Summer Photo Scenes Vermont

This article was submitted by Isabella York on January 5, 2011

As a mother vacationing with kids, it can sometimes be a challenge to find an activity that the family can do together. What usually happens is that each person has a different idea, and the compromise ends up boring the kids and thrilling the parents, or vice versa. On our annual autumnal trip, this time to Vermont, we were pleasantly surprised to find something we all agreed on: corn mazes.

Garden mazes were first created in Europe as entertainment for royalty and nobles. Gaining popularity in the 19th century, mazes trickled down to the masses where they were built in parks and other places. Now, mazes have become a tourist attraction for many places in North America. Their season ranges between the months of June to November, when corn is at its optimum growing
conditions.

Known in the UK as "maize mazes", an establishment grows corn mazes each year in different shapes and themes that suit their personality - usually being perfectly composed from an aerial shot. Corn mazes have to be carefully grown in order to produce the design and to keep it
sturdy, even with large numbers of human traffic. In order to produce the design they want, farmers first pick the right species of corn to plant (according to their design and traffic) to produce the right height and strength to last the whole season. They must also watch out for stalk rot, one of the most common diseases for corn. There are two main causes for this disease, namely improper fertilization and moisture stress. The corn must also be grown in mid to late May, in which will give it proper time to grow, and not droop with too much heat or moisture. Nitrogen fertilizer, which is employed for corn crops, must not be used too much with the corn used for mazes. They must also be cut at their internal growing point, for walkways and gaps, so as not to have re-growth.

There are several corn mazes in Vermont, all offering many other activities. Here are a few of the most notable:

The Great Vermont Corn Maze

With its design changing every year, The Great Vermont Corn Maze was selected as the second best corn maze in America. Also featuring a horror path called the "Dead North", this maze is one-of-a-kind, and takes pictures of the experience all throughout. Located in Danville, Vermont, this corn maze promises to make every experience memorable for the family

Hathaway Farm and Corn Maze

The largest corn maze in Vermont, Hathaway farm features 12 a-mazing miles. With a 2010 theme of astronomy, the Hathaway Corn Maze also features eco-friendly fare, all about buying local and keeping green. Many other activities are featured in the farm, like hay rides and farm tours. This farm also has duck racing, movies in the barn house, and dinners that feature ingredients culled from the farm itself.

Gaines Farm

The Gaines Farm has been in operation for 200 years under the same family. Operating on 200 acres, this family-owned establishment features fun, family farm activities. The 2010 maze for this farm spans five acres, with stalks over 10 feet high, featuring a tractor design exclusive to the Gaines farm. Take the family on a trip here, but leave Spot at home as he is not allowed in the maze itself. Gaines Farm also has a haunted maze, and the admission price is $7.00.

O'Donnell Farm

Fun for the whole family, the O'Donnell farm also has a haunted corn maze in addition to its normal corn maze. A pumpkin farm as well, you can also pick pumpkins or choose from a variety of picked pumpkins from the farm. Tractor pulled hay rides are a favorite among this farm. Bring cash, as they only accept green.

Corn mazes are fun, thrilling, and require kids to use their noggins. They're a great way to get the family out of the house and having fun together. Look up the nearest corn mazes near you, pack a picnic, and spend a splendid day under the sunny sun of Vermont.

Isabella York is a mother who loves to travel and is dedicated to her family. Along with raising her son, she works for Balsam Hill, a purveyor of artificial Christmas trees and Christmas trees.