When the days get cooler and the costume planning is underway, you know it’s time to go pumpkin picking! These pumpkin patches near Denver offer loads of things to do with kids like corn mazes, crafts, farm-themed playgrounds and hay rides. Gather your crew and head out for a day at one of our favorite Denver-area pumpkin patches for kids.
Maize in the City Choose from hundreds of pumpkins in all shapes and sizes at this fun pumpkin patch. In addition, you can make your way through the massive 20-acre corn maze that even has its own app-driven trivia game to help you navigate your way around! Try out the corn launcher, mini escape rooms, or let the kids run wild on the playground.
COVID-19 Update: Check out their 2020 changes here.
Osborn Farm Since 1861 this Loveland farm has been welcoming visitors to pick the perfect pumpkin. This year, vendors, hay rides and barrel trains will be open along with regular pumpkin patch activities! Pumpkins, cornstalks, gourds, corn, straw bales and mums will be for sale. You can also get your caffeine fix at their on site coffee trucks, but on weekends only.
Cottonwood Farm Visit this Lafayette farm on the weekdays when admission is free and the crowds are smaller. If you come on the weekends, you get the added bonus of wagon rides around the property. It is strongly recommended that you prepay for your admission, especially for the weekends. Every day you'll find the corn and hay bale mazes, farm animals and loads of pumpkins of course. Come back after Thanksgiving for your Christmas tree! $5 admission.
COVID-19 Update: They ask for social distancing between separate parties.
Nick's Fall Fest There's no admission fee for this spot and they pop the best kettle corn in town. There are games, rides, mazes, photo ops, an inflatable obstacle course and more to enjoy this year! Enjoy the festive atmosphere and loads of different types of pumpkins.
Munson Farms Over 100 acres of farm are here for you to explore when you visit Munson Farms. In addition to pumpkins, they specialize in sweet corn, tomatoes and peaches. Pick your pumpkin from the patch or grab one that's already been picked for you. Hay rides and a corn maze are other attractions here.
Miller Farms Family owned and operated since 1949, this farm has got the pumpkin game down. During the fall harvest, everyone takes a tractor ride to the fields with stops along the way to pick their own vegetables. They’ll get the fun and educational experience of putting their hands in the dirt and the rewarding benefit of picking fresh produce to take home to their families. They have a giant “Croc-pit” (imagine thousands and thousands of chopped-up Crocs in a giant pile-o-fun), corn maze, kids play areas, antique tractors, peddle tractors, a hay pyramid, farm animals, and a unique collection of oddities and activities.
Barbecue, BBQ, cookout, picnic—whatever you call your backyard shindigs, they’re an essential part of each summer. While these get-togethers are meant to be laid back, we all know that hosting can be anything but relaxing. Luckily, with a few smart tricks, you can spend more time hanging out with friends and less time stressing about hosting duties. Keep reading for a few of our favorites:
It's always helpful to have an extra hand! If your little one is able to, have them help out with some of your party prep. Shucking corn for grilled sweet corn and assembling kabobs are perfect activities for tiny hands.
Have Local Groceries Delivered
Cross one trip off of your to-do list by getting your groceries delivered right to your door. Alpenrose weekly grocery delivers fresh, local milk, dairy products, staples and local specialty groceries across the greater Portland area. If you’re a last-minute planner, you can even change your order up until 2pm the day before your scheduled delivery!
Hot summer days are perfect for backyard parties—except when you're trying to keep food cold. Make your own ice trays by taking a few aluminum serving trays, filling them with an inch of water and freezing them. Set food on top of the frozen trays for mess-free chilled food!
Lay It All Out
Hosting can sometimes feel like a game of 21 questions from guests. Make entertaining easier on yourself by laying out commonly forgotten items on a central table (think bug spray, sunblock and sunglasses) and by putting large trash and recycling bins somewhere they can be easily spotted.
Simplify Meal Time with Labels
A few notecards and a marker can make self-serve meals much easier. Label each dish with the name and any common dietary restrictions—if it’s vegetarian, contains nuts or is gluten-free, for example. Put out additional notecards and markers for guests to do the same with the food they bring!
It’s the ultimate summer dessert, an occasional bribe, a sweet treat snuck from the freezer at midnight—it’s safe to say we’re obsessed with ice cream (as are our kids). We’ve rounded up a list of the best ice cream shops in every state (plus D.C.) so you can satisfy your sweet tooth all summer long. Keep reading to get the scoop on the ice cream parlors that should be on your radar.
1. Alabama: Matt’s Homemade Alabama Ice Cream With cones, floats, splits and old-fashioned sodas, Matt’s Homemade Alabama Ice Cream has something for everyone. Try a scoop of one of Matt’s specialties, like the Creole praline or red velvet cake—you'll be glad you did.
2. Alaska: Hot Licks Homemade Ice Cream During the summer months, Hot Licks is a must. Their ice cream is made in-house in 40-quart batches, and with local flavors like cranberry and wild blueberry, it’s some of the best Alaska has to offer.
3. Arizona: Sweet Republic From the local Arizona milk and cream to the slow-roasted bananas, everything here is made with care. And with rotating flavors like Meyer lemon, peaches ‘n’ cream and peaberry espresso, you’ll want to come to Sweet Republic again and again to try them all. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
4. Arkansas: Loblolly Creamery Loblolly Creamery is a must-stop the next time you’re in Little Rock. Folks in the know love their salted caramel and Little Rocky Road. Ingredients are sourced locally whenever possible, from fruit to lavender.
5. California: Fentons Creamery Founded in 1894 in Oakland, Fentons has been a Bay Area favorite ever since. The ice cream is made in small batches (there’s a production tour for curious kids!), and the menu has decadent sundaes to satisfy any dessert connoisseur.
6. Colorado: Little Man Ice Cream With a distinctive shop in the shape of an ice cream cone, Little Man serves up nostalgic flavors that your whole crew will love (not to mention some awesome vegan options). And for every scoop of ice cream purchased, Little Man matches that scoop with a donated scoop of rice, beans or other essentials to a community in need.
7. Connecticut: Arethusa Farm For the ultimate in ice cream, you really can’t beat Arethusa Farm. Fresh milk is brought from their dairy cows a few miles away to make classic flavors like butter pecan, strawberry and pistachio.
8. Delaware: Woodside Farm Creamery The Woodside Farm was established in 1796, but their ice cream operation didn’t get started until 1998. They’ve been a Delaware favorite ever since, offering up flavors like dirt (that’s gummy worms and Oreo cookies in chocolate ice cream) and cake batter. Say hi to the cows after enjoying your scoop.
9. Florida: Azucar Ice Cream Company Be sure to scope out this sweet shop in Little Havana, where you'll find great flavors like platano maduro and rum cake with walnuts.
10. Georgia: Leopold’s Ice Cream Leopold’s Ice Cream was founded in 1919, and the shop still has old-school charm—the black marble soda fountain, wooden back bar and telephone booth come from the original location. The ice cream is just as delicious as ever, with classic flavors like butter pecan alongside unique seasonal picks like spicy mocha.
11. Hawaii: Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream and Desserts In addition to regular scoops and cones, Bubbies’ specialty is mochi ice cream—a scoop of ice cream that’s wrapped in a layer of chewy mochi (a soft, sweet paste made out of rice). It’s a refreshing treat that’s sure to be an instant family favorite.
12. Idaho: Goody’s Soda Fountain You won’t regret a visit to Goody’s Soda Fountain—with their massive banana splits and ice cream sodas, there’s no way you’ll leave hungry. They also offer homemade chocolates if you’re in the mood for something different.
This fun ice cream spot was launched almost 100 years ago, but now they have four locations! Their ice cream trucks can also be found all over the city, and the spot on Navy Pier is especially fun for visitors. They have tons of flavors, plus ice cream cakes and even donuts.
14. Indiana: The Chief Ice Cream On a hot summer’s day, you can’t beat a visit to The Chief. Grab a scoop of peanut butter or toasted coconut and head out back to the picnic tables to gobble it up—delicious!
15. Iowa: Heyn’s Premium Ice Cream It’ll be love at first bite when you visit Heyn’s—the ice cream is made with 14% buttermilk fat content, giving it an extra oomph of creaminess. And with flavors like monster mash (vanilla ice cream with cookie dough, peanut butter and M&Ms) and blueberry cheesecake, you’ll keep coming back for more.
16. Kansas: Sylas and Maddy’s Homemade Ice Cream Sylas and Maddy’s takes hand-crafted ice cream to the next level. They use an entire watermelon in every batch of watermelon sherbet, and their pie flavors (think apple pie, key lime pie) contain an entire pie in each bucket of ice cream. Get your scoop in a homemade waffle cone to up the tasty factor.
17. Kentucky: The Comfy Cow The Comfy Cow is serious about making awesome ice cream, and you’ll be able to tell when you sample their flavors. Whether you go for brown butter peanut brittle or cookie monster dough, you won’t be disappointed.
13301 Shelbyville Rd., Ste. 106 Louisville, KY
Additional locations in Louisville and Southern Indiana
18. Louisiana: Creole Creamery You’ll love the old-school look of New Orleans’ best ice cream parlor, and with rotating flavors like lavender honey and chocolate malt chip, they’ve got something for everyone. If you dare, take the challenge to finish an enormous Tchoupitoulas sundae and earn a spot in their Hall of Fame.
19. Maine: The Dairy Corner With more than 70 ice cream flavors to choose from in addition to frozen yogurt and sorbet, it’s safe to say there’s something for everyone at The Dairy Corner. Bring your treats outside to the picnic tables and chairs to enjoy them in the sunshine.
20. Maryland: Scottish Highland Creamery Founded by an Edinburgh native, the Scottish Highland Creamery is a must visit, loved for their super fresh ice cream made with local ingredients, fresh milk, cream and flavorings imported from Italy. Order the Mexican vanilla or the Italian lemon cookie and prepare to be amazed.
21. Massachusetts: Toscanini’s Ice Cream Located around the corner from MIT, Toscanini’s has been serving up amazing ice cream to college kids, locals and tourists alike for more than 30 years. Try one of their inventive flavors like B3 (brown sugar, brown butter, and brownies) or sour cherry sorbet.
22. Michigan: Moomers Homemade Ice Cream This family-owned shop is a real winner, with more than 160 flavors made right in-house (20 of which are available each day). The coolest part? The shop overlooks their dairy farm, meaning you can watch the cows while you gobble up your ice cream.
23. Minnesota: Cup and Cone This understated hidden gem serves a generous helping of soft serve in a kiddie cone or cup for just .70 cents and that's just one of the things locals love about the Cup and Cone. The lines can go for over a block in the summer but they are open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. most day so you can usually find a time to grab a treat. The owners donate proceeds to a special frozen treat (different ice cream treats are featured each month) to the local food shelf, and the Cup and Cone provides gainful summer employment for some of the sweetest local youth.
24. Mississippi: Area 51 Ice Cream Area 51 prides itself on using only the freshest seasonal produce—from the local farmers market, no less—for its ice creams. The end product is innovative flavors like blackberry goat cheese, green tea latte and salted dark chocolate.
25. Missouri: Betty Rae's Ice Cream Newly re-opened under new owners, Betty Rae's still offers unique flavors like Lavender Honey, brown butter & toasted pecans and blood orange creamsicle.
26. Montana: Big Dipper Ice Cream On a summer evening, there’s nothing better than a visit to Big Dipper. Relax at their picnic tables while you devour a scoop of their raved-about huckleberry ice cream on a homemade waffle cone.
27. Nebraska: Ted & Wally’s An Omaha classic, Ted & Wally’s has been selling their 18% butterfat ice cream since 1984. They’ve got classic flavors like Dutch chocolate alongside more experimental rotating batches like watermelon gazpacho and butter mochi.
28. Nevada: Dylan's Family Ice Cream This mom-and-pop shop is a kid’s ice cream dream. In addition to colorful flavors like circus animal cookies, rainbow sherbet and birthday cake, they’ve got an area with games and a chalkboard just for the little ones.
29. New Hampshire: Jordan’s Ice Creamery With a huge selection of homemade ice creams, frozen yogurts and sugar-free options, there’s something for everyone at Jordan’s. Try their blueberry pie ice cream (made with Maine berries!) or the coffee heath bar.
30. New Jersey: Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream Cool off with a scoop or two of seriously delicious ice cream at Cliff’s. From butterbeer to s’mores to peach melba, the rotating list of flavors will keep you coming back for repeat visits.
31. New Mexico: I Scream Ice Cream I Scream Ice Cream is heaven for the little ones—after you’ve polished off a scoop of cotton candy or raspberry chocolate chunk, head to the back of the store to check out their collection of vintage memorabilia, toys, and games. Go ahead, play a game on the Ms. Pac-Man machine or play dress-up with their collection of masks.
32. New York: Ample Hills Creamery New York has enough amazing ice cream parlors to keep your sweet tooth satisfied and then some, but our top pick goes to Ample Hills for their hands-on approach. Their ice cream is pasteurized on site, and almost all their mix-ins are made in-house from scratch. Try The Munchies (pretzel-infused ice cream with Ritz crackers, potato chips, pretzels and M&Ms) or Snap Mallow Pop (marshmallow ice cream with Rice Krispie clusters).
33. North Carolina: The Parlour After operating out of a converted school bus for two years, The Parlour opened their Durham shop in 2013, and they’ve been serving up delicious 18% butterfat ice cream ever since. Try one of their well-loved, inventive flavors like salted butter caramel, blueberry buttermilk (made with local NC berries) or rosemary olive oil.
34. North Dakota: Pride Dairy The only small-town creamery remaining in North Dakota, Pride Dairy is a must-visit shop. They still use the same basic recipe from when the creamery started producing ice cream in the 1940s, offering tried-and-true flavors like strawberry cheesecake, chocolate peanut butter and rhubarb-strawberry.
35. Ohio: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams You can count on Jeni’s for inventive and delicious flavors—think gooey butter cake, brambleberry crisp, wildberry lavender and Bangkok peanut. You’ll love the smooth taste (thanks to the buttercream base); all their ice creams are made without synthetic flavorings, dyes and off-the-shelf mixes.
36. Oklahoma: Roxy’s Ice Cream Social Grab a simple scoop or a cookie ice cream sandwich at this Oklahoma City hot spot. Their small-batch ice creams are a local favorite, offering classic flavors like cookies 'n' cream alongside a rotating menu of specialties like bananas foster and graham cracker.
37. Oregon: Salt & Straw At Salt & Straw, you’ll find crazy unique flavors year round. Whether you’re in the mood for Meyer lemon buttermilk with blueberries, goat cheese marionberry habanero or cinnamon snickerdoodle, you’re going to leave satisfied.
838 NW 23rd Ave. Portland, OR
3345 SE Division St. Portland, OR
2035 NE Alberta St. Portland, OR
Additional locations in Portland, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle and San Francisco
Penn State's dairy research started in 1865, and with that came the creamery. They offer dozens of flavors and their world-famous 12 steps to perfect ice cream are legendary. A visit to the area is not complete without a stop at the Creamery.
119 Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building University Park, PA 16802
39. Rhode Island: Brickley’s Ice Cream With more than 45 flavors to choose from on any given day, Brickley’s has classic flavors that everyone in your family will love. Get your scoop on a homemade waffle cone and sit back and enjoy the huge portions.
40. South Carolina: Sweet Cream Company With a constantly rotating menu, on any given day at Sweet Cream Company, you’ll find ingenious flavors like white chocolate lavender, blueberry crumble and cranberry thyme sorbet. You can also snag a cookie ice cream sandwich—of course, the cookies are made from scratch in-house too.
