U-Pick Farms in Orlando

We have been taking advantage of our days off lately and visiting places around us we've never been to before. We've been loving going to farms recently. Here is some information about a few we have been to. They're all currently in season and definitely worth going to if you find yourself bored on a beautiful day. Keep reading to find out about the best U-Pick farms in Orlando.

Sledd's U-Pick Farm

This day was perfect. Duncan FINALLY got a Saturday off so we decided to drive to a sunflower field about an hour away. It did not disappoint. There were so many flowers and little bees flying around pollinating them. I never thought of a sunflower as being my favorite flower until that day. They're just so pretty and a reminder that this Earth can create some beautiful things. We walked around admiring the view and picked the biggest, brightest ones to take home with us. You have to bring your own scissors or knife because the stem is so thick and they're pretty hard to pick out with just your hands. The entrance fee is $5 a person and if you want to buy the sunflowers it's $2 for one flower, $3 for two and $5 for three. We decided to get three and they look so pretty in our home. You can check their Facebook page to see what their hours are!

Pappy's Strawberry Patch

Everyone has that one memory that encapsulates your entire childhood, one memory that makes you think of "the good old days". For me, that was strawberry picking with my family. My parents used to take us to this field in Miami that had the biggest, juiciest berries. I remember eating them right off the vine (which I know now you shouldn't do) and running around with my siblings feeling the sun make its mark on me. It seems so mundane but my parents had a way of making everything exciting. There's something so organic about picking your food right off of Earth's soil. These fruits were nurtured, watered and grown to be put out into the world. So, when Duncan and I decided to go to a strawberry patch a couple miles from where we live, I was so happy. Although the berries seem a little smaller through adult eyes, the feeling of pure joy was still there. We went to a farm in Oviedo called "Pappy's Strawberry Patch". They give you a little basket to fill with berries and they come out to $3.00 a pound. When we went home we ate them right away. Hands down the best strawberries I've ever had! Their times vary so check out their Facebook page before you go.

Showcase of Citrus

Florida is known for its orange groves so of course we had to visit one. As soon as you drive up to Showcase of Citrus you're immersed in Florida's culture. There's a buoy like the one they have in the Southernmost point in Key West, a farm fresh store serving different types of wine and orange creamsicles. It gives you a taste (literally) of what we're all about. We opted for the tour of the orange groves. It's $2 a person and you get to choose from different sized bags to put your oranges in. The small one costs $11, medium one is $18 and a large one for $30. We got the small bag and were able to fit about eight oranges in there. It's such a different experience when you pick your own oranges right off the tree. They're not as polished as the ones in the store and a lot harder to get to. They provide you with a fruit picker to make it easier to reach the oranges that are up high. We picked the ones that were the brightest and had a strong orange juice smell. If you don't want to just pick oranges there's other options. You can feed farm animals, take a tour on the world's largest 4x4 or do some wine tasting. There's definitely something for everyone. Here's a link to their website so you can plan your adventure!

U-Pick farms are seriously so much fun. It makes you appreciate the process your produce goes through before hitting the store. It's the perfect thing to do with family and friends on a nice day. Maybe it's just us but the fruits are also 10 times sweeter when you hand pick them yourself. Let us know if you visit any of these and have fun roaming!