A Bounty of Travel Experiences Ripe for the Picking During Fall Harvest Season in Colorado

DENVER, CO--(Marketwired - Jul 30, 2015) - Farming is a long-standing tradition in Colorado, fostered by generations of hard work and plentiful growing conditions. Masters of the trade know that the secrets to a stunning harvest lay in timing, familiarity with the land, and the patience and persistence of seeing a crop through. Across Colorado, farmers have opened their barn doors and ranch gates, homes and havens, for visitors who care to share a meal, a weekend, a week or more. Lose yourself in the beauty and bounty of Colorado farms during fall harvest season and walk away wizened, nourished and rooted. For more information, visit http://roots.colorado.com/publication/?i=253486.

On the Go: Farm Stands & Roadside Restaurants
Keep your eyes peeled for farm stands and fill up your trunk with fresh food from the fields. Head to Paonia and discover the refreshing taste of fresh apple juice at Big B's Organic Orchards. Travel from La Junta to Rocky Ford along Highway 50, where farm stands are scattered along the way and taste Rocky Ford's famous cantaloupe and watermelon! Pedal from farm to farm by bicycle on the 9th Annual Tour de Farms in Durango's agricultural community.

Here to Stay
Spend an overnight at a hard-working homestead. Rent a cabin at Avalanche Cheese Farm and Dairy, an active farm in Paonia where you can help gather eggs, feed chickens and milk goats. Take part in Smith Fork Ranch Farmstead's Culinary Weekend or Claremont Inn and Winery's fall harvest cooking class and wine tasting.

Take a Seat at the Table
Come harvest season, shared meals are the heart of the celebration, and farms across Colorado invite you to their tables. On Thursday evenings, catch the 63rd Street Farm Seed-to-Table Dinner Mingle & Feast event in Boulder. At Fresh & Wyld Farmhouse and Gardens, Friday and Saturday night dinners transform fresh food harvested from the garden into fine, ethnic cuisine. 

Volunteer for Vacation
Short-duration volunteer opportunities let you experience farm life holistically during your holiday. In the bountiful San Luis Valley, Zapata Ranch offers a balance of luxury and labor. In Boulder County visit several on-the-farm experiences like Cure Organic Farm, Pachamama Farm, and McCauley Family Farm. Lend a hand on an urban dairy goat farm at Mountain Flower Goat Dairy.

Get Lost in the Harvest
Corn mazes across the state offer an intimate opportunity for getting to know the seed-to-flower details of a crop. Head over to Murray Farms Corn Maze in Brighton, a working farm since 1917, for field trips and hay rides. Rock Creek Farm's corn maze claims the title of being one of the largest in the Western U.S., and younger kids can enjoy their own hay-bale maze.

Autumn is the prime time to experience Colorado farms. Whether for a short visit or extended vacation, settle into your roots, sit back for a meal, and enjoy the fruits of a bountiful Colorado harvest season.