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Plane tickets to Amsterdam cost a small fortune, yet Arizona families keep finding rows of blooms, berry patches, and pumpkin fields just a short drive up from the Valley. Out in the high country near Prescott Valley, one working farm has spent about two decades turning simple farm days into yearly traditions.
The air there can run around 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix, which makes the trip feel like a small escape without a passport. Keep reading to learn where it is, what grows there, which festivals pull the biggest crowds, and how to plan a visit that fits your family and your budget.
A Working Farm Off Highway 169
Forget the long flight to Europe, because the destination in question sits right along a state highway in Yavapai County.
Mortimer Farms is located at 12907 AZ-169, Dewey, AZ 86327, in the central Arizona high country. It is a true working farm that also opens its gates to the public for an admission fee.
That mix is what makes the place stand out. Crops get planted, tended, and harvested here, and guests get to wander the sprawling grounds while it all happens.
Families roll in from Phoenix, Prescott, and the surrounding towns for a day that blends shopping, picking, playing, and seasonal festivals. Some come for an hour to grab produce from the market, while others stay from opening until the last tractor ride of the afternoon.
The farm is easy to treat as a quick errand or a full outing. Greenhouses, fields, a market, a grill, animal pens, and a large play area all share the same property.
Dewey itself is a small community, so the farm tends to feel like a destination rather than a stop on the way somewhere else. With 2,222 opinions posted online and a 4.3 star average, plenty of Arizonans clearly have strong feelings about it.
So what keeps people driving up year after year? The answer starts with the farm’s long track record.
Twenty Years of Family Traditions
Some Arizona families mark the calendar by holidays, and others mark it by trips to a farm in Dewey.
Longtime fans have been coming for around 20 years, and they describe a place that keeps evolving and getting better. New additions show up over time, such as flowers that some returning guests only recently discovered in the shop.
Grandparents now bring grandchildren who already have their own favorite corners of the property. Kids often call it their version of Old MacDonald’s Farm, complete with games, animals, and greenhouses.
The farm’s own team frames each visit as a chance for people to share in the story of their food. That message fits the setting well, since guests can see crops growing and then pick some themselves.
Newcomers to the area also use it as an introduction to the local seasons. A first fall here often means a first pumpkin picked straight off the vine, which is a small but memorable milestone for city kids.
Routes and layouts get adjusted from year to year too. Families who return after a season away often notice improvements in how the attractions flow.
Traditions need a backdrop, though. For many guests, the real showstopper is everything that blooms.
Blooms Worth Skipping Amsterdam For
Holland may own the tulip postcard, but Arizona has a few tricks of its own when the flower season arrives.
Flowers have become a growing part of the farm’s offerings, both in the fields and in the greenhouses. Guests can browse greenhouses filled with flowers and vegetables, and they can pick from them as well.
Sunflowers are a highlight, especially the giant ones that tower over young kids. Hummingbirds sometimes stop by the blooms, which gives patient photographers a chance at a lucky shot.
Flower bloom timing changes with each season and each year. Checking the farm’s website before driving up is the smartest way to catch tulips or other spring flowers at their peak.
Cut flowers are also available for purchase. Fans say they are worth the price as a way to support a local Arizona farm.
Photo opportunities come up all over the grounds, from flower rows to rustic venue spaces. Many families plan outfits around a visit just for the pictures.
Flowers are only half the harvest, of course. The other half fills buckets, baskets, and wheelbarrows.
Pick Your Own, Season by Season
Grocery store produce never comes with a story about who picked it. At this farm, the picker is often a seven year old with a bucket.
Pick-your-own crops rotate through the year. Strawberry picking draws crowds in its season, blackberries take center stage in summer, and pumpkins rule the fall.
Vegetable picking is popular too. Some home cooks gather fresh vegetables specifically to make their own sauces at home.
Produce you pick costs extra on top of admission. Many families consider those prices fair for farm fresh goods, though a few guests have felt certain bags ran high.
Pumpkin season can be a budget surprise in a good way. One family loaded an entire wheelbarrow, filled to the top, for $56.
Not up for picking? You can simply buy items in the store instead.
Crop quality naturally shifts with weather and timing. Arriving early in a crop’s season and calling ahead can help set realistic expectations.
Once the baskets are full, younger guests usually have one request. They want to see the goats.
Goats, Zip Lines, and a Bounce Pad
Kids rarely ask about produce prices. They ask how many times they can go down the zip line.
