Cherrylicious - Family Fun at Pick Your Own Cherry Farms

If there were ever a fruit worthy of a special trip to the farm, I'd say it's "Cherries." Okay...I confess. I do have an obsession with picking my own cherries. Since the first time I had the pleasure of picking these wonderfully sweet and juicy little things, I've declared it a yearly family tradition.   In my opinion, cherry picking is a near perfect family activity.

Quick Links:

Here's a full list of Pick Your Own Cherry Farms Around San Francisco

Don't live in the bay area, check out Lydie's list of Pick Your Own Cherry Farms Around the US.

Why?

• It's an activity even toddlers can fully participate in while for big kids, teens, and parents, picking your own fruit just never gets old. (Well, unless you live on a farm.)

• Cherries are small and take a while to pick. It's an activity that can last for about 1-2 hours, but won't take all day.

• Eating fresh cherries off a tree is simply delightful for anyone of any age.  They are super sweet and your hardwork is immediately rewarded.

• You're in total control of how much you spend.  Take home a little, pay a little.  Take home alot, pay more.
  
  
• The cherry fun can be enjoyed for days.  After the picking trip, plan on more fun canning, baking, or drying them.  There are so many ways to enjoy cherries as a family.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, cherry season lasts only 3 weeks long. For most farms, the season starts Memorial Day weekend.  But don't wait till the last week because the best farms will already be picked cleaned by the second weekend.

Where do you find Pick Your Own Cherry Farms?

Lucky for us, just over an hour's drive away in Brentwood, CA are numerous pick your own cherry farms.  My favorite is DC's Extraordinary Cherries.  I love their European style short trees that have branches that even toddlers can stumble up to and pick cherries off without difficulty. They also have a wide variety of cherries.  Unfortunately, the government took half of their land, so you'll have to head out there the first week they are open if you want to get the best pickin's. Another favorite farm is Pease Ranch for much the same reasons.

Here's a full list of Pick Your Own Cherry Farms Around San Francisco

Don't live in the bay area, check out Lydie's list of Pick Your Own Cherry Farms Around the US.

10 Tips for Cherry Picking with Kids:

• Find farms with dwarf-sized trees so that young kids can easily reach the cherries without a ladder.

• Bring lots of water, even ice-water and sunscreen.  Where cherries grow, the sun is usually blazing hot. 

• If you have young ones who don't know how to spit out cherry pits, you might want to bring along a cherry pitter, so your don't end up with cherry juice all over your fingers.

• Sometimes, too much of a good thing is not good.  Cherries when consumed in large quantities can caused tummy aches and the runs.  It helps to bring lots of crackers and other savory food to keep little and big tummies settled. Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it.

• Teach your kids to pick cherries with stems attached.  They last longer that way.  Remove leaves though because those add to your weight.

• Dress kids in clothes that can get dirty and stained because cherry juice stains badly.

• Bring CASH.  Most farms don't accept credit cards or checks.

• Call ahead by phone (yes by phone!) to check when the growing season begins and availability of fruit.  Some farms have email newsletters, but many haven't caught up to the 21 centuary and don't have websites that are updated regularly.

• At home, don't wash cherries until you're ready to use them.  They grow mold quickly when wet.

• Get a few cherry recipes and ingredients ready before heading out to the farm if you plan to bring a lot of cherries home.  You want to be ready to use your cherries as quickly as possible.

If you're not up for picking your own cherries, but still want to enjoy all the cherry goodness, check out the annual Cherry Festival at C.J. Olson Cherries on May 30 and 31st from 9:30-5:00. This free festival about everything cherry has a great old fashion home town feel about it.  Enjoy a free cherry orchard tour, cherry-licious pancakes and great music.  For more information, visit the C.J. Olson Cherries website.

Yippeee! Cherry season is here.  Hurry!  Get out there and enjoy them with your kids.

Pick Your Own Farms:

Pick Your Own Cherry Farms Around San Francisco by TravelPangs

Pick Your Own Cherry Farms Around the US by Lydie

Kid-Friendly U-pick Strawberries Fields by Smithfamily

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LiLing Pang is co-founder and contributing author on Trekaroo - - a reviews website dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.

Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA