Experience Nature in the Full Splendor of Fall at Arbor Day Farm

09/08/09
Nebraska City, Neb. (Sept. 8, 2009) – Experience the first glimpse of fall in all its splendor enjoying the wonders of nature at Arbor Day Farm. Arbor Day Farm and Lied Lodge & Conference Center offers plenty of opportunities for families to get outside and experience the sights, scents and sounds of the natural world through its season-long Harvest Celebration.

New this fall at Arbor Day Farm is the Giant Corn Maze Challenge, one of the area's largest. The Giant Corn Maze covers 20 acres and includes more than four miles of paths. The maze is part of Arbor Day Farm's Tree Adventure attraction, which also includes Artisan Woods, an outdoor exhibit featuring the work of nine regional artists tucked along the trails. The Corn Maze and Artisan Woods are open through Nov. 1.

The Tree Adventure attraction includes two Nature Explore Classrooms, the 50-foot-high Canopy Tree House, the tour-guided Discovery Ride into the woods and the Exploratory Trails.

Visitors to the farm can join in the harvest tradition and pick their own apples at Arbor Day Farm's historic orchard throughout the fall. Arbor Day Farm is a 260-acre historic landmark owned and operated by the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation that was once part of the estate of Arbor Day founder J. Sterling Morton.

Arbor Day Farm will be teeming with activities during the AppleJack Festival, which will be held Sept. 19-20 in Nebraska City. Special events at the Tree Adventure include tree climbing and cross-cut sawing with the expert Tree Adventure Arborist Team, children's nature activities in the two Nature Explore Classrooms, appearances by Carly Cardinal and animals from the Pioneers Park Nature Center. The Tree Adventure is open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. during the AppleJack Festival.

Other AppleJack Festival activities at Arbor Day Farm include a nature-inspired craft fair with 40 booths at the Historic Barns, fresh-picked apples from the farm's orchard, Arbor Day Farm wine tastings at the Apple House, and hand-dipped caramel apples, fresh apple cider, homemade apple pie and other festival foods at the Pie Garden.

"Autumn in Nebraska is a wonderful time to be outdoors, and people of all ages can explore nature first-hand during a visit to Arbor Day Farm," said Beverly Todd, director of the Tree Adventure attraction. "Arbor Day Farm is Nebraska's most beautiful fall destination."

The Tree Adventure is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission to the Tree Adventure is $6.50 for adults, $4.50 for children ages 3-12 and free for children age 2 and under. Each paid admission comes with a tree seedling to plant at home.

# # #

About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit, conservation and education organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at arborday.org.