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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Marengo & Woodstock, Illinois
Book a visit to Maria's Farm lavender near Marengo, ride vintage trains in Union on fall weekends, then pick Honeycrisp apples outside Woodstock.
7 places · updated October 17, 2026
🌱 What’s happening now
Updated October 17
🪻 In season now
All Seasons Orchard · Edwards Apple Orchard · Cody's Farm & Orchard · Von Bergen's Country Market · Richardson Adventure Farm · TOM'S Farm Market
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Western McHenry County is the farm belt at the far edge of the Chicago suburbs, about an hour northwest of the city along I-90 and Route 20. Marengo, Union, Harvard and Woodstock are small county towns surrounded by corn, dairy pasture and apple orchards, and the glacial lakes and bogs of the Fox River valley sit just to the east. It is an easy day out from the city or from Rockford, which is about 30 miles west.
Maria's Farm, a small lavender farm on Menge Road north of Marengo, is open by appointment only, so plan around a booked visit: garden strolls with the farm animals, afternoon tea, goat yoga, farm-to-table meals and a country store with its lavender honey. Pair it with one of the big apple farms nearby, a train ride at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, and a walk around the Woodstock Square, where the movie Groundhog Day was filmed in 1992.
The lavender farms
- Maria's FarmLavender farm · Marengo
By appointment only; ticketed goat yoga (June and August), Lavender Afternoon Tea (June 13 and July 11, 2026) and a September farm dinner.
Best time to visit
Lavender in northern Illinois generally flowers in early to mid-summer, but Maria's Farm does not publish bloom dates, so ask about timing when you book. Summer weekends are also the start of the Illinois Railway Museum season, which in 2026 runs weekends only through October 25 (its Pumpkin Train is that day). Apple season is the busiest time to visit: All Seasons Orchard in Woodstock is open August 29 to November 1, 2026, with pumpkin picking from mid-September, and Edwards Apple Orchard in Poplar Grove opens September through November. Late September and October bring the fall festivals at Von Bergen's, Tom's Farm Market and Goebbert's, and fall color at Moraine Hills and Rock Cut state parks. In winter the area belongs to Woodstock's Groundhog Days celebration, which ran January 29 to February 2 in 2026 with walking tours of the film's locations.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Illinois Railway Museum🏛️ Museum · Union · about 10 mi, 15 min drive
Calls itself the largest railway museum in the United States, with rides on steam, diesel and electric trains plus historic streetcars and Pullman cars. Special runs include the Pumpkin Train on October 25 and the Happy Holiday Railway on December 20, 2026.
Weekends only through October 25, 2026
- McHenry County Historical Society Museum🏛️ Museum · Union · about 9 mi, 15 min drive
A small campus in Union with the 1843 Gannon Log Cabin, Perkins Hall (an 1885 town hall), a restored 1895 one-room schoolhouse, a threshing barn and a museum of county history. It is a two-minute drive from the railway museum.
Tuesday–Friday 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Woodstock Square and Woodstock Opera House🏘️ Town · Woodstock · about 9 mi, 15 min drive
The McHenry County seat's historic square stood in for Punxsutawney in Groundhog Day, filmed here in 1992. Walking tours of the filming sites start at the Opera House and end at the Cherry Tree Inn, where Bill Murray's character woke up each morning.
Groundhog Days festival January 29–February 2, 2026, with filming-site walking tours
- Moraine Hills State Park🌳 State park · McHenry · about 23 mi, 30 min drive
About 2,200 acres, roughly half of it wetland and lakes, around 48-acre Lake Defiance, one of the few largely undeveloped glacial lakes left in Illinois. More than 10 miles of trail loop through marsh and woods, and more than 200 bird species have been recorded.
Day use only; seasonal hours posted at the entrance (be back at your car 15 minutes before sunset)
- Volo Bog State Natural Area🌲 Preserve · Ingleside · about 26 mi, 35 min drive
The only open-water quaking bog in Illinois. A floating boardwalk crosses a mat of sphagnum moss and sedges to the open pool at the bog's center, and a visitor center explains how the bog formed.
Gates open 8 a.m. daily except Christmas and New Year's Day, closing times posted by season; visitor center Wednesday–Sunday 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Chain O'Lakes State Park🌳 State park · Spring Grove · about 28 mi, 40 min drive
The park borders Grass, Marie and Nippersink lakes on a chain of Fox River lakes with nearly 6,500 acres of water. Walk the 2.25-mile Nature's Way trail or the 6-mile bike and hike trail, or rent a boat at the concession.
