The transition back to school paired with all the added stressors of work and contact tracing has been an uphill battle. My family needed a break so I set a date and made plans for a day trip. We usually visit a nearby pumpkin patch to get our autumnal porch décor and snap a few photos to mark the occasion. But, I knew we needed something more to look forward to.

I set my sights on a trip north to Rustic Roots, a small farm in Lamont, Okla. Armed with snacks, our favorite road trip games and a music playlist, we set out on an adventure.

My sons enjoyed watching the city sights transition into suburban and then rural views. Their grandpa made up a car game where searching for animals and discovering them first makes you the King Rancher and therefore the winner so there was plenty to keep them busy on our way.

My goal for the day was an afternoon for them to spread out, enjoy some fresh air and get out of a house that we’ve spent way too much time inside these past few months. And that’s exactly what we got.

We climbed. We swung. We ran through the corn maze. We fed cows, goats, alpacas and chickens. We held baby ducks. We bounced. We picnicked. We played Jenga and Carpetball. We spent hours without a single fight.

And it was heaven.

There wasn’t a mention of video games and I didn’t have to tell one child to put down their phone.

Times like these with my tweens are fleeting and I know it. I love when I get the chance to see that they are still little inside those fast-growing bodies and all it took was a trip to a farm.

Rustic Roots has a full lineup of fall fun for families to enjoy including a 10-acre corn maze, a hay fort, barrel train rides, hayrides, photo spots, fire pits, a tire tractor playground and more. The farm is easy to find, just off of State Hwy 74. Ponca City is nearby and would make a great addition to your trip.

The farm is open Tuesday – Thursday, 3-7 p.m., Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday, 1 – 7 p.m. Admission is $10 for ages 3-64.