Up North Adventures: Knaebe's Mmmunchy Krunchy Apple Farm

Over the weekend, we visited one of the area's most popular autumn attractions - Knaebe's Mmmunchy Krunchy Apple Farm.  Besides growing over 20 varieties of delicious apples, the farm has a plethora of other activities for all ages.

  Kids will enjoy the petting zoo complete with goats, sheep, pigs, llamas, mini horses, chickens, ducks, and more...

There are even coin-operated feed dispensers so you can feed the hungry little guys!

There is also a huge play area complete with a crawl-through train, swing sets, large covered sandbox, several rustic tractors, trikes, wagons, and other kid-powered vehicles scattered about, big wooden airplane, and much more!

 Also available for small fees are pony rides, tractor-pulled barrel rides, and horse drawn wagon tours.

Other features everyone will enjoy are the "MacinSquasher," an apple-flinging slingshot, a mercantile, arts and crafts for sale, live music, roaming the grounds, and of course enjoying yummy goodies on the many picnic tables, decorated with all kinds of interesting squash specimens.  Squash, pumpkins, and others can also be purchased from the farm.

"Ma's Kitchen" serves up the most delectable fall treats you could imagine - a variety of hot, fresh donuts, molasses cookies, "from scratch" apple pies (including frozen ones you can take home and bake anytime!), Upside Down Sticky Pumpkin Pecan Muffins with Cream Cheese Stuffing, and our personal favorite...deluxe apple crisp served with vanilla bean ice cream and topped with warm caramel sauce. And who could forget, fresh, delicious apple cider to wash it all down! (Hungry yet?)

And of course, we can't forget the APPLES!  The grounds are filled with hundreds of apple trees of over 20 varieties.  It's easy to appreciate nature's bounty when it's all around you!  Each section is labeled with the type of apple and it's very interesting to note the difference in varieties.  Because growing apples this far north is a very delicate operation, the farm is a "We pick, you buy" establishment.


Inside the barn, along with the yummy goodies and general store, you can purchase all varieties of apples, which are harvested at different times throughout fall.  The gleaming apples can be found in labeled baskets and can be purchased in various quantities from the bushel all the way down
to the 1/4 peck.  Each variety has its own price.

Mmmunchy Krunchy's nicely done website has a handy ripening schedule, including information about each variety, and their Facebook page is great about updating fans about which varieties are ready along with other news.

Knaebe's is our favorite way to enjoy fall in northern Michigan!  With something for everyone, and enough activities to fill up a day, it's definitely worth the short half hour drive from Presque Isle.  Happy fall!

Enjoying Nature's Bounty

One wonderful thing about life in Northern Michigan is the abundant fresh produce available in summer months.  There's nothing better than enjoying a meal made with locally grown veggies and herbs from the garden!  We had to share a picture of last night's dinner - grilled chicken breasts topped with bruschetta made with home grown basil and tomatoes and zucchini taken from a local farmer's garden.  This zucchini easily weighs 6 or 7 pounds and we will be coming up with creative ways to use it up! 

Other produce grown locally includes strawberries, sweet corn, potatoes, green beans, peas, squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, and much, much more along with farm fresh eggs and free-range meats.  You can find these at local farms, roadside stands, farmer's markets, parking lots, and other places.  Check out the Alpena Farmer's Market website for market hours, produce availability timeline, and lots of other information.  Another great way to find fresh locally grown produce is to take a drive out to our bountiful agricultural areas in rural Presque Isle and Alpena Counties and go treasure hunting until you find what you seek!  It makes for a fun, relaxing day and a yummy dinner afterward.