Brantwood Farms, Pinehurst Lake & Abe Erb Brewing Co.
Guarding the pumpkin patch
Brantwood Farms For our first North American Fall, visiting a pumpkin patch was a must! We decided to go to Brantwood Farms during their Fall Festival. It was $14 + HST for an entry ticket, which gained us access to fun and games like the Haunted Barn, Corn Maze and go-karts. There were also non-dog-friendly pony rides, and a train to transport you around the farm. We didn’t spend too long in this section as it was mostly aimed at young kids. Accessible separately from the festival are the seasonal pumpkin, apple and flower picking patches. We visited the pumpkin patch. It was 3 pumpkins for $20, and $1 for the tiny ones. Between myself and Nina, we got 3 medium ones for $20 and several small ones, of different varieties. There were orange ones, white ones, purple ones and even some knobbly ones! The farmer advised us that some were more suitable for baking with, while others were better for making Jack o’lanterns. Rita had the best time picking out her pumpkins and posing for lots of Fall-themed shots! Dogs were allowed everywhere except for inside the shop.
Is this “the one”?
My little pumpkin
Pinehurst Lake A 20 minute drive from Brantwood Farms, back towards KW, is Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area. It boasts over 10km of trails, and a lake suitable for water sports. Furthermore, there are numerous camping sites. We parked at the central car park and followed two trails consecutively. First was the Captain Kidd trail (3km), which took us through luminous green vernal pools and fields of lilac wildflowers. We then accessed the Morton trail by cutting through the campsite East of the car park. We preferred this trail, which included a lookout point, and took the 2.2km outer (longer) loop. Both trails were well-marked, and facilities such as restrooms and picnic tables are available at the parking lot.
On the Captain Kidd trail
The lookout point on the Morton trail
Abe Erb Brewing Company A further 10 mins towards KW lies the Ayr branch of Abe Erb Brewing Company (other branches are in Waterloo and “coming soon” to Kitchener). We sat on the dog-friendly, heated outdoor patio. The inside looked like a trendy spot to be if you happen to be without your pooch. I got Truffle Parm Fries (a large portion so suitable for sharing or simply eating as much as you can, as I did) and Nina opted for Baked Mac and Cheese. The friendly service topped off the tasty dining experience. Rita was also offered a bowl of water “on the house”, so all three members of our party were truly satisfied!
Enjoying the Fall decor at Abe Erb
