Unforgettable Day At Cider Hill Farm: Strawberry Picking At The Pollinator Festival
June 23, 2023
A Visit to Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury, Massachusetts
I am an action-focused mom. I love taking my two kids outside as much as I can so that they can learn about the world through meaningful experiences and quality time spent together. This week, I took them to Cider Hill Farm for the first time, and I was thrilled with our experience.
As a Massachusetts-based photographer, I find joy in capturing the world’s beauty through my Nikon camera lens. Whether it’s landscapes, wildlife, flora, or candid moments of families enjoying their time together, every shot tells a story.
Today, I’d like to share with you our day at Cider Hill Farm during the Pollinator Festival.
Disclaimer
Before we get into it, please consider a few quick DISCLAIMERS.
- I am not compensated in anyway by the locations that I write about.
- This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn a commission from qualified purchases.
- This post links to my portrait photography services under Lauren McDonagh-Pereira LLC.
- This post represents my personal opinions. I am not responsible if you have a different experience at this location.
A Bustling Day at Cider Hill Farm
For decades, my family has created beautiful memories in the heart of Massachusetts, and I am excited to introduce my own children, Madeline (22 months) and Oliver (4 years old), to these experiences. Our recent visit to Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury on June 22, 2023, is one that will certainly remain etched in our hearts.
For the uninitiated, Cider Hill Farm is a family-owned agritourism destination that offers an authentic New England farming experience to its visitors. From strawberry picking to cider tasting, this farm is brimming with wholesome activities for families year-round.
Cider Hill Farm features an easy to access parking lot, a charming Farm Store filled with farm-fresh food and products, a large chicken coop, a pen filled with adorable goats, and multiple pick-your-own fruit fields that offer different picking adventures during the Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons.
The only drawback of Cider Hill Farm is the bathrooms. Like many family farms, the only option is port-o-potties. It is not a deal-breaker for me, but it is something to consider if you are visiting with toddlers.
We are expert farm tourists. We spent my husband’s family leave after Madeline was born, visiting Massachusetts farms almost every day back in 2021. In comparison, to the many Massachusetts farms we have visited over the last few years, I would rank Cider Hill Farm amongst the best.
Arriving at Cider Hill Farm
When we first arrived at the farm, the air was buzzing with excitement. As a photographer and mother, my priority was ensuring a seamless experience for my children and capturing memorable moments along the way.
We visited the farm that day to meet two friends from our local meetup group, Momtourage.
For our trip, I decided to bring along my Joovy Caboose double stroller. Its compact size and maneuverability made navigating the farm a breeze. In my Vera Bradley Microfiber Ultimate Diaper Bag, I packed all the essentials: lunch, diapers, extra clothes, and our favorite Camelbak water bottles for staying hydrated.
Don’t forget to pack hats and lots of sunblock. There is very little shade available at the farm, and if you decide to venture out to pick strawberries, you can expect a ten-minute tractor ride each way, and 30+ minutes out in the strawberry field.
There was no respite from the sun at all during this part of our trip to the farm, so be prepared to stay safe in the summer sun.
Immersed in Farm Activities at Cider Hill Farm
The Pollinator Festival was in full swing when we arrived, with visitors of all ages participating in an array of activities. My kids especially enjoyed feeding the chickens, a simple joy that brought so much laughter and delight.
Both kids loved feeding corn to the many chickens who were eagerly awaiting spare snacks. Remember to bring quarters, because there is a little quarter-operated chicken feed dispenser right by the coop.
Oliver and Madeline were particularly taken with the horse saddle swings. They laughed with delight as they rode the swings.
Madeline kept making me nervous by throwing one hand in the air and yelling “Yee-haw!”
The tractor ride to the strawberry field was also a big hit. We actually took the 15-minute trip twice. Once, when we first got there just for fun, and a second time after Oliver saw everyone coming back with large containers filled with strawberries, and decided that he needed to go back and pick his own.
A Picnic Lunch and Hard Cider at Cider Hill Farm
After our first tractor ride, we settled down for a picnic lunch.
It was a great opportunity for me to enjoy a sample of hard cider from the cider bar. The crisp, refreshing taste was the perfect accompaniment to our meal and a well-deserved treat for me.
