the cranberry festival

While we're living in this part of the country, we want to try to soak in as much of the local stuff as we can.  There are definitely a lot of things to do here that are very unique.  So, a few weekends ago, we headed up to MA for the day.  The colors there were pretty and close to peak foliage time.  We are now getting those colors here, and it really is something to see.  I grew up in Alabama.  Green and brown were our Fall colors... and our summer, spring and winter colors too, come to think of it.  Anyway, everything is glowing reds and oranges and yellows here.  I wish I had more chances to take pictures of all this, but the weather hasn't really cooperated.  But, back to the trip.

We went to Edaville, Massachusetts to go the the annual Cranberry Festival.  Yep, this is where they harvest cranberries.  And it's pretty cool.  Just like the Ocean Spray commercials.

We got to take a train (which Jake thought was the best thing ever) through 18 acres of cranberry bogs and watch them harvest the cranberries.  I've seen lots of peanuts harvested, but never cranberries.  The kids were really interested and so were we.

The farmland out there was really pretty and it looked almost surreal, all of the cranberries floating and waiting to be harvested.

As fun as it was to see the bogs, that wasn't the only thing to do in Edaville.  As part of the festival, they had a full carnival with rides and everything.  They had lots of trains and old-fashioned toys for the kids to play on.  They had a really neat playground in the middle of a grove of pine trees and trains they kids could pedal with their hands.  So much to do and explore.

And as it all that wasn't enough, there were full on carnival rides that were the perfect size for the kids.  It was so sweet to see all of the kids riding without us (except for Nathan of course).  They seemed so big.

Of course, some of the rides needed an adult and we were more than happy to step in.  I think Ken should get some kind of special Daddy award for riding the elephants, don't you?  Although, he does look like he enjoyed it, too!

We went early in the morning so it was none too crowed and no lines.  The kids just got to bounce from ride to ride.  It was like Six Flags for tots....only better.

I got to ride the Ferris Wheel twice, each time with 2 different kids.  I have to say it was alot of fun.  They thought it was the coolest thing ever and I haven't done that in years!

Here's another train ride, with the girls in the back and you can see Jake and Hannah in the engine.

Do you notice the train theme here?  Jacob is so into Thomas right now, so he thought all this was pretty great.

And, of course little man was there too.  Not riding rides, but he did get out of the stroller long enough to share a sandwich with Gracie.  I think he had fun too.

It was a fun day and was light years better than our trip to Plymouth last month.  It was one of those rare times when everyone just has fun and it doesn't feel stressful and you think, "Hey, we can do this!"   Good times!