As summer winds down and the back-to-school rush begins to creep in, finding one last fun, low-key day trip with your young kids can feel like the perfect way to squeeze in a little more magic before routines fully take over. Visiting a local farm offers exactly that kind of outing. And it’s not just about picking a few apples or petting a goat, though those are definitely highlights. Farms give kids a chance to run around in open spaces, see where their food comes from, and burn off energy in a way that feels completely different from the usual playground circuit. For parents, it’s a simple plan that doesn’t require a long drive or complicated logistics, yet still delivers something memorable.
My family and I like to regularly make our way out to local farms, and with the rainy season approaching, we are trying to get out to one as much as we can. There’s something grounding about stepping onto a working farm, feeling the dirt under your shoes, and watching your kids’ faces light up when they realize milk doesn’t just appear in a carton. It creates the kind of easy, consistent activity that helps everyone transition more smoothly into the busier months ahead while still keeping that summer spirit alive for one more day.
Frog Pond Farm is a fantastic place to take the family for a day trip. And with summer coming to a close, they are lining up some seriously fun activities that everyone will enjoy. Lasting through September 7, they are offering an array of activities that include feeding more than 80 animals, picnicking, a bounce park, a playground, and more than 15 yard games.
General admission for ages 2 and older is only $13 and gives you access to the entire property, which sits on more than 10 acres.
Frog Pond Farm is also pet-friendly, so families with dogs are more than welcome to bring them as long as they are leashed.
A quirky, but also super cool, highlight here is that they offer Llama Walks. With over 60 llamas and one random alpaca (don’t ask me the difference), it is surely something that will fascinate the little ones. This guided walk is suitable for people of all ages and will certainly make for some hilarious photo ops. The walk itself lasts around an hour, and tickets can be purchased online.
If you and the kids need a little treat, Frog Pond Farm makes fresh doughnuts Friday through Sunday. Doughnuts and a farm visit? Sounds perfect. And if you want a more personalized experience, they offer farm tours, and you can reserve a party space for your own event. These covered spaces come with four 8-foot picnic tables with seating and two 4-foot tables for food and gifts. Each space will comfortably host around 40 people, with the option of reserving two spaces for larger groups. The party space is reserved for two hours, along with 30 minutes both before and after the party time for setup and cleanup.
The farm, located in Wilsonville, is open seven days a week, and tickets can be purchased either online or in person. They are also open year-round and offer season passes, which pay for themselves after only three visits.
Building a few special outings into the calendar is just as valuable as the everyday routines of bedtime and morning prep. A local farm visit at the end of summer checks all the boxes: it’s fun, it’s educational without feeling like a lesson, and it gives the whole family one last shared experience before the school year fully kicks in. You don’t need to turn it into an elaborate outing or visit the same farm every single weekend, either. Simply carving out a morning or afternoon to wander the fields, feed some animals, or grab some fresh produce can become one of those reliable, feel-good traditions that kids grow to count on.
For us, these trips have become a quiet way to mark the shift from free-flowing summer days into the structure of fall, and they’ve left us with some of our favorite memories. If you’re looking for a simple, joyful way to close out the season with your young children, a day at a nearby farm is hard to beat. It’s the kind of outing that feels both spontaneous and steady at the same time. This kind of balance is exactly what helps little ones (and their parents) move into the new year ready and a little bit more connected.
Alex is a devoted husband and father born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He is a professional artist, author, and advisor for both Yale and Harvard University’s arts departments. His books, ‘Selling Leonardo: The Art World’s Greatest Scandal’ and ‘Holy Ghost: Decoding Leonardo da Vinci’s Final Painting’ are available wherever books are sold.