The Strawberry Hard Cider was fantastic. It is sweet, but still a bit tart, and the perfect amount of bubbly. Cider Hill Farm presses their own delicious cider, and offers it on tap and bottled in the farm store.
Music and Dancing
As we ate, we got to enjoy the soulful tunes of a Johnny Cash cover performance by Rick Anthony Entertainment. The performance was for the Amesbury Council on Aging’s annual BBQ.
Oliver and Madeline didn’t miss the chance to show off their dancing skills, their innocent delight adding a heartwarming note to our memorable day.
Strawberry Picking Adventure
After lunch and dancing, the friends that we had been spending time with went home so that their younger babies could nap. Oliver was relieved to finally get his chance to go out and pick his own strawberries.
We hadn’t planned on picking strawberries when we went to the farm that day. We were there to listen to the live music and meet up with a mom’s play group that we are part of. But after Oliver saw all the people carrying buckets of ripe strawberries on the tractor ride, he insisted that we give it a go ourselves.
We paid for 4 quarts of strawberries in the farm store. Every person who goes out to the strawberry field needs to pay to enter. Inside the farm store, they sell different packages that allow varying numbers of people out to the picking fields. Children under 2 are free.
We ended up paying $40 for a 4 quart basket, which granted admission for four to the fields. We could have gotten away with a $10 adult container, and a $5 child’s container, but Oliver was enthralled with the idea of filling an oversized strawberry bucket.
Out in the field, Madeline and Oliver eagerly filled our box with the juiciest, ripest strawberries they could find. By the end of our strawberry picking adventure, we had collected a whopping 4 quarts of strawberries.
This simple pleasure of picking our own fruit not only brought us closer to nature but also gave the kids a sense of accomplishment.
Oliver was particularly proud of his harvest. Madeline was much more interested in eating strawberries straight off the plants and running down the rows.
Treats to Take Home from Cider Hill Farm
Before leaving, we stopped by the farm store to purchase fresh cider donuts, an irresistible treat for the kids (and me!). We also picked up a bottle of Strawberry Hard Cider, a delightful reminder of our day on the farm.
I am even sipping a glass of Cider Hill Farm’s Strawberry Hard Cider as I finish up this article!
Is Cider Hill Farm a Good Location for Family Photography?
Yes! Cider Hill Farm is gorgeous and fun.
It is a perfect spot for posed family portraits out in the fields, or candid story-telling shots of your family enjoying themselves.
Reach out to me at booking@laurenmcdonaghpereira.com to discuss your family photography session at Cider Hill Farm!
More to explore
Recent Posts
MEET Lauren McDonagh-Pereira
Lauren McDonagh-Pereira is a photographer from Massachusetts, USA. She captures the beauty of the world around her, favoring Nikon cameras and lenses. She is drawn to shooting landscapes, wildlife, nature, and people authentically enjoying life.
KEEP READING
9 Bewitchingly Adorable Halloween Mugs for the Perfect Fall Season
Dive into the Halloween spirit with our spellbindingly cute mugs. Nine unique designs to infuse warmth and whimsy into your fall evenings. Discover them today on Printify.
10-Minute Journaling Challeng with “52 Weeks Of Love And Gratidude”: What Does True Love Mean to You?
Introduction Welcome to week two of the “10-Minute Journaling Challenge!” I am so excited to continue this weekly journey with you. My name is Lauren
10-Minute Journaling Challenge: Cultivate Gratitude & Positivity with “52 Weeks of Love and Gratitude”
Introduction Welcome, everyone, to a new journey of self-discovery and positivity with the “10-Minute Journaling Challenge!” I’m thrilled to introduce you to this transformative series,
Embracing Gratitude: Discover the Transformative Power of Journaling with “52 Weeks of Love and Gratitude”
Introduction to Journaling and practicing Gratitude As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. In our digitally-driven world, finding moments of reflection and practicing
Career Exploration for High School Freshmen: Free Lesson Plan
Career Exploration for High School Freshmen: Free Lesson Plan As education professionals, we understand the complex challenge students face when it comes to choosing a
Mental Health Screening and School Behavior:
Predicting and Preventing Problem Behaviors in High School Classrooms Mental Health Screening and School Behavior: Predicting and Preventing Problem Behaviors in High School Classrooms As