Recently my husband and I took our toddler on a fun outing to a nearby orchard. If you are visiting or live near Lackawanna County this is a great place to stop by. It’s fun for kids and adults alike! This is our second visit and overall I enjoy the orchard & think it’s worth the ticket price. If you’ve never been and are wondering if it’s the right place for you…keep reading my honest and detailed review of Lakeland Orchard & Cidery.
The Great Reasons Why to Visit: Lakeland Orchard & Cidery Review
There are some great reasons to check this place out! You can spend all day in Lakeland with plenty to do. Your kids will have a blast!
All-in-one Tickets
The great thing about Lakeland Orchard & Cidery is that everything is included in your ticket price except food & beverages. You can purchase punch cards which allow you to buy snacks and beverages at a discounted rate. This includes things like donuts, hot dogs, lemonade, and more. Punch cards cannot be used on meals.
Your ticket includes all the activities, like live music, blooms to cut, vegetable or fruit picking, merry-go-round, train rides, an amusement ride, bouncing areas, bubble-making areas, axe throwing, and more.
Ticket Price
Because most of the activities are included, these tickets are very reasonable for a day of fun in Northeastern Pennsylvania. To save money, you can buy your ticket online.
As of August 2023, general admission is:
Weekdays – $19.95 (online $16.95)
Weekends – May-August $23.95 (online $19.95)
Weekends – September – October $24.95 (online $20.95)
You can also purchase a combo ticket that comes with a punch card, or buy a punch card separately.
Benches
There are many benches around the park to take a rest if you need to. The only parts that don’t have benches are around the fruit and vegetable areas. Otherwise, you can grab a seat anytime at the orchard. Near the food stands are some picnic tables that have umbrellas for some shade.
Train Ride
The train ride is so worth it! They extended the time on the train from last year. It’s a much-needed break from the sun with the breeze cooling you off. Music plays on the train and you get to view the beautiful orchard without having to walk the entire thing. It’s a very serene ride. This wonderful ride is included in your ticket so you can ride as many times as you want during your visit!
Lemonade
I always get the lemonade, it is just delicious. If you like lemonade you’ll love this! It might be the best lemonade I’ve ever had. At times there are different flavors like blackberry lemonade or blueberry lemonade. There offer different beverages, this one is just my favorite.
The Not-So-Positive: Lakeland Orchard & Cidery Review
These are some things I’m not too happy with, however, they aren’t deal breakers and some may not take any issue with this, but it’s worth mentioning.
Shade
There are very few areas with shade at the orchard. Of course, the crops and flowers need that direct sunlight to grow. However, if you are heat sensitive, have asthma, or burn easily, I would recommend going during a cooler temperature or when the sun isn’t out as much.
If not, I recommend hydrating before and during your visit. Wear a sunhat and plenty of sunscreen. Take breaks under the food area that has umbrellas. Another place of shade is the corn pit that kids love so much. It is fully shaded.
If you have infants or newborns I would only go if you can provide them full shade. Try a troller sunshade cover.
Bees
Lakeland has several food stands, flower fields, veggie fields, and fruit fields. When the weather is warm and sunny, bees seem to be out in abundance. Last year I went later in the season and there wasn’t as much bee activity. I suppose the time of year will make a big difference with this.
However, this time I spent a notable portion of my time running and protecting my son from bees. I noticed that they were also in all the food stands that I stopped at. It seemed uncomfortable to be preparing food with bees and yellow jackets buzzing around you.
Surprisingly there wasn’t much yellow jacket activity by the veggies or flowers to cut. I would be very concerned if you or your children have a bee allergy.
Outdoor Restrooms
Port-o-lavs are the only restrooms available. However, there is an abundant amount around Lakeland. They are mostly clean and include some family port-o-lavs with a baby changing area to accommodate families with small children. Near the port-o-lavs are hand washing stations that have running water, soap, and paper towels.
Food
The food is not all that great in my opinion. There doesn’t seem to be allergy-friendly options for meals. If you or your child are picky eaters, then you may not find food to eat here. The fries this year were overcooked and somewhat burnt. I also tried some donuts, which were fresh and soft. They were okay, but not good enough for me to buy them again.
You are not permitted to bring your own food and snacks and the price for meals are expensive, especially if you have a large family.
Bounce Area
The bounce area is surrounded by pebbles/rocks. This is a little concerning for small kids. There is concern for safety as little kids can easily fall or bounce on the rocks. I was not allowed to assist my 3-year-old in using it and was told he had to go on by himself, which seemed dangerous, so we skipped this activity. There should be an area for parents to assist young kids as bouncing is a fun activity for toddlers. Also, there were no clear signs that stated anything about this except that the weight limit is 225. The bounce area was changed, as last year I was permitted to bounce with my son.
This activity is not useful for those with toddlers. Another downside is that the bounce was extremely hot …like burning hot even with socks on. I would worry about him bouncing and playing on this in general. It was hot enough that the attendant was warning kids not to get on without socks.
Overall, I would give Lakeland 4/5 stars. It’s certainly worth a trip, especially if you have kids.
I hope my Lakeland Orchard & Cidery review is helpful. It’s one of the many great places for family fun in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Traveling and not quite sure where your toddler should sleep? Don’t worry there are so many options!
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