Apple Land Station: Your Farm for Fun, Food and Family

Our last stop on our family adventure in London, Ontario actually took us just outside the city to Apple Land Station in Thorndale.   I was excited to go, although my Aunt and Uncle have a family farm complete with Apple Orchards (among other amazing produce like Peaches and Cherries).  I remember as a child going for hay rides through the Orchard every year at our family get-together and being so excited over it.   I haven’t taken Keira for a visit in far too long but after out trip to Apple Land Station I think we will be making the effort very soon!

Apple Land Station is also a family owned farm that has grown beyond providing fresh produce for the local community into the perfect place to build last family memories.

There is so much to do at Apple Land Station.  You can take a ride on the train, find the perfect pumpkin in Pumpkin Hollow, visit the Animal Barn, romp on Sand Mountain, pick your own apples and get lost in the corn maze! 

Inside the Station is a shop where you can purchase gifts, gourmet items and baked goods.

Anthony was in the throes of a man cold by the time we arrived to Apple Land Station and Ava was asleep so it was just Keira and I on this adventure together.  The first thing we saw was Sand Mountain and all the kids having a blast climbing around on it. 

The Pumpkin patch was huge and we saw some nice big ones growing!  There is also a Station Mation Chicken Show your little one can take in.

The train seemed to be parked for the day which was too bad because I had been talking to her about it in the lead up to arriving at the farm.  She loves trains so much!  When she saw the train parked she started yelling “Mommy! Mommy! The Choo-choo!  The Choo-choo mommy!” 

Our first real stop was the Animal barn to see the chickens, pigs and sheep inside.  I promise that despite the grumpy face in this picture, she was really excited over the animals. 

Finally we got started picking our apples.  The first section of orchard that you come across features Royal Gala which are my absolute favourite apple.  They are so perfectly crisp, sweet and juicy… there is just nothing like it.   You can also pick Crispin, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Empire, Spartan, Mutsu, Granny Smith and many more varieties.

We spied the entrance to the corn maze which I was SO tempted to take her on but since it had already been a long day by that point we skipped it.  I would really like to take Keira back on a nicer (less cold and rainy) day so we can spend more time at the various attractions. 

Keira had a blast helping me pick apples.  She mostly loved trying to get the “baby apples” as she was calling them and attempting to bite into every single “mommy” apple she picked.   I finally convinced her to just carry an apple to bring to daddy and she was quite pleased to be given this job.

The apples were so plentiful and healthy looking, I couldn’t wait to get home myself to eat one!

There is a lot of walking if you are picking apples so you want to make sure you dress appropriately.  I did find it a lot warmer in the orchard than elsewhere which makes picking the apples pretty enjoyable.   I assume that when the train is running it is a whole lot less walking but honestly the walk itself is pretty fun, even with a 2 year old in tow.

Although we were in more of a rush than I would have liked between the weather threatening to rain again and the man cold,  we both had a seriously fun time and that was just with picking our own apples.  I can only imagine the level of fun had we taken in the other attractions too!

Apple Land Station is definitely a must visit if you are visiting or live around the London, Ontario area.  What an excellent way to get out, get some fresh air and teach your kids more about local produce and how their food gets from farm to table.  

Oh and the apples?  Once I got them home I cut a few up for us to enjoy and they were amazingly delicious!   I am pretty certain there will be some more baking in my near future!

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Elizabeth Lampman

Elizabeth Lampman is a coffee-fuelled Mom of 2 girls and lives in Hamilton, Ontario. She enjoys travelling, developing easy recipes, crafting, taking on diy projects, travelling and saving money!