You know me…I love lists…I love rankings…and I love Center Grove Orchard.

Each year, as the kids get older, it becomes more and more fun. They experience more…and the fun levels hit all-time highs. It seemed like just yesterday that they needed my help to get on top of the “Giant Pillow”. Not anymore…now they just left me in the dust…which was fine considering I’m still in immense pain from throwing my back out last Sunday.

This was a tough list to narrow down…but I’m going to do my best…

The Top 8 Things to Enjoy at Center Grove Orchard

8. Cider Slushie

I don’t think I need to expand on how great these are. $2 of pure happiness. Had 2…okay…3…if you consider I drank half of each of my kids’ slushies (without them knowing, so don’t tell them please, thank you)

7. The Giant Pillow

They have two Giant Pillows…one for bigger kids…one for smaller kids. 15 minutes were spent here…and it would have been longer had my wife and I not become tired, haha!

6. Little Tractors

My daughter was finally able to reach the pedals on these…and was so proud.

5. Apple Picking

Even with a bad back…I climbed a tree to get the higher apples…and of course, fell…but as my son says to everyone “Dad fell but luckily he hit two branches on the way down”. I’m glad he sees that as a good thing, haha! I forgot just how good freshly-picked apples are from Center Grove Orchard…and how big they are!

4. The Annual Family Photo (can you tell I went on Wednesday…with all the Cubs clothing)

3. The Giant Corn Bin

You know you’re having fun in their huge corn bin when after 10 minutes, you still don’t know there is corn kernel behind your ear.

2. The Hayrack Ride to the Pumpkin Patch

May have rode this…twice…and brought back a gigantic pumpkin.

and #1…The Giant Slide

This weekend…make a visit to Center Grove Orchard as part of your “Fun Things to Do”….it’s going to be a gorgeous weekend, and Center Grove Orchard will provide memories for years and years to come.

Oh, and to get there…super-easy…from Des Moines…take I-35 North…get off at the Huxley exit (you’ll see a sign)…swing a right…3-4 miles, and it’s there on your left. Don’t get to thinking that that’s “too far”…because it isn’t…it was barely an episode of “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”.

Have fun this weekend!