41. South Dakota: Leones’ Creamery Leones’ Creamery is a small-town staple with some seriously delicious and unexpected flavors: think blueberry goat cheese, vanilla black pepper and rhubarb. Since the menu is constantly changing, you’ll want to come back again and again.
42. Tennessee: Clumpies Ice Cream Co. Opened by the son of a third-generation candy maker, Clumpies has been a Chattanooga favorite since 1999. Try one of their signature flavors like coconut almond chunk or raspberry sorbet, or go for a specialty like sweet corn blueberry or vegan peanut butter Oreo.
43. Texas: Lick Honest Ice Creams This Austin hot spot takes honest to heart when making their ice cream—they source milk and cream from a family-owned dairy in central Texas, and their seasonal offerings let the freshest local ingredients shine. Try an old standby like Texas sheet cake or get adventurous with lemon lavender or loquat margarita.
44. Utah: Rowley’s Red Barn Located right on a farm, Rowley’s is totally worth the trip. They’re famous for their home-grown cherries, so the cherry cheesecake or cherry chocolate chip is a must-try. Or go for an apple cider slush—icy hand-pressed apple cider that can be mixed with vanilla ice cream.
45. Vermont: Creemee Stand Of course Ben & Jerry’s is Vermont’s most famous ice cream empire, but Creemee Stand is another local favorite. With rave-worthy soft serve and hard scoop ice creams, they’ve really got something for everyone. Try their signature maple soft serve, made with fresh Vermont maple syrup.
46. Virginia: Island Creamery Since 1975, Island Creamery has been serving up delicious treats to locals and tourists alike on beautiful Chincoteague Island. Sample the muddy butter (chocolate ice cream with nutter butter cookies and peanut butter swirl) or the cantaloupe—you’ll be an instant fan!
47. Washington: Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream When it comes to ice cream, we’re all about fresh and local, and Molly Moon’s fits the bill. 90% of their ingredients are locally sourced, from milk and cream to honey and fruit. The result is drool-worthy flavors like cherry chunk, honey lavender and cookie chunk that your whole crew will love.
48. Washington D.C.: Ice Cream Jubilee Started by a corporate lawyer turned ice cream mogul, Ice Cream Jubilee is a must-visit the next time you’re in the District. You’ll love their outside-the-box flavors like snickers snickerdoodle and Thai iced tea.
49. West Virginia: Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream For almost 20 years, Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream has been serving up old-fashioned treats that locals and tourists alike love. In addition to the classics like mocha almond and black raspberry, you’ll find a rotating selection of seasonal flavors like lavender honey and lime orange pineapple.
50. Wisconsin: Sassy Cow Creamery Head to Sassy Cow for some of the creamiest, freshest ice cream around. You can gaze at the grazing cows as you chow down on your ice cream, and you can also pick up delicious milk and cheese there while you’re at it. Hunker down with a yummy scoop of blueberry cheesecake or caramel chunk.
51. Wyoming: Moo’s Gourmet Ice Cream Huckleberry ice cream, anyone? You’ll find it and lots more at Moo’s, a Wyoming favorite serving up rave-worthy treats. With a rotating menu of 24 flavors, there’s definitely something for everyone in your crew.
Joining a farm share or community supported agriculture (CSA) may not solve all the world’s problems, but it’s a great place to start. A CSA box subscription service gives you a direct way to support small farms, buy fresh local produce and saves you time and money. Most importantly, it’s an easy way to teach your kiddos about the importance of eating healthy, nutrient-dense food. Getting started is simple, just choose the CSA box that best meets your needs from the farms below, and they’ll either deliver it to you or tell you where to pick it up! Here are 15 San Diego CSA farms that we think are the cream of the crop!
You may have heard of Yasukochi Family Farms. They've been around since 1927 so they are a tried and true San Diego staple! You can enjoy the fruits of this farm's labor via one of their beautiful and abundantly healthy CSA boxes, available with a subscription or a one-time box. Each box contains farm fresh produce grown using responsible farming methods. The majority is freshly picked and grown by Yasukochi Family Farms located in Oceanside. Boxes can be delivered weekly to your home or business and they contain 11-15 different seasonal produce items. You can add items including berries, sweet corn, eggs, seasonal fruits, honey and jam to your order.
Cost: From $25/box Time frame: Visit website to schedule a subscription or a one-time box option to determine your delivery date. Pick-up & Delivery: Available throughout San Diego
Turn over a new leaf. Make roasted eggplant dip from this CSA's farm fresh veggies. Farmer Bill Brammer is a pioneer in organic farming. He was talking organic before everyone else. Be Wise CSA boxes contain a variety of greens along with oranges or strawberries (or other seasonal fruit). You'll pay for several CSA boxes up-front which goes to support the farm.
Cost: $30/box Time Frame: Weekly or Bi-Weekly Pick-up: Locations throughout San Diego
20505 San Pasqual Rd. Escondido, CA 92025 760-746-6006 Online:bewiseranch.com
Good Neighbor Gardens (GNG) is making a difference in the community and you can be a part of it. In the last seven years the sharecrop has seen their vision of creating a community of neighbors sharing their resources to ensure that everyone has access to the healthiest, freshest food at an affordable price come to fruition (pun intended!). GNG farm yards and schools in San Diego to deliver organic, locally grown, pesticide-free produce through the CSA model. Everyone participating benefits. From beets, peppers and eggplant to herbs, flowers and melon, this CSA box offers variety for your crew. In each box expect a mix of 12 to 16 same-day harvested fruits and veggies. Even more, if you head to their website you can find cool recipes from raw and vegan pumpkin bliss balls to cucumber lime paletas.
Cost: $60/month Time Frame: bi-weekly delivery Pick-up & Delivery: To your door
While Carlsbad Strawberry Farm is one of our favorite places for u-pick strawberries, they now also offer bountiful produce boxes brimming with fresh-picked fruits and veggies. Each box contains a hearty variety which may include everything from cucumbers, bell peppers and broccoli, to blackberries, grapefruit and strawberries. For a small extra fee you can add on items such as avocados, salsas, strawberry jam, guacamole, a mixed flower bouquet and so much more.
Cost: From $25/box Time frame: Warehouse hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Pick-up & Delivery: Free delivery to Carlsbad residents, or curbside pick-up at their Carlsbad warehouse.
Guac this way and get this CSA box for your family with avocados (and citrus) year-round. Talk about farm-fresh: Stehly picks their certified organic fruits and vegetables early in the morning for delivery to you by the afternoon. An extra bonus is that Stehly has teamed up with San Diego schools and businesses to provide the freshest organic produce and donate to local schools. For each box that is delivered $5 goes back to that school! Orange you glad we let you know?
Mix-it up! This CSA box pools from several different local farms and offers a good balance of fruits and veggies. Vacuum packed eco-friendly boxes ensure freshness and include freshly harvested produce. All farmers use natural agents.
Cost: $30-$35/box; 10-week commitment Time Frame: Weekly Pick-up: A few spots throughout San Diego; plus delivery along route
Nopalito Farm & Hopyard recently rolled out their CSA fruit program. Even more, they overhauled the distribution of the fruit. They want to provide the community with healthy, nutritious produce in a safe, physical-contact-free way to ensure sustainability for the farm and health and safety for you. Operated by the Brownwood Family, this 8-acre certified organic farm located near Escondido produces hops, avocados, lemons and other fruits and vegetables, as well as serving San Diego county's brewing industry and several bars and restaurants. With a CSA bounty of kumquats, blood oranges, grapefruit and guava, there just might be a delicious home shaken-cocktail in your future!
Three pick-up locations: North Park, Point Loma/Ocean Beach and Valley Center.
Castlecrest Dr. Valley Center, CA 92082 760-651-2150 Online:nopalitofarm.com
Solidarity Farm/Food Shed
A local gem in Pauma Valley has a solid CSA box and you can add-in eggs, citrus, strawberry jam and local organic extra virgin olive oil. If you'd prefer a more traditional CSA delivery, try their Food Shed program, with home delivery in Central San Diego and Valley Center, that offers items like kale, strawberries, salad mix, radish and micro greens. There’s no commitment to try it out.
