Maine Beyond the Coast: McElwain's Strawberry Farm - Caribou, ME

There are some places you visit once, and others you find yourself returning to every season. For our family, McElwain's Strawberry Farm in Caribou, Maine, is one of those places. We've visited for strawberries, flowers, apples, and pumpkins, and somehow, no matter how many times we go, there's always something new to enjoy.

Whether you're looking for a family outing, an opportunity to get the kids outside, or simply an excuse to bring home some delicious local produce, McElwain's has a little bit of everything. Between the orchards, pumpkin patch, flower garden, playground, Storybook Walks, it's easy to spend an afternoon here without running out of things to do.

Apple Picking at McElwain's

Apple picking is one of our favorite fall traditions, and McElwain's has quite the selection. With at least ten different varieties of apples growing in the orchard, there's plenty of opportunity to find a new favorite. The rows are marked with signs identifying each variety, making it easy to explore the orchard and learn a little about what you're picking along the way.

Our absolute favorite? Snow Sweet.

If you've never had a Snow Sweet apple, you're missing out. They're slightly tart, just sweet enough, incredibly juicy, and wonderfully crisp. Absolutely none of that mealy texture you sometimes find in apples. In my opinion, they are definitely the best snacking apple you'll ever eat. We've tried plenty of varieties, but these are the ones we will always come back for.

One of my favorite things about apple picking with kids is watching them discover the differences between varieties. Some apples are bright red, some have green, yellow, or are slightly speckled. There's the sweet apples and then the ones that make your jaw tingle just a little from the tartness. And, of course, there's the important business of deciding which apple deserves the first bite.

The orchard is a wonderful place to let children take their time, investigate, ask questions, and experience firsthand where their food comes from. Sometimes the simplest experiences make the biggest impressions.

More Than Just Apples

Despite the name, McElwain's Strawberry Farm offers much more than strawberries. Throughout the growing season, visitors can pick their own strawberries, apples, pumpkins, and flowers depending on what's in season.

We've enjoyed visiting at different times of the year, and each season offers something a little different.

During the summer, the strawberry fields are a favorite. Grab one of the farm's wooden baskets, some paper strawberry boxes, and head down the rows to fill them with fresh strawberries. There's something particularly satisfying about picking your own fruit, especially when the kids get to help.

The U-Pick flowers are another lovely stop. Filled with colorful blooms, it's an opportunity to wander among the flowers and put together your own bouquet. Cutting your own flowers is an activity that gives kids the freedom to create something completely their own (with a little help!), choosing their favorite colors and deciding which flowers belong together.

By autumn, the farm transforms into a celebration of everything we love about fall. Apples fill the orchard and pumpkins and gourds line the farm with displays of each in every imaginable shape, size, and color.

You can head out to the U-Pick pumpkin patch to find your own or browse the impressive selection already gathered near the farm store. From tiny decorative pumpkins to enormous orange ones, there's definitely no shortage of choices.

A Little Adventure for the Kids

While the picking is certainly a big part of our visits, there's plenty to keep little explorers entertained between trips to the fields.

McElwain's has a playground, giving children somewhere to run around and play. There's sandboxes, a pumpkin carriage, a giant tractor to pretend to drive, and the cutest playhouse with a slide to play on. No lack of entertainment on the playground side of the farm.

They also have not one, but two Storybook Walks, which are my daughter's favorite. These Storybook Walks offer children the chance to enjoy a story while exploring the outdoors. Pages are displayed along short woodland paths, encouraging families to wander from one page to the next as the story unfolds.

It's such a simple concept, but one the kiddos absolutely love - combining fresh air, movement, and exploration makes for a wonderful experience, particularly for little ones who aren't especially interested in sitting still for an entire story. And with two walks to explore, there's even more opportunity to enjoy a little time beneath the beautifully maintained woodland trails.

For our family, these are exactly the kinds of experiences we love. Sometimes an afternoon picking apples, reading in the woods, and playing outside is all you need.

Don't Skip the Farm Store

Before heading home, make sure you check out the farm store - this is also where you'll stop to pay for anything you've picked along the way!

Depending on the season, you'll find an assortment of fresh produce and local products, including hot peppers, cabbage, potatoes, beets, honey, and maple syrup. There's also an impressive selection of squash and gourds, particularly during the fall. Oh, and watermelons! My daughter wouldn't let us leave without a watermelon.

Outside, seasonal produce fills the displays, with pumpkins in nearly every shape and size and baskets full of colorful squash. It's the kind of place where you might arrive intending to pick a few apples and leave with an entire assortment of things you hadn't planned on buying.

And if you're lucky enough to catch a batch of donuts before they're gone, grab some! They're seriously good and absolutely worth picking up while you're there. Just don't count on them still being available by the time you're ready to leave.

Another thing we've always appreciated about McElwain's is how welcoming it feels. There are plenty of staff members around to greet visitors, answer questions, and help you get started. Whether it's your first visit or your fifth, it's an inviting place to bring the family.

A Tradition Worth Returning To

What I love most about McElwain's is that it isn't a one-season destination. From picking strawberries in the summer to filling a wagon with apples in the fall, there's something to look forward to throughout the growing season.

For families with young children, there are so many opportunities to turn an ordinary afternoon into an adventure. Learn about different apple varieties, discover how pumpkins grow, gather your own flowers, or simply wander through the woods enjoying a story together.

And the fun doesn't have to end there. We make strawberry jam, strawberry muffins, strawberry pie, apple pie, apple crisp, applesauce, pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup, and every squash dish imaginable. Cooking, especially sweet stuff, is always fun for the kids!

We've made visiting McElwain's part of our family's yearly tradition, and I imagine we will continue returning for years to come.

If you're planning a visit, check what's currently in season before heading out. Whether you come home with a box of strawberries, a bouquet of flowers, a wagon full of apples, or the perfect pumpkin, there's a good chance you'll already be thinking about your next visit before you've even left.

And, seriously, if there are Snow Sweet apples ready, get some! You'll thank me later.

Planning Your Visit

Location: Caribou, Maine

What You'll Find: Seasonal U-Pick produce, a farm store, playground, and storywalks

Before You Go: Check McElwain's current hours and what's available for picking. Availability changes throughout the season. They keep their Facebook updated with current availability and hours.