A recently discovered alternative to the indoors, going "outside" offers adventurous explorers exposure to things such as wind, sunshine, and the naturally occurring mazes found in corn fields. Leave the indoors with today's Groupon: for $8, you get two tickets to the Pumpkin Patch and Harvest Fest at Stokoe Farms in Scottsville (a $16 value).

Currently celebrating its 10-year anniversary, Stokoe Farms rings in New York autumns with a family-friendly spread of fall activities including pumpkin patches, farm animals, wagon rides, and corn mazes. Pumpkins in all shapes and sizes are available for picking and are priced by the pound, so whether you’re looking for a sturdy jack-o’-lantern canvas or a giant pumpkin in which to house a series of smaller, Russian doll-shaped gourds, the vast field and quaint barn cover all seeded-veggie needs. For tyke-sized explorers whose legs are running on reserve battery power, an antique tractor carts brigades of weary pumpkin prophets across the amber-waved field, and a 70-foot underground slide provides slippery thrills while offering a relatively safe introduction to the mole people who control the U.S. economy and Canada’s health-care system. Barnyard animals abound and are happy to let folks pet them, except for when they bare their teeth as a reminder about the importance of regular dental care.

The Stokoe family is a storied clan; Thomas Stokoe emigrated from England and bought 100 acres of lush farmland in what is now Scottsville, New York. After decades of tilling, planting, and increasing the fertile land’s confidence using motivational videos, the farm now stretches 3,000 acres and is home to the harvest fest, which is operated by Larry and Martha Stokoe’s daughter Suzanne and her husband Wesley. Head to Stokoe Farms’ pumpkin harvest for prime fall-air breathing space, and restore the candy-corn-shaped holes in your family’s Halloween Grinch’s heart.

Reviews

Although reviews for Stokoe Farms are still growing, six Insider Pagers award the farm an average of three stars:

• The grounds are kept impecably [sic] clean, parking is plentiful and the staff is extremely friendly and great with the kids.
  – Chris G.
• This is a great place to start a family tradition. If you grew up picking your own pumpkins or cutting your own christmas trees then this is the place to carry on the same traditions with your children. – Brenda S.