Their tagline is: "locally grown and delivered to your front door." What's better than that? This San Diego-grown, natural and organic produce garnered from a variety of farms comes with flexible options to suit your needs. You can build a box by selecting from several options of fruits and veggies that change based on availability and what's in season, or you can opt for the "farm box" that includes a variety of farm fresh produce selected for you. You even get choices in that category too––choosing between options like a "fresh produce snack box" and a "fruit and veggie farm box." Pick delivery frequency and you can add-on selections like mandarins, bananas, cheese and eggs, butter, baked goods, granola and much more. Need help figuring out what to do with all that gorgeous produce? Daily Harvest offers a menu planner based on the week's box.
Daily Harvest Express also offers fresh, pasture-raised meat from Sage Mountain Farm delivered. This beef is sold in shares to save on the cost and keep with sustainable farming techniques.
Cost: From $28/box Time frame: Available in 3 delivery interval options or as no subscription. Pick-up & Delivery: Free delivery locally with $30 box order.
Sage Mountain Farm is a family grown, regenerative, sustainable farm. Instead of supplying large retail chains like they did when they started out, they are passing savings directly to consumers by offering CSA boxes. Check out this video to see how the mutual commitment between the farm and the consumer in action. Looking for extra goodies to add in? If you want to round out your CSA box with items like honey and eggs, then give this CSA box a try. A small box contains 8-10 organically grown fruits, veggies and herbs and a large box has 8-12. With pick-up or delivery all over San Diego County and a choice of a small or large box with fruits and veggies, you have options.
Cost: From $34/box Time Frame: Weekly or Bi-Weekly Pick-up & Delivery: Locations throughout San Diego
You'll use everything from this deliciously curated CSA box. From carrots and artichokes, to spinach and raspberries, the selection changes with the seasons. Sustainably-grown, you'll find this produce has no GMOs, no waxes and no preservatives. Plus, there's only a month-to-month commitment and a smaller box if you choose. Delivery day is based on your location.
Cost: $15, $25 & $30/box Time Frame: Weekly or Bi-Weekly Pick-up: Locations throughout San Diego. Plus delivery in San Diego County and Southwest Riverside County.
2929 E. Mission Rd. Fallbrook, CA 92028 760-483-3276 Online:elisfarms.com
You’ll dig that this farm’s been around since the 1950s and welcomes your family to visit. Little farmers will be all ears at the seasonal farm events. This organic CSA box has a mix of fruits and veggies (expect juicy strawberries when in season). A nice touch is they provide recipes featuring the weekly selection of produce in their boxes via their website. Bonus: they have home delivery in North County. JR Organics celebrates the season with events like their upcoming Spring Harvest Dinner that you can attend. It's a family / community affair!
Cost: From $28.50/box Time Frame: Weekly or Bi-Weekly Pick-up: Locations throughout San Diego
31030 Rodriguez Rd. Escondido, CA 92026 760-453-4144 Online:jrorganicsfarm.com
If there’s one day a year that a really good brunch is in order, it’s Mother’s Day. From the extra perks (hello, free mimosa!) to being able to choose from all from classics like eggs benedict, waffles and biscuits and gravy, it’s a win-win for everyone in your group. We rounded up 9 of our favorite spots to treat mom on May 9, and while there will definitely be some crowds, it’s totally worth the effort. Keep reading to see the best brunch in Dallas and elsewhere in DFW.
This fast-casual spot is perfect for a low-key Mother’s Day Brunch. The spot in Plano is especially fun, as it’s got a great outdoor patio and there are Adirondack chairs nearby. They have biscuit sandwiches that range from classic Bacon, Egg + Cheese to fun combos like the Monte Cristo and the Hoss. They serve tots with all types of toppings, there’s a fun kids’ menu and brunch drinks are served up all weekend.
This very popular restaurant never disappoints. It’s a kid-friendly place with yummy menu items like chicken and waffles, lox benedict & latkes, and of course, plenty of pancakes. You can get a bloody mary and the kids will love the milkshakes from the dairy bar. Be warned this place is always busy, so be sure to add your name to the waitlist ahead of time by clicking here.
Our mouths are watering that the thought of having to choose between bananas foster french toast, a breakfast burrito, a breakfast club or cheesy eggs and avocado toast. There are even french toast dippers for the kids! This is brunch menu perfection!
There’s a special Mother’s Day brunch event happening at B&B Butchers, and you won’t want to miss the fun! You’ll get to choose from all the brunch options like monkey bread, five types of egg Benedict, morning favorites like pancakes and waffles; there will be two Texas longhorns for photo ops out front and a balloon artist! Even better Mom receives a complimentary mimosa, too! Reservations are required, you can make one by clicking here.
Always a good choice when it comes to dining in Dallas, CBD has an impressive brunch menu that includes avocado toast, sourdough french toast, green chili Migas and a veggie frittata. This place will be bustling for Mother’s Day, so get ahead of the crowds and make your reservation by clicking here.
From brunch breads to quiche and shrimp and grits, there’s not much on the menu at Hannah’s that doesn’t look good. Pair your order with a drink off their impressive bar menu.
This southern food restaurant has a fab brunch that’s turned up just a notch with offerings like heirloom grits with goat cheese, avocado eggs benedict, mountain blueberry pancakes and an “Old Skool” breakfast bowl.
If a Tex-Mex brunch is more your thing, be sure to make a reservation at Blue Mesa Grill. Their mimosa brunch is served buffet style and includes items like made-to-order omelets, a carving and street taco station, black beans and sweet corn cake. Kids ages six to 11 can join in on the fun for $7, and kids five and under eat for free!
Splurge on mom with a brunch at Seasons 52. This upscale grill has a special menu for Mother’s Day 2021, and it’s filled with sophisticated menu items such as lobster bisque, apricot-glazed spiral ham and upright french toast. You can even order a Mother’s Day meal to go!
This well-known brunch spot on the square in downtown Rockwall brings folks from all over the area with its tasty menu items. There’s a special buffet brunch menu for Mother’s Day, and reservations are highly recommended.
Raise your hand if you’re so over cooking (and cleaning!) after months and months of restaurant shutdowns. With restrictions slowly being lifted and restaurants throwing open their doors, opportunities to dine out are emerging. But, you might not be quite ready to take the plunge into un-distancing your family. Luckily, restaurants have been upping their family-friendly carry-out game with new specials to-go. A carry-out family feast is always a welcome break and a good way to ease back into feeling human again. Here are ten picks for the best family feasts to-go, all of which also promise to introduce little taste buds to delightful new flavors and spices from a variety of culinary traditions.
Pisolino Italian Market’s Half-Pan & Take & Bake Pizza Family Feasts
Popular Italian eatery Pisolino recently morphed into an Italian market, offering gourmet goodies direct from il bel paese, to-go meals and more. Their hearty half-pans to-go serve six and bring healthy, homemade cooking direct to your dining room table. Choose from all your favorite Italian classics, including whole roasted chicken Vesuvio with potatoes; eggplant Parmesan; red wine braised short ribs with potato cauliflower purée; and grilled beef tenderloin with a fresh thyme, rosemary/chianti reduction. Pop one of their authentic Italian-style take & bake pizzas into your oven for now or into your freezer for later. Delivery is also available via Caviar, UberEats and Post Mates.
Luella’s Southern Kitchen is a beloved Lincoln Square restaurant, known for its traditional Southern favorites. Order up half pans of mac-n-cheese, cornbread, braised collard greens, country fried or smoked jerk chicken and shrimp etouffee, with a Texas sheet cake for dessert (buttermilk chocolate cake with candied pecan topping) for a crowd-pleasing feast to remember.
