Agritourism farms draw fall visitors to the countryside to pick that perfect pumpkin, wander through a corn maze, enjoy a wagon ride through the apple orchard or up the mountain to “choose and cut “a Christmas tree.

Old tractors bring back memories for grandpa, and cackling chickens remind grandma of her childhood. Listen to a farm story told by the farmer’s wife wearing a dress and shawl from years ago. Enjoy a picnic in the Indian summer breeze under a shady tree. Sunflowers wave in the wind. Ducks quack in the nearby pond, and a swan glides majestically through the water.

Goats frolic around the barnyard where the peacock spreads its gorgeous plume. Cows graze lazily in the distance while the sheep rest in the shade. Llamas and alpacas gaze serenely at visitors, their fiber found in warm socks and scarves for cold weather.

Looking for a weekend getaway for two? Make your reservations at a farm where you will dine the “slow food” way. Shop at a roadside stand or pick your own fresh, local food, grown on centuries-old farms that provide economic security for rural areas.

Agritourism farms contribute to environmental sustainability, support economic stability in rural areas, promote and protect local food systems, and provide visitors with unique ways to learn about North Carolina farms.

Check out VisitNCFarms.com and find a farm where you can spend an hour or stay the day.

Discover and interact with the world’s largest collection of rare and endangered waterfowl and other birds at Sylvan Heights Bird Park. Although not in the record books, don’t miss what we call North Carolina’s longest museum—the Roanoke Canal Museum & Trail! Follow the mighty Roanoke River and experience the history of transportation, power generation & industrialization via the creation of the Roanoke Canal. Visit our cradle of history, the 18th century town of Historic Halifax, site of the adoption on April 12, 1776, of the Halifax Resolves, the first official declaration of independence from Britain by any colony. At Medoc Mountain State Park, there is a large group picnic shelter with restrooms and seven scenic hiking trails of varying lengths. The rangers of Medoc Mountain State Park offer regularly scheduled educational programming. The Roanoke Valley Veterans Museum’s collection of historical items from each war is extensive, and the majority of the volunteer guides are themselves veterans, witnesses to this history. From classic musicals to comedies, Lakeland Theatre Company offers school day matinees with special pricing for students!