April 1 through the last weekend of October 6 a.m.–9 p.m.; winter 8 a.m.–sunset
- Rock Cut State Park🌳 State park · Loves Park · about 25 mi, 35 min drive
A 3,254-acre park on Rockford's northeast side with two fishing lakes, 162-acre Pierce Lake and 50-acre Olson Lake, plus hiking and horseback trails through hardwood forest.
- Anderson Japanese Gardens🌷 Garden · Rockford · about 30 mi, 40 min drive
Twelve acres of streams, waterfalls, winding paths and koi ponds on Rockford's east side, with Fresco at the Garden serving breakfast and lunch. In October the garden adds a Path of Pumpkins display.
Open daily; Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Adults $13 weekdays, $15 weekends and holidays; 5 and under free; tickets sold only at the admissions counter
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- All Seasons OrchardApple orchard · Woodstock
About 16,000 apple trees and a barnyard of 30-plus activities, open August 29 to November 1 in 2026.
- Edwards Apple OrchardApple orchard · Poplar Grove
A large orchard west of Marengo for picking apples September through November, with fresh cider and cider donuts at the Apple Barn.
- Cody's Farm & OrchardApple orchard · Marengo
The closest fall farm to Maria's, with pick-your-own apples and pumpkins on River Road south of Marengo.
- Von Bergen's Country MarketFamily fun farm · Hebron
A country market near the Wisconsin line for sweet corn in summer and a Pumpkin Fest with corn mazes in fall.
- Richardson Adventure FarmFamily fun farm · Spring Grove
Known for a 28-acre corn maze with miles of trail, close to Chain O'Lakes State Park.
- TOM'S Farm MarketFamily fun farm · Huntley
A farm market south of Woodstock whose fall festival has a six-acre corn maze and a petting zoo.
- Goebbert's Pumpkin PatchFamily fun farm · Pingree Grove
A big fall festival farm for families who want pony rides, a train and a carousel along with pumpkins and apples.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMMaria's Farm
Booked visit (appointment only): stroll the lavender gardens, meet the animals and browse the country store. About 1 hour.
- 11:20 AMEdwards Apple Orchard · about 20 min drive
In September–November, pick apples (picking 9–5:30 daily, weather permitting) and have lunch at the Apple Barn and Cider Cellar with fresh cider and cider donuts. About 1.5 hours.
- 1:20 PMIllinois Railway Museum · about 30 min drive
Weekends only: ride a vintage train or streetcar and walk the car barns. About 1.5 hours.
- 3:00 PMMcHenry County Historical Society Museum · about 3 min drive
Look into the 1843 log cabin and the 1895 schoolhouse before the 4 p.m. Saturday close. About 45 minutes.
- 4:05 PMWoodstock Square · about 20 min drive
Walk the square, see the Opera House and find the Groundhog Day filming spots. About 45 minutes.
- 5:00 PMAll Seasons Orchard · about 10 min drive
End with hand-dipped caramel apples, kettle corn and cider donuts from the Farm Market, or a bag of pre-picked apples to take home. About 45 minutes; check closing time on their calendar.
Tips
- Maria's Farm has no walk-in hours. Call or email to book before you drive out.
- The Illinois Railway Museum runs on weekends only, through October 25 in 2026, so plan this route for a Saturday or Sunday.
- October weekends are the busiest days at the orchards. All Seasons Orchard sells admission online, and its 2026 tickets start at $9 for the barnyard and $12 for apple picking.
- Cody's Farm does not allow dogs other than service dogs. Check each farm's pet rule before bringing a dog.
- Anderson Japanese Gardens sells tickets only at its admissions counter. The third Thursday of each month is Donation Day, when guests give a donation in place of admission.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
Can I just stop by Maria's Farm?
No. Maria's Farm in Marengo is open by appointment only. Book a garden visit, tea, goat yoga or a farm-to-table meal through their website or by phone.
When is apple picking near Marengo and Woodstock?
All Seasons Orchard in Woodstock is open August 29 to November 1 in 2026, and Edwards Apple Orchard in Poplar Grove opens September through November.
Where was Groundhog Day filmed?
On and around the Woodstock Square, about 15 minutes east of Marengo. The film was shot there in 1992, and walking tours run during Woodstock's Groundhog Days each winter.
Is the Illinois Railway Museum open in October?
Yes, on weekends through October 25, 2026, which is also the day of its Pumpkin Train.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
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