Gather Chicago gathers everything you need for a celebratory (or plain old weekday) dinner with the family. Their rotating seasonal family-style dinners emphasize innovative and healthy American cuisine and are available for pick-up or carry-out and the menu changes weekly: a sample menu features fried chicken (with roasted sweet corn and coleslaw), roasted pork loin (with creamy polenta, spring peas and Cobb salad) and roasted pork shoulder (with mac -n-cheese and potato salad).
The Outpost Mexican Eatery’s Build Your Own Family Taco Bar To-Go
Located in the West Loop, Outpost Mexican Eatery prides itself on offering traditional Mexican favorites with a focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients. Tacos, burritos and bowls can be ordered a la carte, for both delivery and to-go, but the Build Your Own Family Taco Bar is where it’s at this summer: Complete with fresh tortillas, grilled steak and chicken, plus rice and beans for four, this feast is the ultimate crowd pleaser, since everyone customize their own tacos.
Order online at theoutpostmexicaneatery.com/
Demera Ethiopian’s Messob Combination Family Feast To-Go
Ethiopian food is best served family-style, and Demera’s Messob Combination Family feast lets you try a bunch of different dishes, up to seven, all accompanied by injera—a traditional, spongy sour flatbread. Take your pick from a variety of meat stews or vegetarian main dishes and sides. Kids (and parents!) will especially love the doro wot (lemony chicken drumsticks simmered with onions, garlic, and ginger), sambusas (fried dumplings served with a sweet and spicy honey sauce) and kayser tibs (sautéed garden beets and carrots seasoned with cinnamon).
Located in Lincoln Park West, Mundano now offers family picnics to go. Everything you need for a picnic in the park, including a selection of focaccia, salumeria, cheese, spreads, pickles, and cookies, is conveniently packed up to-go, all you need is a blanket to spread out on the grass.
Bayan Ko is a Filipino-Cuban mashup founded by Chef Lawrence Letrero and his partner Raquel Quadreny. Bayan Ko means “My Country”, or “My home” in Tagalog, and all of the offerings here were inspired by family recipes. Their weekly, rotating, family-style dinners include a main entree, veggies, sides, and for dessert, donut holes from Downstate Donuts. Check out instagram @bayankochicago for the latest menu, posted every Saturday.
Ahh. . . the weekend. There’s nothing like heading out for a relaxing brunch. Even better, how about staying in your PJ’s and bringing brunch home? Nana, Ajo & Taco E Chicago have teamed up to offer all your brunch favorites to-go, making for the ultimate weekend family feast. Choose from guava-stuffed french toast, chilaquiles, breakfast burritos, tacos and tortas and more. And because brunch isn’t brunch without a little booze, parents simply must check out the to-go brunch cocktail options, including fresh lime and strawberry margaritas, mimosas, and spicy bloody marys.
Café Cancale recently morphed into the quintessential french market. In addition to a gourmet selection of fresh seafood, seasonal veggies, freshly-baked breads and cheese, and all the French pantry essentials you need, the market also offers curated, cook-at-home dinner and ready-to-eat meals to-go. Their prix-fixe family meal to-go includes a collection of French dishes including Lyonnaise salad, roasted chicken with carrots and mashed potatoes complete with a fromage blanc cheesecake for dessert.
Michelin-starred Elske is offering takeout for the very first time, with a new menu every week prepared by chefs David and Anna Posey. Available for ready-to-eat pickup Fri.-Sun., 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m., a sample menu features buckwheat crepes stuffed with Gruyere, mushrooms and kale, creamed peas and asparagus, marinated beet and radish salad and vanilla rice pudding with hearth-roasted strawberries. Check back every Monday at noon for the weekly menu.
Although it was a slow start, we promise summer is here, and there is a restaurant patio seat with your name on it. Alfresco dining is the highlight of any Chicagoan’s season, so let your kids in on the fun. We gathered the top spots for outdoor family dining and found some obvious choices (in front of the Bean) and some secret ones (a Cuban gem in Logan Square). Read on and bon appétit!
photo: Park Grill
Park Grill
After making silly faces at the Bean, playing at Maggie Daley Park or splashing through the fountains, scoot over to the Park Grill’s huge outdoor patio. It sits right below the fabulous mirrored Cloud Gate sculpture and right aside Michigan Avenue, making it the most bustling and interesting place for outdoor dining in the Loop.
Chief O’Neill’s Pub & Restaurant
This Irish hangout is named after a Gaelic flute player that fled to the sea to avoid being a priest and ultimately ended up in Chicago working on the police force. While that might make questionable bedtime-story material, your kids will love the look, feel and food at this homey spot. For starters, it has a lovely garden patio with actual grass and room to roam. All the basics are covered on the special Little People Menu, including hamburgers, grilled cheese and chicken tenders. Twice a week everyone in your brood can clap along to live music, usually a traditional Irish band.
The Patio at Café Brauer
Located just south of Lincoln Park Zoo’s main grounds, The Patio offers unparalleled views of a restored prairie ecosystem and is one of the city’s ultimate vantage points for taking in our breath-stealing skyline. This year they introduced a Kids Corner with tables, chairs, games puzzle and coloring books, making it an ideal respite for kids of all ages. Visit Tues.-Thurs., 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., to enjoy your dinner with a side of live acoustic music.
2021 N. Stockton Dr., Lincoln Park
Online: lpzoo.org
photo: Offshore
Offshore
The nation’s largest rooftop, Offshore has opened at Chicago’s Navy Pier. This stunning, chic 36,000-square-foot, all-seasons and all-weather venue offers Chicagoans a full-service luminous bar and world-class kitchen, terraces, seven cozy fire pits, an entertainment and gaming area, and multiple large social gathering spaces. Now through Labor Day, guest can experience Navy Pier’s fireworks on Wednesday and Saturday evenings with Offshore’s unobstructed and unparalleled views.
Bistronomic
Oh là là! Enjoy French-inspired cuisine and terrace in the heart of the Gold Coast neighborhood. Bistronomic offers a children’s menu daily and a happy hour perfect for an early family dinner from 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Avli Taverna
This summer Avli Taverna constructed a 75-seat patio that features a large pergola which forms a private and shaded seating area decorated with lights and planters. Bring along your pup, because it’s pooch-friendly.
Volo Restaurant Wine Bar
Chef and partner Stephen Dunne not only whips up delectable meals but also he rides a motorcycle and is married to a former Windy City Rollers roller derby star. You’ll probably see his wife, along with their daughter Calliope, sitting at Volo’s backyard garden or sidewalk patio. Private cabanas are available outside, a dreamland of a space featuring paver bricks and wood beams.
90 Miles Cuban Café
The Gonzalez family took the American Dream to heart and created three authentic Cuban restaurants. They are full of authentic favorites, coffee drinks and Latin sodas. The best part: They have spacious, casual front and back patios with breezy atmospheres and lively weekly flamenco shows (at the Armitage location). Your kids will enjoy the vibrant culture and the entertainment while sipping a tropical shake.
Locations in Logan Square, Roscoe Village & Lincolnwood
Online: 90milescubancafe.com
River Roast
There’s so much to love about River Roast. . . where to start? The unbelievable city views from your seat overlooking the Chicago River will have you falling in love. The concept, if you can’t guess by the name, is roasts. Not the type smothered in gravy. . . not that we’d turn our shoulder to that. Think more like a roasted chicken. There are meat, fish and veggie roasts that live on the menu every day and one rotating roast a month. The coolest part? They carve your dinner right at the table.
El Cid
The pickiest of eaters can usually find something on the menu at El Cid. Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas—it’s all here. Fresh-air seekers will love El Cid’s small but lively front sidewalk patio and the roomy backyard space—one of the city’s hidden gems.
2645 N. Kedzie Ave., Logan Square
Online: elcid2.com
Nana
Does your family think green? This spot, one of the South Side’s gems, serves local, sustainable and organic food — and it’s family owned, to boot! In a sun-dappled space with an open kitchen, exposed brick walls and rotating art by local talents, families hunker down for together time. In fact, family-style supper is available every Sunday and includes a house salad, mac ‘n’ cheese, farm fried chicken and dessert. In terms of their patio, it’s a small strip that runs the length of the sidewalk. Always convivial, it’s perfect for relaxing and listening to your kids chat and giggle under the moonlight.
