We started out for Woodstock, IL in search of apples. Our family is no stranger to farms, it’s a favorite activity in the fall. These days we are getting especially close to nature, with few other options available. When it comes to farms, there is no shortage of them in Illinois and even in the vicinity of Chicago. They all have different attractions that may appeal to younger kids and adults alike. Our main priority was finding an apple farm with a great apple crop, space for social distancing and other attractions in the area. When you set out for an hour long drive, it’s nice to have a few ideas. So when I discovered that a small but famous town of Woodstock was in the vicinity of the All Seasons apple orchard, we knew what the farm destination would be!
Woodstock, IL
This is not a short trip, I warn you – it took us about an hour to get there. Woodstock is about 50 miles northwest from Chicago. Every local we ran into knew the answers to our questions about the movie that forever immortalized this town – “Groundhog Day”. Yes, the 1993 popular flick with Bill Murray and Andi MacDowell was filmed in Woodstock. Of course, Woodstock was supposed to be Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where Groundhog Day is a major celebration every year. Remember the story? The day repeats itself over and over with comedy and romance mixed in.
Woodstock town square is exactly the way it was in the movie. There is the bar, the theater, shops and cafes. This is just so fitting considering how much our days resemble Groundhog Day lately. Woodstock reminded me of a small European town. Perhaps, it was the way the park/village square was surrounded by older buildings and it had the small-town cosy feel to it.
Start your visit with lunch at Public House! We were there on a warm day and enjoyed our lunch outside at the Public House adjacent to the Courthouse, at Woodstock square. Inside, there are plenty of reminders of the Bill Murray conversations at the bar and you can take a picture with a little groundhog cutout. We were also able to catch a bit of the Farmer’s market – one of the best in the region – that started in May and ends in October. It was a nice combination of yummy foods and live music. By the way, the lunch at the cafe was delicious and people couldn’t be nicer.
I really enjoyed the old architecture. In fact, I learned that Woodstock is on the National Register of Historic Places and was recognized as a Preserve America Community by the White House. Two standouts for me were the County Courthouse (built in 1857) which is adjacent to the Public House and Woodstock Opera House (built in 1889). Orson Welles staged his first play at the Woodstock opera house. The Opera house has another claim to fame – the summer troupe that performed there included Paul Newman, Tom Bosley and Shelley Berman.
Woodstock Square is the center of things. As you can imagine, Groundhog day is a big deal in Woodstock! Every year there is a celebration on Groundhog Day, with a chili cook-off, dances, movie showing, touring the movie sights and, of course, the famous prognosticator announcing the season. When we stepped into the square, everything felt just like we saw in the Bill Murray and Andi MacDowell classic.
We found Ned’s corner. We found a spot where Phil kept stepping in the puddle.
It was a lot of fun and inspired us to re-watch “Groundhog Day”. The people in town were incredibly helpful explaining the famous stops, and it was nice to see that life was still buzzing and the downtown historic square preserved.
All Seasons Apple Orchard
From Woodstock, All Seasons Apple orchard is just a short 15-20 minute drive. I have to admit, we were there early in the season, so I could take advantage of the fruitful rows of my favorite Macintosh apples. We bought the bags for apple picking and opted to walk to the orchard (planning to hop on the hayride heading back). The walk to the orchard is fairly short and even toddlers can handle it – it’s a clearly marked and wide path, so there is plenty of social distancing.
You pass some corn which makes for a great picture.
At the orchard, you will be directed to the apple rows you can pick from. Definitely follow that advice, since other apples may be either not yet ripe or past their prime.
I strongly recommend you get a picker, since that lets you get apples from higher up. First of all, a lot of the apples on the bottom might be picked already. Secondly, they look great higher up, perhaps because of the exposure to more direct sunlight. My kids definitely enjoyed using the apple picker to grab the apples from the tops of the trees. Don’t forget to sample the apples! There is something special about eating the apples right off the trees, something very basic and enjoyable.
The hayride back made it easier to transport our bags full of apples. And it is a quintessential farm experience.
No apple orchard visit is complete without sampling some apple cider and apple cider donuts – super fresh and delicious at All Seasons. You can enjoy them outside on the picnic tables, often listening to some live music.
Other attractions kids will certainly enjoy are the corn maze and a brand new zip line. With October pumpkin season, pumpkin patch is a joy for the little ones.
Whether you make it to Woodstock this apple season, or travel up there on Groundhog day, it’s a town worth visiting!
