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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of the Twin Cities South Metro, Minnesota
Cut lavender at The Lavender Barnyard near Farmington in summer, then pick apples at Brand Farms on fall weekends from September 5 to November 1, 2026.
9 places · updated October 17, 2026
🌱 What’s happening now
Updated October 17
🪻 In season now
Brand Farms · Ferguson's Orchards – Minnesota Harvest · Montgomery Orchard · Whistling Well Farm · Fireside Orchard & Gardens · Minnesota's Largest Candy Store
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South of the Minnesota River, the Twin Cities suburbs give way to farm country between Farmington, Lakeville, Prior Lake and Jordan. In one day you can hike oak woods that Audubon lists as an Important Bird Area, swim at a free county beach, walk through a re-created 1800s river village in Shakopee and fill a bag at orchards around Farmington, Hastings and Jordan. Dakota County's regional parks are free to enter, and Three Rivers parks charge only for extras like off-leash areas and ski trails.
The Lavender Barnyard sits on 225th Street West in Eureka Township, west of Farmington, in the rolling countryside of Dakota County. It is a small farm that offers U-pick lavender, tours, classes, yoga and a farm store with dried lavender, culinary goods and handmade products, and it doubles as a wedding venue. Come in summer for the lavender, or in September and October, when the apple orchards and pumpkin farms around Farmington and Jordan are at their busiest.
The lavender farms
- Lavender BarnyardLavender farm · Farmington
You-pick and walking the fields in summer bloom; booked group tours, private events and weddings; 2026 evening picnics, knitting nights and growing classes June-August.
- Morning Glory ValleyLavender farm · Jordan
Best time to visit
May is songbird season at Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve. Summer brings The Lavender Barnyard's blooms and U-pick; the farm does not post fixed bloom dates, so check their website or social pages before you go. Cleary Lake's free, unguarded beach and boat rentals run Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Brand Farms held its 2026 Sunflower Festival July 31 to August 16 at its Lakeville field. Apple season starts mid-August: Ferguson's Minnesota Harvest in Jordan is open August 15 through November 1, 2026, and Brand Farms' market runs daily September 4 through November 22, with U-pick, hayrides and activities on weekends September 5 through November 1 (Haralson U-pick from October 3). The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's scarecrow and pumpkin displays run September 18 to November 1, and its Northern Lights evenings run November 20 to January 3.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Whitetail Woods Regional Park🏞️ Park · Farmington · about 8 mi, 15 min drive
A 456-acre county park in Empire Township a mile north of the Vermillion River, with a nature play area for kids, a sledding hill and camper cabins you can reserve.
Daily 5 a.m.–10 p.m.
free admission and parking
- Lebanon Hills Regional Park🏞️ Park · Eagan · about 14 mi, 20 min drive
Dakota County's largest park at almost 2,000 acres, with many lakes, miles of trails and a swimming beach on Schulze Lake; start at the visitor center on Cliff Road.
Daily 5 a.m.–10 p.m.
free admission and parking
- Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve🌲 Preserve · Savage · about 13 mi, 20 min drive
Hilly oak woods with 21.4 miles of hiking trails and more than 10 miles of mountain-bike loops; Audubon names it an Important Bird Area, the best park in the district for woodland songbirds.
Daily 5 a.m.–10 p.m.
Free to hike; passes for horse trails, ski trails and the off-leash dog area
- Cleary Lake Regional Park🏞️ Park · Prior Lake · about 13 mi, 20 min drive
A no-gas-motor lake with a free beach, canoe and paddleboard rentals, 5.9 miles of hiking trail, a 3.5-mile paved loop and a 28-acre fenced dog area.
Daily 5 a.m.–10 p.m.; beach and rentals Memorial Day weekend–Labor Day
Beach free; pass needed for off-leash area
- Northfield Historical Society🏛️ Museum · Northfield · about 15 mi, 25 min drive
A downtown Northfield museum with an exhibit on the 1876 bank raid, which centered on the town's Scriver Building.
Tue–Thu 11–3, Fri–Sat 10–4, Sun 1–4; closed Mondays
Adults $10; 18 and under, students and veterans free
- Lake Byllesby Regional Park🏞️ Park · Cannon Falls · about 19 mi, 30 min drive
A county park on Lake Byllesby Reservoir, the largest lake in southern Dakota County, with a summer swimming beach and a trail link to the Mill Towns State Trail.