Casati’s
Casati’s is known as being the “healthiest pizza in Chicago” with 90% less fat, carbs and gluten than traditional pizza, but now it offers a patio and a newly launched kids menu and Kids Eat Free promotion. And, if that wasn’t enough, it’s dog-friendly. Kids under the age of 12 eat free, Mon.-Fri., 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. with the purchase of an adult entree per child.
444 W. Fullerton Pkwy., Lincoln Park
Online: cpvino.com
photo: Hofbräuhaus Chicago
Hofbräuhaus Chicago
Five words: Kids eat free on Tuesdays. Modeled after the famous Hofbrauhaus in Munich, this massive German microbrewery, restaurant and beer garden is surprisingly totally family friendly. Check the website for tons of events and activities like magicians, balloon artists and musicians. Kids can order mini pretzels, hot dogs or noodles off. Parents can get what they came for: beer. The patio is a great place to soak up the energy of Parkway Bank Park, Rosemont’s entertainment and dining epicenter.
Osteria Langhe
Located in Logan Square, Osteria Langhe has a private “Giardino Segreto” (secret garden) that is quaint and intimate for special occasions and celebrations. Your family will enjoy Piemontese cuisine, created by Chef Cameron Grant, in a lush and secluded environment (available through reservations only).
The Gwen
For excellent city views and interesting art, The Gwen is your spot. Total bonus that it’s located within walking distance to Chicago’s Navy Pier, the Chicago Children’s Museum and the Chicago River.
Piccolo Sogno
Logan Square is coming through for us again with Piccolo Sogno, serving up rustic, Italian cuisine for diners at their large and bright patio, which is full of trees and lush vegetation. Families will love the house-made pasta, hand-tossed pizzas and made-from-scratch sorbet and gelato at this award-winning lively restaurant.
The Duck Inn
Hit up The Duck Inn for cured wild salmon, a salty and rich crumbled duck egg, or a sweet corn funnel cake with blueberries. The casual and family-friendly patio makes this spot a cool community treasure. The Duck Inn offers off-the-hook flavorful food, an intriguing well-designed interior and a passionate crew. Plus it’s B.Y.O.V. (Bring Your Own Vinyl)!
Honey Butter Fried Chicken
Honey Butter’s huge outdoor patio is the ultimate spot for family dining—especially because of their family-friendly details like the outdoor magnet wall, which keeps kids busy. The Honey Buddies Meal, made exclusively for kids, comes with chicken strips, a side of pimento mac ’n cheese, honey butter and a sticker sheet.
There’s nothing like starting the day with a little sugar rush, right? In honor of National Donut Day, we’ve rounded up a list of the best donut shops in every state (plus D.C.). From off-the-wall artisan flavors to down-home classic styles, there’s something for everyone. Keep reading to get the scoop.
1. Alabama: The Heavenly Donut Company Opened by a husband-wife duo in 2013, The Heavenly Donut Company has been serving up delicious bites at their brick-and-mortar store and two food trucks ever since. Try a classic maple glazed, a blueberry cake donut, or one of their rotating specials like a Nutella glazed donut.
2. Alaska: The Moose Is Loose This hidden gem is well worth a visit if you ever find yourself in small-town Alaska. In addition to killer apple fritters and donuts, they’ve also got a sweet collection of kitschy Alaskan goods for your browsing pleasure (think moose pajamas and kids’ books).
3. Arizona: The Original Rainbow Donuts Cherry fritters, anyone? This family-owned spot churns them out daily, along with classics like long johns, Boston creams and bear claws. If you’re feeling adventurous (or need a serious sugar fix), try the M&M-topped donut.
4. Arkansas: Mark’s Do-Nut Shop No frills needed: this sweet mom-and-pop shop in North Little Rock serves up deliciously fluffy donuts that locals rave about. The menu is small, but anything you get will be a home run.
5. California: Donut Bar This is not your typical donut shop! Donut Bar is famous for their artisan donuts with a menu that changes daily. The flavors include crème Brulee, Nutella, Twix, red velvet and peaches and cream, just to name a few.
6. Colorado: The Donut House It’ll only take one bite to fall in love with the handmade donuts at this Colorado hot spot. Try an old-fashioned blueberry donut or a peanut butter brownie (a raised donut topped with peanut butter and brownie chunks).
3124 S. Parker Rd. Aurora, CO
5 additional locations in Denver, Parker, Castle Rock and East Aurora Online: thedonuthouse.com
7. Connecticut: Dixie Donuts Locals rave about this Norwich gem, and we think you’ll be an instant fan, too. Chow down on a Boston cream, or try their specialty, inspired by Samoa Girl Scout cookies: a chocolate glazed donut topped with toasted coconut and caramel.
8. Delaware: Fractured Prune At Fractured Prune, you can customize your own donut. Choose from 19 glazes (everything from strawberry to mocha) and 13 toppings (crumbled bacon, chocolate chips, sprinkles…) to make the perfect sweet treat.
9. Florida: Leon’s Donuts Whether you’re into maple bacon or classic cake donuts, you’re sure to find something to love at Leon’s. Light and fluffy donuts with friendly service—what more could you ask for?
10. Georgia: Sublime Doughnuts You’ll be wowed by all the options at Sublime Doughnuts. Just to name a few, there’s the A-town (a Boston cream in the shape of an A), a white chocolate peach fritter and a Butterfinger variety—and that’s only the beginning. For a picture-perfect birthday treat, you can order a custom message spelled out in doughnuts (sign us up!).
Georgia Tech 535 10th St. NW Atlanta, GA
North Druid Hills 2566 Briarcliff Rd. NE Atlanta, GA
11. Hawaii: Leonard’s Bakery Whether you’re a local or just visiting, Leonard’s Bakery is well worth a visit. Their specialty is the malasada, a Portuguese doughnut without a hole, coated in sugar and sometimes filled with custard, chocolate or coconut.
12. Idaho: Guru Donuts Made with locally sourced ingredients, the donuts at this Boise spot are as tasty as they are inventive. The menu changes monthly, but highlights include the root beer float, the raspberry lemonade (it’s vegan!) and the Nutella chocolate chip.
928 W. Main St., Ste. 100 Boise, ID Online: gurudonuts.com
10. Georgia: Sublime Doughnuts You’ll be wowed by all the options at Sublime Doughnuts. Just to name a few, there’s the A-town (a Boston cream in the shape of an A), a white chocolate peach fritter and a Butterfinger variety—and that’s only the beginning. For a picture-perfect birthday treat, you can order a custom message spelled out in doughnuts (sign us up!).
Georgia Tech 535 10th St. NW Atlanta, GA
North Druid Hills 2566 Briarcliff Rd. NE Atlanta, GA
11. Hawaii: Leonard’s Bakery Whether you’re a local or just visiting, Leonard’s Bakery is well worth a visit. Their specialty is the malasada, a Portuguese doughnut without a hole, coated in sugar and sometimes filled with custard, chocolate or coconut.
12. Idaho: Guru Donuts Made with locally sourced ingredients, the donuts at this Boise spot are as tasty as they are inventive. The menu changes monthly, but highlights include the root beer float, the raspberry lemonade (it’s vegan!) and the Nutella chocolate chip.
928 W. Main St., Ste. 100 Boise, ID Online: gurudonuts.com
Pixaby
13. Illinois: Doughnut Vault Offering flavors from lemon poppy seed to root beer, Doughnut Vault has something for everyone. The tiny Franklin location is a grab-and-go spot for fritters and glazed donuts, while the Canal restaurant offers lots of seating and a selection of old-fashioned donuts. And don’t forget their van—give them a follow on Twitter to find out where they pop up.
