Here are some of our favorite strawberry farms in the areas surrounding the city.
Strawberry picking is the perfect summer activity. Kids get out into the fresh air and tire themselves out, and the whole family can enjoy a fresh, healthy snack for days. Arguably one of the best things about strawberry picking is that is gets you out of the city and gives you an excuse to venture into the suburbs to explore a life that is a bit less crowded and fast-paced. While we’d never fully give up city living, that change can be nice!
So, if you’re a parent, babysitter, or nanny in need of a fun outing idea, strawberry picking may be just the activity you need. Luckily, the areas surrounding Boston have great spots to pick strawberries that are just one child-friendly car ride away.
To help you out, we rounded up the 10 best places around Boston to go strawberry picking. So, pack up the kids, load up the car, and get pickin’!
Belkin Family Lookout Farm
Address: 89 S. Pleasant St., South Natick, MA 01760
Hours: Thursday & Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 508-651-1539
Fees: Admission ages 2+, $12 | Ages 2 and under, free | Strawberry picking, $7 per quart
Kids will love picking at Belkin Family Lookout Farm, where a train will pick you up and transport you to some of the freshest strawberries around. For little visitors, the ride on the train is half the fun. But that’s just the beginning of the activities at Lookout Farm! In addition to the train, there’s also a children’s play area, baby sheep, and goats to visit, and free face-painting from noon to 4 p.m. on the weekends.
Address: 315 S. Bradford St., North Andover, MA 01845
Hours: Open daily, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 978-682-6332
Fees: Admission, Free | Strawberries are $4.25 per pound.
Smolak Farms is a gem on the North Shore. The farm is small enough to make you feel like you’ve connected with the family that has been farming here for generations. However, there’s also tons for kids to do, including a playground, a large petting zoo, and deer that kids can feed. Of course, there are also farm favorites, like hayrides. While kids might want to visit the ice cream stand, adults should be sure to eat an apple cider doughnut. You won’t regret it!
Russell Orchards
Address: 143 Argilla Road, Ipswich, MA 01938
Hours: Open daily, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. (June – August)
Phone: 978-356-5366
Fees: Admission ages 2+, $3 (Fee is credited back to you when you exit and pay for the fruit you picked) | Fruit priced by the pound, get details here.
Russell Orchards is a farm and winery, meaning the kids will have fun picking, and then mom and dad can have fun sampling delicious wines. The winery is open Friday through Sunday, from noon to 5:30 a.m. The strawberry fields are about a third of a mile from the farm stand, so a stroller for tired toddlers might be a good idea. Of course, you can’t visit Ipswich without going to the beach, but Russell Orchards is a perfect stop to start or end your day trip to the ocean.
Parlee Farms
Address: 95 Farwell Road, Tyngsboro, MA, 01879
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Sunday, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Summer Farm Hours) | Pick-Your-Own hours vary, click here for details.
Phone: 978-649-3854
Fees: Strawberries are $4.25 per pound.
Parlee Farms was recently recognized by the state for having some of the best strawberries around, so it’s the perfect place to pick your own fruit! Kids will also love Annie’s Animal Barns, where chickens, goats, bunnies, and other animals eat animal feed out of your hands. One of the most unique features is the Annie’s Goats in the Trees attraction, where goats can walk to the top of a platform to eat their food near the treetops.
C.N. Smith Farm
Address: 325 South St., East Bridgewater, MA 02333
Hours: Open daily, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Phone: 508-378-2270
Fees: Strawberries are $4 per pound (3 pound minimum, 2 quarts for 3 people, $4 per additional person) | The $12 deposit is good for up to 3 people.
C.N. Smith Farm is a great place to pick your own strawberries on the South Shore. In addition to having plenty of strawberries, the farm is home to a variety of animals, from chickens to horses. However, what really sets C.N. Smith Farm apart is the beautiful greenhouse filled with stunning flowers. It’s the perfect place to pick up some decorations for your home or just let the little ones explore.
Tougas Family Farm
Address: 234 Ball St., Northborough, MA 01532
Hours: Check picking conditions page for hours.
Phone: 508-393-6406
Fees: Admission, $5 per person applied toward purchase of pick-your-own strawberries | Strawberries, $4.50 per pound
Tougas Family Farm is truly a family operation, purchased by a husband and wife who bought the farm in the 1980s and raised their three kids on the land. With that in mind, it’s no wonder the farm has become a beloved family destination. Kids will love riding the hayride to pick berries, playing on the playground, and visiting the barn animals afterward. The whole family will enjoy the homemade baked goods that will have you returning to the farm kitchen time and time again.
Verrill Farm
Address: 11 Wheeler Road, Concord, MA 01742
Hours: Farm Stand, open daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Strawberry picking, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – noon | Saturday & Sunday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Phone: 978-369-4494
Fees: $3.75 per pound
Verrill Farm is easy to access with just a short ride from Boston. That makes this the perfect place to pick strawberries when you can’t dedicate the entire day to a trip. The farm also has tons of fresh vegetables available to purchase. Keep an eye on the website for exciting events, like cooking classes, a pancake breakfast, and pie-eating contests.
Sunshine Farm
Address: 41 Kendall Ave., Sherborn, MA 01770
Hours: Open daily 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Call ahead for pick-your-own hours)
Phone: 508-655-5022
Fees: $2 entry per person; $3.99 per pound
Who wouldn’t want to visit a place called Sunshine Farm? The name alone will entice your little ones. At this third-generation family farm, you’ll feel like part of the family. Kids will love the strawberries as far as the eye can see, and the whole family will love sampling the culinary delights, from fresh vegetables to baked goods.
Boston Hill Farm
Address: 1370 Turnpike St., North Andover, MA 01845
Hours: Open daily, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Phone: 978-681-8556
Fees: $3.49 per pound
With a name like Boston Hill Farm, you’ll feel right at home at this North Shore destination. The farm gets even sweeter when you learn that 12 generations of the same family have farmed this land. The picking is great, and once you’ve had your fill of strawberries, the farmstand — which is really more like a grocery story — has everything you could possibly need, from local milk to honey and fresh produce.
Marini Farm
Address: 259 Linebrook Road, Ipswich, MA 01938
Hours: Open daily, 8:30 a.m. – 6: 30 p.m.
Phone: 978-356-0430
Fees: $2.99 per pound
Marini Farm has some of the most extensive strawberry fields around. Whether you like your berries small and sweet or gigantic, you’ll find strawberries that fit your taste at this farm. It’s no wonder their crop is well-established, since this land has been farmed consistently since 1928.
In addition to pick-your-own, Marini’s has a farm stand full of local produce and other grocery products, so there will be plenty of delicious food to refuel on after your drive to the North Shore. There are locally butchered meats and fresh pasta available, so you can stock up on treats before your return to the city!
Where is your favorite place to pick strawberries near Boston? Let us know in the comments below!
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