| Fall has finally arrived in the Pacific Northwest and fall | | | | be hitched to farm tractors. Rides to the pumpkin |
| colors are beginning to appear on the maples. Now is | | | | patch begin at the barn. Families can ride from the |
| a great time of year for a trip to Hunter Farms. Hunter | | | | barn through the farm and to the pumpkin patch |
| Farms is located in Union, Washington, in the | | | | where they can select just the right pumpkins for the |
| Skokomish River Valley. | | | | season. It is a joy to watch the children run from the |
| From Seattle, Washington, perhaps the best way to | | | | trailer to the patch in order to hunt for their own special |
| begin the trip is to take the Seattle-to-Bremerton ferry. | | | | pumpkin. Many varieties of squash have been planted |
| The ferry trip takes about 60 minutes and the ferry | | | | in the pumpkin patch that can be used to decorate |
| route winds through the beautiful Rich Passage: the | | | | homes for the season or to make great pumpkin pies. |
| Rich Passage separates Bainbridge Island from the | | | | It is just a short walk from the pumpkin patch and past |
| Manchester areas of the Kitsap Peninsula. At the | | | | a corn field to the Skokomish river where, most likely, |
| Bremerton end of the route, the ferry passes the | | | | visitors to the farm can see a fisherman or, perhaps, a |
| picturesque Manette Bridge, which spans the Port | | | | river otter. Visitors often see geese, eagles, and many |
| Washington Narrows, and passengers are treated to | | | | other wild animals during the trip to the pumpkin patch. |
| a spectacular view of the Olympic Mountains. | | | | On nice days--and a sunny, fall day at Hunter Farms is |
| State Route 3 connects Bremerton to Belfair. Belfair is | | | | as nice as it gets in Washington--the local Shelton |
| a great place to stop for breakfast and, perhaps, a | | | | model airplane club, the Sanderson Field RC Flyers |
| walk along the Theler Wetlands. Belfair is located at | | | | (SFRCF), also fly their airplanes on a grass field near |
| the east end of the Hood Canal. The Hood Canal | | | | the pumpkin patch. Watching the planes adds |
| separates the Kitsap Peninsula from the Olympic | | | | excitement to the trip to and from the pumpkin patch. |
| Peninsula. | | | | After a visit to the pumpkin patch, there is more to see |
| Hunter Farms is about 18 miles from Belfair. From | | | | at the barn, greenhouses, and store. On one side of |
| Belfair, take State Route 106, which connects Belfair to | | | | the barn, there is a "zoo" of farm and other animals. |
| the Olympic Peninsula and U.S. Route 101--the | | | | Along with common farm animals--hog, chickens, |
| gateway to the Olympic Peninsula. SR 106 winds along | | | | goats--there are also two reindeer with spectacular |
| the south shore of the Hood Canal and through Union, | | | | racks of antlers. When Bill feeds the reindeer, he is |
| Washington. At Union, the Union Bay Cafe is a great | | | | careful to watch out for the sharp antler points. There |
| place to stop for a break. Hunter Farms is at 1921 East | | | | are also several llamas in the "zoo." |
| State Route 106, just minutes from Union. | | | | Although the peak of the growing season has come |
| Hunter Farms is a family business--and is a working | | | | and gone, visitors can still see an enormous variety of |
| farm. If you stop by the general store, you are quite | | | | plants in the greenhouses at Hunter Farms. Among the |
| likely to meet Bill Hunter, his son Bill Jr. (JR), or other | | | | plants there is large variety of cacti, herbs, and the |
| family members working in the store or around the | | | | display of ripe, hot, red peppers is especially |
| farm. Bill, age 80, still puts in a full day working around | | | | eye-catching. |
| the farm; he can tell the fascinating story of the farm | | | | At the store, and for a treat back home, visitors can |
| from the difficulties of running a dairy through the war | | | | purchase farm-fresh produce including several |
| years (WWII) to the present farm operations--from | | | | varieties of sweet and tender corn. Inside, and along |
| personal experience. The farm actually began in the | | | | with the staples of a country store, there are many |
| 1880's. | | | | gift items available. One area of the store that is |
| In October, as the days begin to cool, Hunter Farms is | | | | almost impossible to pass by is the ice cream counter. |
| a beacon for sportsmen and sportswomen. The | | | | At the end of the visit at Hunter Farms, and armed |
| Skokomish river runs through Hunter Farms and it is | | | | with a favorite beverage or an ice-cream cone, |
| Coho (Silver) salmon season at this time of year. In the | | | | visitors can complete their trip in several ways. Time |
| fields, hunters are flushing out pheasants. It's also the | | | | permitting, a lovely route back to Seattle is to take the |
| season of The Pumpkin. | | | | E Purdy Cutoff Rd, which begins right across the |
| Each year, Hunter Farms hosts an event called | | | | street from the store and follows the Skokomish river. |
| "Pumpkin Patch." This year, preparations for the event | | | | Turn north on U.S. Route 101, and enjoy the ride along |
| began at the end of September by clearing out a huge | | | | the western shore of the Hood Canal. A good place |
| barn. For antique lovers, antique trucks and wagons | | | | to eat along the canal is the Hungry Bear Cafe at |
| were left on display in the barn. Using a semi-trailer | | | | Eldon or the Logger's Landing Restaurant in Quilcene. |
| truck of 100-pound bales of straw as well as several | | | | North of Quilcene, take SR 104 over the Hood Canal |
| 1200-pound bales of hay, JR and a crew of four laid | | | | Bridge and then either the Kingston or Bainbridge Island |
| out a maze. JR moved the 1200-pound bales of hay | | | | ferry back to Seattle. |
| around with a forklift; the 100-pound bales of straw | | | | An alternative route would be to drive back through |
| were all moved into place by hand. Parts of the maze | | | | Olympia to Seattle. Take the E Purdy Cutoff Rd and, |
| were covered in order to create dark crawl-ways; | | | | instead of turning North, turn South towards Shelton |
| other parts of the maze were left open to the dim light | | | | and Olympia. At Olympia, follow State Highway 5 back |
| inside the barn. The finished maze has just the right | | | | to Seattle. |
| amount of spookiness for the Halloween season. JR | | | | Like many families, if once you visit Hunter Farms, you |
| and crew also set up a fun slide at one end of the | | | | will want to visit the farm again during other seasons. |
| barn. Putting the maze together took a couple of days | | | | There is much to see at Hunter Farms, in the |
| of heavy work; and at the end of the event, both the | | | | Skokomish River Valley, and along the Hood Canal. |
| maze and slide will be taken down. For the kids, the | | | | Visiting Hunter Farms during October is becoming a |
| maze and slide are just the start of the fun. | | | | tradition for many families--generation after generation. |
| After the barn was set up, wagons were put together | | | | Don't forget to take your camera when you visit the |
| for rides to the pumpkin patch. The wagons will later | | | | farm. |