down on the farm
Monroe County agricultural destinations specialize in fresh fun.
HOW EXACTLY HAS MONROE COUNTY become such a hot spot for agritourism? Deborah Duke, managing partner of Duke Petting Farm and Carriage Co. in Temperance, thinks she has the answer: location, location, location. “It’s still rural, but it’s close enough to the city that people can come out and enjoy what there is to offer,” she says.
Three-year-old Duke Petting Farm is among the county’s newer agritourism draws, but it’s already become a family favorite. From carriage rides to equine-assisted learning to fun with ponies, Duke Petting Farm serves up a savory slice of country life. Heck, you can even get married there.
Up the road in Monroe is Kackleberry Farm. Open from mid-September through early November, it features an array of fall-oriented attractions, such as corn mazes, hayrides, a pumpkin patch and enough games to keep children of all ages engaged.
For more autumn “agritainment,” head to Harnica Kids’ Pumpkin Farm in Dundee, where you can gawk at giant pumpkins and buy some to take home and creatively carve and display.
If apple picking is your thing, be sure to visit Erie Orchards & Cider Mill in Erie and Bennett’s Orchard in Ottawa Lake. Give yourself plenty of time at both spots; you’ll find there’s a lot to do at these sprawling orchards beyond picking apples.
For an impressive variety of tasty treats straight off the farm, bring your family — and your appetite — to the Monroe Farmers Market (open year-round) and Dundee Farmers Market (open seasonally from late spring into fall.)
The main event, if you will, is the Monroe County Fair in Monroe, which bills itself as
“Michigan’s Finest Fair” and typically takes place in late July or early August. You’ll encounter everything you’d expect from a county fair,