14. Indiana: Long’s Bakery Since 1955, Long’s Bakery has been churning out drool-worthy doughnuts for super affordable prices. You can’t go wrong here, but locals love the chocolate glazed and the blueberry cake. Grab a dozen, and your day will definitely be off to a great start.
15. Iowa: Ambrosia Donuts Ambrosia Donuts is sure to be an instant hit with your crew, with their awesome selection of sweet treats. If you pick a Boston cream or long john, you can request the filling of your choice—yum!
16. Kansas: Varsity Donuts Varsity Donuts started serving up fluffy donuts in Aggieville in 2011, and they’ve been a local favorite ever since. As you chow down on your donuts (try the blueberry opal or maple bacon), the littles can try out the ping pong table or play board games.
17. Kentucky: North Lime Coffee & Donuts Made daily from scratch, you can’t go wrong with any of the selections at North Lime Coffee & Donuts. Each location has a different Donut of the Day so you can try inventive flavors like chocolate chip pancake, blueberry lemonade and oreo cheesecake.
18. Louisiana: Cafe du Monde Established in 1862, Cafe du Monde has been serving up beignets (French-style donuts served piping hot and covered in powdered sugar) to locals and tourists alike ever since. Pair your beignets with a cup of their dark-roast coffee, spiced with chicory (chocolate milk and orange juice is available for the younger set).
800 Decatur St. New Orleans, LA
8 additional locations in the New Orleans metropolitan area Online: cafedumonde.com
19. Maine: The Holy Donut At The Holy Donut, their secret ingredient is something you might not expect: fresh Maine potatoes. The mashed potatoes give the donuts a moist, melt-in-your-mouth texture, and once you’ve tried flavors like triple berry glaze, dark chocolate sea salt and fresh lemon, you’ll be an instant convert to the church of Holy Donut.
20. Maryland: Krumpe’s Do-nuts Satisfy your sweet tooth with a visit to this cozy spot in western Maryland. Lines snake out the door to snag some of their trademark treats, like the peanut butter iced twists, chocolate cream filled and cinnamon cake donuts, all of which are worth the wait.
21. Massachusetts: Union Square Donuts At Union Square Donuts, everything is made from scratch daily so you can be sure you’re getting the freshest and best quality. Try the maple bacon made with Vermont maple syrup and thick cut bacon, or go for an egg and cheese sandwich that uses donut dough instead of bread.
22. Michigan: New Palace Bakery This Detroit spot offers pies, bread and cakes, but their signature item is the Polish pączki, a filled doughnut traditionally served on Fat Tuesday. At New Palace, you can get pączki all year long (phew!) with fillings ranging from raspberry to custard to caramel cream.
23. Minnesota: Moon Donuts & Cafe Locals rave about this Minnesota gem with an incredible selection of donuts, from apricot filled to maple bacon and plain glazed. After just one bite you’ll understand why—and then go back for more.
24. Mississippi: The Tatonut Shop Located in historic Ocean Springs, the donuts at this sweet spot are made from potato flour, which helps them stay light and fluffy. Try the applesauce donut or the blueberry cake donut—delish!
1114 Government St. Ocean Springs, MS Online: tatonut.com
25. Missouri: The Donut Stop Founded in 1953, The Donut Stop has been a south St. Louis favorite ever since. In addition to the classics like glazed donuts and long johns, they’ve got unique offerings like cinnamon globs (aka the cinnamon roll’s less refined cousin).
26. Montana: Granny’s Gourmet Donuts Dollar donuts, anyone? At this amazing shop, you’ll find an amazing selection of donuts that won’t break the bank. Try a melt-in-your-mouth Boston cream or a filled donut topped with fresh strawberries.
27. Nebraska: The Donut Stop In addition to serving up delicious eats, The Donut Stop is also a fun hangout spot—they’ve got board games, and customers are encouraged to stick around and play. You’ll love the low prices and delicious donuts, all served up with a smile.
28. Nevada: Pink Box Doughnuts At Pink Box Doughnuts, you’ll find classic flavors like apple fritters and old-fashioned alongside inventive creations like the Fat Elvis (a chocolate-topped donut filled with banana and peanut butter) and the Unicorn (a pink velvet cake donut with lots of sprinkles). A perfect break from the Strip!
29. New Hampshire: Brothers Donuts Get your donut fix at this top New Hampshire spot, which serves up huge donuts of all kinds, from buttercrunch to honey dip to blueberry fritters. Be sure to get there early, as they often sell out!
30. New Jersey: Uncle Dood’s Donuts At Uncle Dood’s Donuts, you’ll know you’re getting the best quality—the donuts are freshly made all day long, and iced and topped to order. Try the Vermont Swine (maple bacon), the Vanilla-O (vanilla icing and Oreo crumble) or the PBJ (filled with grape jelly and topped with peanut butter icing).
31. New Mexico: Whoo’s Donuts This Santa Fe favorite is serving up seriously innovative donuts. There’s a chocolate toffee donut spiced with red chile and a blue corn blueberry lavender donut, plus more conventional flavors like lemon curd and berry jam filled varieties.
32. New York: Doughnut Plant A New York staple, Doughnut Plant had its humble start in the basement of a Lower East Side tenement building in 1994. Now it’s home to tons of delicious creations like Doughseeds, doughnut holes that have a tasty filling inside. Try the vanilla bean doughnut filled with blackberry jam and you’ll become a forever fan.
Lower East Side 379 Grand St. New York, NY
Chelsea Hotel 220 W. 23rd St. New York, NY
Brooklyn 245 Flatbush Ave. Brooklyn, NY
Queens Falchi Building, 31-00 47th Avenue Long Island City, Queens
33. North Carolina: Duck Donuts Hailing from North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Duck Donuts has become a cult favorite. The donuts are customizable and made to order—you get to choose your own combination of icing, toppings and drizzle, so the possibilities are endless. With buckets (!) of coffee available for adults, this place is a little slice of heaven.
1190 Duck Rd. Duck, NC
Additional locations in Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia Online: duckdonuts.com
34. North Dakota: Sandy’s Donuts With more than 80 types of donuts on offer, it’s safe to say there’s something for everyone at Sandy’s Donuts. Go for a cherry Bismarck, a s’mores long john or a lemon poppyseed old-fashioned.
35. Ohio: Bill's Donut Shop A Centerville tradition since 1960, Bill’s Donut Shop is a must-visit spot with lots of local flavor. You can’t go wrong with a butter twist, or a sour cream, or a blueberry cake donut. Might as well get one of each!
36. Oklahoma: Polar Donuts After one bite, you’ll be hooked on the offerings at Polar Donuts. Some of the donuts have decidedly racy names (you’ll find out what we mean!), but we’re willing to distract the kiddos long enough to get our hands on the deliciousness.
1111 N. Meridian Ave., Ste. B Oklahoma City, OK Online: polardonuts.org
37. Oregon: Blue Star Donuts Boasting a brioche-style dough and freshly made glazes and fillings in a variety of interesting flavors, this shop is the stuff donut dreams are made of. The Portland-born gem is rapidly expanding, with new locations popping up in Southern California. Pay a visit to try a tasty seasonal donut (think matcha green tea and Mexican hot chocolate), and keep an eye out for the vegan options, too.
0672 #2 SW Gaines St. Portland, OR
Additional Portland-area locations in Downtown, North Portland, Southeast Portland, Northwest Portland and Beaverton Online: bluestardonuts.com
38. Pennsylvania: Yum Yum Bake Shops Yum Yum puts chain donut shops to shame, with delicious varieties like Chocolate Thunder (chocolate filling and chocolate icing) and White Lightning (whipped cream filling). Their raised donuts are super light and airy so your whole crew will gobble them up in no time.
39. Rhode Island: Allie’s Donuts This Rhode Island gem is totally worth the trip. The family-owned spot has been around since 1968, and for good reason, as the locals will tell you. Try anything with their whipped maple glaze, or you can never go wrong with a delicious sprinkle doughnut.
