KCKidsFun

We had a weird spring here in the Kansas City metro area and, while it affected all of us, it reeeeeealllllly affected our local growers. We had a lot of rain (usually good) and a late freeze (overwhelmingly bad). Some crops were damaged, others just delayed. But here we are – mid-June. And the berries are upon us!

Have you ever taken the kids berry picking? Did you go as a child? I can remember strawberry picking as a child and then watching my mother make and can preserves. Mason jars, lots of boiling water, paraffin wax and probably a lot of whining by me. I didn’t like strawberries. Have I mentioned that I was kind of a weird kid?!

I’m not sure about my 7-year-old but I KNOW that my 6-year-old is dying to get out to pick some beautiful, plump blueberries this summer. I think she’ll eat them just as fast as she can pick them though!

The blueberries are ripening now and will be generally available through mid-August in our area. Several farms also grow blackberries, which ripen up a bit later. Look for blackberries starting about July 1st through September/October.

I know of one local grower that has strawberries in season. Unfortunately, that season is over. The same grower though has red raspberries available to pick. Yum!

Here are the Kansas City-area berry picking spots to check out:

• The Berry Patch (just south of Leawood & Martin City) – HUGE crop of blueberries and blackberries, great activities for kids!

• Cy & Dee’s Blackberry Farm (Louisburg, KS) – 28615 Rockville Rd., 913-837-2254

• Duncan’s Berry Farm (Smithville, MO) – might not have you-pick berries this year, probably should call first

• Lawson Brothers’ Farm (Baldwin City, KS) – raspberries and blackberries here! (And strawberries in season.)

• Schreiman Orchards (Waverly, MO) – 660-493-2477 – berries and peaches, an hour east of KC

• Sibley Orchards (Sibley, Jackson County, MO) – blackberries (and peaches and apples in season)

• Wagon Wheel Orchard (Gardner, KS) – no berries here (and the cherries were freeze-damaged this year) but look for peaches and apples beginning in August

For a few more in the outlying areas, check out the Pick-Your-Own Farms and Orchards site for state-by-state lists:

• Pick-Your-Own Farms and Orchards (Kansas sites)

• Pick-Your-Own Farms and Orchards (Missouri sites)

*photo via barcoder96

It’s almost that time of year again! Thomas the Tank Engine is headed to Kansas City. He will stop, as usual, in Baldwin City, Kansas (just southwest of Johnson County, KS) for two weekends with the Midland Railway. Upcoming local dates are May 29 through 31 and June 5 through 7.

If you’ve never been to a Day Out with Thomas, your kids are in for a treat. There is a full size Thomas the Tank Engine – and the biggest treat of the day is a 25 minute train ride. But it’s not just a train ride – there is a festival atmosphere. Huge Lego tables and train tables for the kids to play with. Storytelling, live music and play areas as well as a real live Sir Topham Hatt round out the day. (They also have concessions, souvenirs and, most importantly, some tented areas to escape the sun.)

Tickets are on sale now. You can save $2 off the regular $18 price by ordering before May 1st. The event is rain or shine and advance purchase is highly recommended. Visit www.ticketweb.com/dowt for more info on tickets.

 I wanted to pass along some information on an ever-popular summer event–”Day Out With Thomas.” For anyone that has or knows a child that has been 2 years old…you know who Thomas is!! Day Out With Thomas takes place in Baldwin City, KS, at the Midland Railway depot. It’s located about 25 minutes southwest of Olathe, KS. (This actually fits in nicely with my earlier post on having fun this summer, in-town!) Midland Railway is a real, working railway and Thomas is a real train that comes rolling in. The kids will love it.

The dates for Day Out are June 6-8 and June 13-15, 2008. Tickets cost $18 for age 2+ and are available by calling 866-468-7630 or going to www.ticketweb.com. Please note that you need to purchase tickets for a specific departure date and time. HOT TIP–enter promo code “midfri08″ and get $3 off each ticket for the FRIDAY events only. If you’re unable to make the Thomas event, you might try going to the depot at Midland Railway for another summer excursion. They offer train rides at various times that the whole family can enjoy!

*Day Out With Thomas logo used with permission