There are tons of local vendors who come out to Atherton Market each week.
They include Windy Hill, Coto Family Farms, Brewington Farms, Bell's Best Berries, The Gardner's Table, Lucky Fish, Rogue Farms, Grass Fed Productions/Root Down Foods, SkyeTurtle Designs, Exceptional Terrariums, Cold Water Creek Farms, Harmony Gardens, and Carolina Artisan Bread. 2120 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203
NoDa Farmers Market is a community market in the historic NoDa neighborhood. At this market you'll find gorgeous flowers and bouquets, the best fresh fruits and vegetables, and awesome artisan products you wouldn't have been able to find anywhere else.
The NoDa Farmers Market is open every Saturday during April through November from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
These amazing nut spreads are a popular item and are a great way to spice up your breakfast or traditional PB&J sandwiches throughout the week! 701 E 36th St, Charlotte, NC 28205
Cotswold Farmers Market is a fun little farmers market in the Cotswold neighborhood in between Uptown Charlotte and South Park. Cotswold farmers market is open on Saturdays in May through October from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m.
Cotswold Farmers Market is one of the more social markets in Charlotte, as not only do they have great shopping, but they also showcase local musical talent as well. Any given Saturday you can enjoy a local band playing anything from jazz to bluegrass while you shop.
There's also sometimes cooking competitions or competitive contests going on at the market which make visiting and shopping a lot of fun! Often times, there are monthly activities planned for children, so make sure you keep an eye on the Cotswold Farmers Market Calendar for those Saturdays when you might want to bring the kids.
The produce and food items you'll find at the market are of the highest quality and the freshest in town.
Head out to the Cotswold Farmers Market and do your shopping for the week. We know you'll love it so much, you'll want to come back every Saturday! 309 S Sharon Amity Rd., Charlotte, NC 28211
Do you shop locally? You should! Head out to one of these great markets this week and see what they are all about. Happy shopping!