Admission includes access to a large play area packed with simple, hands-on fun. Swings, an obstacle course, a jump area, and a bounce pad keep little ones busy for hours.
A zip line adds a bit of extra thrill for older kids. Games are scattered around the property, so there is always something new around the corner.
The petting zoo is another favorite. Goats and chickens are ready for feeding, and that part of the visit often becomes the story kids tell all week.
Tractor-pulled rides loop around the park, and a train ride shows up during busy seasons. In fall, the hay ride is a must for many families.
Parents often say these basic activities make kids lose track of time completely. That can make leaving the hardest part of the day.
The best news for budgets is that most activities are included with entry. Children over three pay the admission fee.
Play areas run all year, yet the farm truly transforms during its big festival weekends.
Festival Weekends From Berries to Pumpkins
Mark two seasons in pen if you want the full experience: blackberry time and pumpkin time.
The Blackberry Festival lands in summer, often around the start of monsoon season. Temperatures during those weekends can hover in the mid 70s, a welcome break for Valley residents.
Crowds during the summer festival can be surprisingly light. That makes it a smart pick for families who prefer elbow room.
Fall is another story. The Pumpkin Festival is the farm’s most talked about event, with a corn maze, hay rides, live entertainment, face painting, and plenty of food vendors.
The corn maze route changes between years, and returning families often notice upgrades. Pumpkin picking right off the vine caps the outing for many kids.
Face painting artists take their time, painting sunflowers and other designs on eager arms. Live music and a busy market round out the festival mood.
The holiday season keeps things going, with visits from Santa on the schedule. Families who come in fall often plan to return in winter for that.
Festivals bring the daytime crowds. When the sun goes down, a different crowd arrives with dancing shoes.
Barn Dances and Farm Weddings
After hours, the farm swaps tractor rides for two-step lessons.
The Friday Night Barn Dance has built a loyal following among fans of live country music. Bands such as Hillbilly Deluxe have played the stage, and guests often make a full evening of it with dinner on site.
The venue itself gets plenty of praise for its setting. It suits couples on a date night, groups of friends, and anyone who simply likes to dance.
Weddings are also hosted on the property. The grounds stay well lit into the evening, which helps celebrations run late.
Guests should plan for a bit of walking. The path to the ceremony area can be long and runs over uneven dirt.
A golf cart is often on hand to shuttle people, which helps older guests and anyone in dress shoes. Comfortable footwear is still a wise choice.
Photo opportunities are a big reason couples choose a farm setting. Fields, barns, and greenhouses give photographers plenty to work with.
Day or night, most trips end in one familiar spot. That would be the market.
The Market, the Hours, and the Admission Math
Few people leave empty-handed, so it helps to plan the budget before the trip.
The farm market stocks fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, jarred items, and handmade products. Many shoppers call it their favorite stop and leave with bags of goodies.
Prices are typical for farm fresh and handmade goods. Some guests find a few items steep, so going in with realistic expectations helps.
General admission has been $15 per person, and children over three pay as well. That fee covers most activities, while picked produce and food cost extra.
Hours run from 8 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday. On Sunday, the farm is open from 8 AM to 4 PM.
Arriving right at opening is a popular strategy. Crowds tend to build before lunch, especially on festival weekends.
The drive from Phoenix takes you north into cooler high country. Food trucks, a grill, and festival vendors make it easy to stay through midday.
Details can change by season, so checking mortimerfarmsaz.com before you go is a good idea. With the logistics sorted, only one question remains.
Arizona’s Own Answer to the Dutch Countryside
Passports are optional for this one.
A day in Dewey delivers what many people travel far to find: rows of blooms, fields to pick from, animals to feed, and a slower pace. It does all that with an Arizona zip code and a drive measured in hours, not time zones.
Families with young kids will get the most out of the included activities. Couples and friend groups may lean toward the barn dances, while home cooks will gravitate to the fields and the market.
Budget-minded guests should do the admission math ahead of time. Most people find the value solid, though opinions on prices do vary.
Timing makes a real difference here. Spring and summer bring flowers and berries, fall brings pumpkins and the corn maze, and winter adds a visit from Santa.
Cooler temperatures than the Valley add one more reason to make the trip. Many Phoenix families treat it as a mini getaway.
Holland will always have its windmills. Arizona, it turns out, has a farm in Dewey that keeps families coming back season after season, and that might be the better deal.
