One of the best parts of fall is visiting a local patch to pick just the right pumpkins, whether you're planning to carve them or leave them intact. It's a great family activity, and many pumpkin patches also offer fun activities like corn mazes.
  
Our real estate agents recommend visiting the following Bowling Green area pumpkin patches to find beautiful pumpkins and make some family memories.

• Jackson's Orchard and Nursery - 1280 Slim Island Road, Bowling Green, KY 42101
  The weeks leading up to Halloween are filled with fun at Jackson's Orchard and Nursery, located near Bowling Green homes for sale. Continuing every weekend until the end of October, Jackson's Pumpkin Festival features a pumpkin patch, wagon rides, corn maze, petting zoo, pony rides, The Cider Slider, The Goat Ranch, and more. And make sure to stop at the concession stand, where you'll find caramel apples as well as homemade pumpkin, apple, and vanilla ice cream, barbecue sandwiches, and other goodies.
  
  
• Just Piddlin Farm - 10830 S. Morgantown Road,  Woodburn, KY 42170
  Grab a wagon and choose your pumpkin straight off the vine or from some already picked and in a barn at Just Piddlin Farm. Take a hayride through the patch, navigate your way through a corn maze, meet some animals, play corn hole, and more. If you have young kids with you, they'll love playing on the swing set, going through the Triple Oaks tube slide, and hoisting themselves up on the geodome. And when you're tired from all the fun, rest up in one of the farm's rocking chairs before visiting Warren County homes for sale.
    
• Chaney's Dairy Barn - 9191 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, KY 42101
  Pick out a pumpkin at Chaney's Dairy Barn, where you'll have lots of opportunities for fun. The dairy farm sells delicious ice cream made from milk and cream courtesy of their Jersey cows—it's hard to get much fresher than that! You can also take a ride on the Moo Wagon for a farm tour and let the kids romp around on the playground and leap on the jumping pillow. And if you build up a bigger appetite, you can choose from dishes like grilled sandwiches and burgers.
  
  
• Ruby Branch Farms - 780 Lake Spring Road, Franklin, KY 42134
  At Ruby Branch Farms, you can pick your pumpkin right off the vine in a three-acre patch or choose a pre-picked pumpkin. As you're decorating for fall, make sure to check out their straw, corn shocks, potted plants, or popular selection of mums. They come in three different pot sizes, and you'll have your choice of over 20 different color varieties. Tour these Simpson County homes for sale after your visit.

Tips for Keeping Your Pumpkins Fresh

After you've picked just the right pumpkins, the last thing you want is for it to rot. Taste of Home recommends the following methods for perfect pumpkin preservation:

• Rub petroleum jelly on it - Rubbing petroleum jelly all over an uncarved pumpkin will help keep it fresh and keep pests away. It also works for carved pumpkins if you spread the petroleum jelly into all the nooks and crannies.
  
  
• Give them a water/vinegar bath. Fill a large tub with 10 parts water to one part vinegar. Let your pumpkins soak for about 30 minutes, and let them air dry. This works because vinegar kills fungus, making the pumpkins less likely to rot.

Contact us if you're interested in buying a home in the area. We'd love to help you find the perfect house to suit your lifestyle.