Daily 5 a.m.–10 p.m.; beach in summer
free admission and parking
- The Landing🏛️ Historic site · Shakopee · about 23 mi, 35 min drive
A village of historic buildings on the Minnesota River, laid out as a timeline from pre-territorial days through the late 1800s, with self-guided trails along the river.
Grounds daily 5 a.m.–10 p.m.
Grounds free; building entry separate
- Minnesota Landscape Arboretum🌷 Garden · Chaska · about 34 mi, 45 min drive
The University of Minnesota's arboretum, with seasonal displays like fall scarecrows and pumpkins and the AppleHouse selling apples and squash August 20 to December 20; advance tickets recommended.
Scarecrows Sept 18–Nov 1; Northern Lights Nov 20–Jan 3 (2026)
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Brand FarmsApple orchard · Farmington
A fall farm three miles from the lavender with an open-air market, U-pick apples and pumpkins, hayrides and a food truck; $7 admission, leashed dogs welcome.
- Ferguson's Orchards – Minnesota HarvestApple orchard · Jordan
A long-running hillside orchard outside Jordan with apples, wagon rides and cider, open August 15 through November 1 in 2026.
- Montgomery OrchardApple orchard · Montgomery
Pick Haralson and Honeygold apples on fall weekends and taste house-made cider and wine at the Cider Haus; no pets.
- Whistling Well FarmApple orchard · Hastings
An orchard and farm store near the St. Croix with U-pick apples, pumpkins and mums, preserves and baked goods.
- Fireside Orchard & GardensApple orchard · Northfield
About two dozen picked apple varieties and donuts, with a rose garden and fish pond to wander; no U-pick.
- Nicolin Mansion Bed & BreakfastInn or B&B · Jordan
A restored Victorian B&B in Jordan on the National Register, with five guest rooms, for turning this into an overnight.
- Minnesota's Largest Candy StoreGift shop · Jordan
A giant yellow barn of candy, pies and sodas outside Jordan, open seasonally from about Mother's Day; cash only.
A one-day plan
- 9:45 AMWhitetail Woods Regional Park
An easy morning walk; kids can use the nature play area; about 45 minutes.
- 10:45 AMLavender Barnyard · about 15 min drive
Walk the lavender and gardens, cut a U-pick bundle in summer and shop the farm store; about 1 hour. Check open days before you go.
- 12:00 PMBrand Farms · about 7 min drive
Lunch from the food truck, then the hay wagon out to U-pick apples on fall weekends; about 1.5 hours.
- 1:50 PMMurphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve · about 20 min drive
Hike a hilly oak-woods loop; about 1 hour.
- 3:10 PMThe Landing · about 20 min drive
Walk the historic village grounds by the Minnesota River; about 45 minutes.
- 4:15 PMFerguson's Minnesota Harvest · about 20 min drive
Apples, cider and a wagon ride before the 6 p.m. close; about 1 hour 15 minutes.
- 5:45 PMNicolin Mansion · about 10 min drive
Check in for the night in Jordan if you are staying over.
Tips
- Dakota County regional parks (Whitetail Woods, Lebanon Hills, Lake Byllesby) charge nothing for admission or parking.
- Three Rivers parks are free to walk, but off-leash dog areas, horse trails and ski trails need a daily or annual pass; dogs on trails need a six-foot, non-retractable leash.
- Brand Farms welcomes leashed dogs on foot but not on the hayride; Montgomery Orchard does not allow pets.
- The Minnesota's Largest Candy Store barn takes cash only.
- Orchard weekends in late September and October draw big crowds; weekday visits are calmer where farms are open (Brand Farms adds some Friday hours in October).
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
Is there a lavender farm near Farmington, Minnesota?
Yes. The Lavender Barnyard is at 6401 225th St. W., west of Farmington in Eureka Township, with U-pick lavender in summer, tours, classes and a farm store.
When can I pick apples near Farmington and Jordan?
In 2026, Ferguson's Minnesota Harvest opened August 15 to November 1, and Brand Farms ran U-pick on weekends from September 5 to November 1.
Are the county parks free?
Dakota County's regional parks have free admission and parking. Three Rivers parks are free to enter, with passes only for extras like off-leash areas and ski trails.
Can I bring my dog?
Brand Farms allows leashed dogs on foot; Montgomery Orchard does not allow pets. Cleary Lake and Murphy-Hanrehan have leashed trails and fenced off-leash areas that need a pass.
🪪 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.
Open the Passport🏡 Own a farm, café or inn here?
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