40. South Carolina: Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts At Glazed, everything is made in-house, from the dough to the fillings to the glaze, and they don’t use artificial flavorings or food coloring. The result is a rotating selection of drool-worthy flavors like raspberry buttercream, far east peach and sweet corn & blueberry.
41. South Dakota: Flyboy Donuts A visit to Flyboy Donuts is sure to be the highlight of your morning. Try a maple bacon long john or a Samoa donut—delish! You can also order letter-shaped donuts for birthdays or other special occasions.
5005 S. Western Ave. Ste. 190 Sioux Falls, SD Online: flyboydonuts.com
42. Tennessee: Ralph’s Donut Shop Amazing donuts, affordable prices and friendly faces—there’s not much more we can ask for in a donut shop. Locals love the butter twist, the red velvet and the enormous apple fritter. But be careful: it’s hard to stop at just one!
43. Texas: Hugs & Donuts This Houston hot spot offers a solid mix of classic donuts and unique ideas. You’ll find cinnamon sugar cake donuts alongside fruity pebble crunch and green tea coconut. Plus, they offer a rotating selection of vegan cake donuts Friday through Sunday.
44. Utah: Roger's Bakery A hidden gem tucked inside an unassuming supermarket, Roger’s Bakery is totally worth a visit. Try a maple bar or an apple fritter, and you’ll be an instant fan.
45. Vermont: Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts is about to become your favorite weekend haunt. This homey spot serves up delicious homemade donuts (we recommend the Boston cream and the honeydew cake donut) alongside breakfast sandwiches and coffee.
46. Virginia:Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee At Sugar Shack, they’re all about using the freshest ingredients, making small batches of donuts throughout the day. See what all the fuss is about and try one of their rotating flavors, like sea salt caramel, red velvet cake and fresh strawberry.
47. Washington: Top Pot Doughnuts Top Pot does doughnuts the old-fashioned way, making them the perfect choice for breakfast purists. With everything from Bavarian creme to seasonal blueberry to feather boa (cake doughnuts topped with flavored icing and coconut flakes), you won’t be short on options. Psst—you can even order online ahead of time for pickup at their Western cafe.
Downtown Seattle 2124 5th Ave. Seattle, Wa
Additional locations throughout western Washington and in Texas Online: toppotdoughnuts.com
48. Washington D.C.: District Doughnut When you visit District Doughnut, you know you’re going to get a high-quality product. Mastermind chef Christine Schaefer is a Le Cordon Bleu graduate who dreams up flavors like bananas foster creme brulee, Nutella cream and cherry blossom. Since the menu changes every season, repeat visits are a must!
49. West Virginia: JR’s Donut Castle Freshly made every day, the donuts at this cozy shop are always delicious. In addition to classic glazed donuts and apple fritters, you can try out their pepperoni rolls (a kid favorite!), bread, muffins and brownies.
50. Wisconsin: Holey Moley Coffee + Doughnuts As Milwaukee’s only craft doughnut shop, Holey Moley is a must-visit the next time you’re in the city. Chow down on a blood orange cake doughnut, a PBCB (peanut butter chocolate bacon) or a seasonal fruit fritter. If your family has dietary restrictions, there are also gluten-free and vegan options, so everyone wins.
51. Wyoming: Cowboy Donuts Inspired by weekly childhood visits to his local donut shop, Jason Hammond co-founded Cowboy Donuts in 2010. Today you can pick up a drool-worthy batch of donuts that your family will love, along with kolaches (a butter bread that’s filled with premium meats and cheeses).
1573 Dewar Dr. Rock Springs, WY
Additional location in Spanish Fork, UT Online: cowboydonuts.com
Slow cooker and crock pot meals are lifesavers in the cold months, but what about when the weather turns warmer? Believe it or not, as the days get longer, you can still rely on that favorite appliance to wow the family with seriously delicious meals. These 30 spring and summer slow cooker recipes require virtually no effort, which means more time for you to get out and enjoy that sunshine. Keep scrolling to see them all.
Spicy barbecued beef and refreshing mango salsa combine to make some flavorful tacos that are out of this world. The best part? Your handy slow cooker does most of the work for you! Welcome summertime with this recipe from Floating Kitchen.
If you’re dreaming of summer, this is one recipe that will take you there! Sweet corn, tangy goat cheese and fragrant basil are just a few of the ingredients in this tasty recipe by Slow Cooker Gourmet.
Mouthwatering barbacoa makes a great recipe for sunny days! Make an extra big batch so that you can freeze some for later. Mango and pineapple give some tropical flair to this version from New Leaf Wellness.
An easy salmon dinner in the slow cooker? We found the recipe, and it’s delicious. Lemon and fresh herbs make this one pop. Grab the recipe from The Kitchn here.
Get those Low Country seafood boil flavors right in your own Crock Pot. Food Guy Adventures has a recipe that will transport you to the Southeastern coast. Grab it right here.
Got little lasagna lovers in the house? They’ll love this twist on the old favorite. FoodieCrush’s Slow Cooker Veggie Lasagna Soup takes the basic elements of lasagna and transforms them into this super tasty, super simple soup. Dinner made easy!
Braised lemon chicken has everything we love about a spring recipe. Fresh bright flavors and totally easy to prepare. This version from The Kitchn adds beans and mint pesto, and is one you’ll definitely want to try! Find the recipe here.
19. Slow Cooker Creamy Ranch Pork Chops and Potatoes
Creamy ravioli with cheese, veggies and walnuts hits all the right notes. The pasta cooks right in the slow cooker, so once you throw everything in, you can relax until dinnertime! Try this version from MyRecipes.
Beef and broccoli is always a knockout combo. Instead of calling for takeout, try making your own in the slow cooker version. This recipe from Divas Can Cook is delicious and foolproof.
This creamy chowder with sweet corn and potatoes from The Spring Mount 6 Pack is sure to become an instant favorite. Your family will love the dynamite flavor combo, and you’ll love that it’s such a breeze to make. Make your own with this recipe.
A creamy soup made of fresh tomatoes sounds amazing. With this recipe from Julie’s Eats and Treats, it’s simple, too! Toss the ingredients in your slow cooker, and you're done! All you need is that classic grilled cheese on the side.
This creamy chicken dish with baby Bellas is the perfect way to introduce kids to mushrooms. It’s so delicious and literally preps in five minutes. Get the recipe from Cutefetti right here.
This easy and versatile 5-Ingredient Fajita Chicken Salsa Recipe makes a great base for any number of meals. You can build a taco bowl, or spoon it over rice or any other combo that you can think of. Robyn at Real Food Whole Life created this simple favorite that will be a hit with your whole crew.
Beef bourguignon may sound complicated, but with the help of a slow cooker, it comes together in a snap. This version by Delish uses asparagus and herbs for a little freshness. The perfect meal for a spring evening.
Do you have a favorite spring/summer slow cooker recipe? Will you try any of our picks? Let us know in the comments below!
If you’re pressed for time, this dinner recipe from Savory Nothings is a lifesaver—it comes together in less than half an hour. And since you only need one pot, cleaning up will be a breeze, leaving more time to enjoy the meal with your family.
Ingredients 4 cups small pasta shapes 1 can black beans 1 yellow pepper diced 1 red pepper diced 1 cup sweet corn 1 can diced tomatoes 1 cup enchilada sauce 1-2 tbsp taco seasoning 4 cups water or broth 1/2 cup shredded cheddar plus extra to top (optional) Cilantro, cherry tomatoes, lime wedges to serve (optional)
Method 1. Place all ingredients except for the cheese and garnishes in a large pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Uncover and simmer until pasta is done, about 15 minutes.
2. Stir in cheese, and add more on top if you like. Serve with cilantro, diced tomatoes and lime wedges.
This recipe and photo come courtesy of Nora from Savory Nothings. Hop over to Nora’s blog to discover more simple recipes that your family will gobble up.
