Phantom Farms Fall Fun!

Article by Eric H.

We've posted before on Phantom Farms in Cumberland, R.I., and will do so periodically in the future. The reason: like everything else we write here, Phantom Farms is a New England destination we love to visit and recommend (without any vested interest, of course). Why write about anything else? That way, we pass along straight-from-the-heart travel recommendations along to you!

Phantom Farms is a quintessential New England year-round farm stand that is best visited in the fall, in our opinion. With its apple picking, freshly-squeezed apple cider, pumpkins, and cornstalks, Phantom Farms, for many, seems synonymous with autumn fun in the northern Rhode Island, Blackstone Valley region. Add pies, pastries, jams and jellies, more native produce, a garden center and a beautiful rural location and Phantom Farms is truly a "one-stop" shopping roadside farm destination.

Fall events make Phantom Farms even that much more fun. For the rest of this month and October, Phantom Farms will be featuring events like an antique tractor and truck show, live music, "story time," a Jack-O-Lantern illumination and pumpkin harvest festival, car show, chili cook-off, and "family farm day." For specific dates and times for the events, please click on the flyer in this posting! We'll be there a few times, and hope to see you!



Phantom Farms
2920 Diamond Hill Rd.
Cumberland, RI
Tel.: (401) 333-2240
Fax: (401) 334-479

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A Classic New England Roadside Farm Stand

Article and photo by Eric H.


Contrary to popular belief, not all quintessential New England roadside farm stands are located in New Hampshire and Vermont.

Even more amazing is that Rhode Island has its share of these popular destinations -- yes, the state where you go swimming at the ocean, savor some Rhode Island clam chowder by the coast, tour famous mansions in Newport, and take in the amazing and diverse city life in historical Providence.

Truth be told, Rhode Island features some beautiful countryside, whether it be close to the ocean or inland in regions like the Blackstone Valley. Country stores, and winding rural roads with farms, pretty lakes, roadside diners, and deep forest grace the limited but incredibly pleasant and scenic Rhode Island inland real estate.

One of our favorite classic roadside farm stands -- most notably in the fall -- is Pleasant View Orchards in Smithfield, R.I. Like Rhode Island, Pleasant View Orchards is tiny, but the colorful exterior display of bright orange pumpkins, brightly hued flowers, cornstalks -- and handmade signs placed all over the place stating virtually everything they sell -- make it awfully tempting to see what's inside.

The inside brings us back to a time where your small, local farm stand offered not a wasted space of merchandise -- and usually packed to the gills. Here, you'll find fresh-picked apples and other seasonal produce (some excellent beefsteak tomatoes), homemade cider and pies, more pumpkins, fudge, locally made cookies, and an impressive variety of plants. Customer service is, well, pleasant, as its name states, and reminiscent in personality to your local neighborhood store where everyone seemed to know each other.

Pleasant View Orchards has no resemblance to some of those larger 21st century "superstore" farm stands, but for some us us, this diminutive-sized roadside stand is certainly a super store! It is Rhode Island's impressive version of a New Hampshire or Vermont roadside farm stand that for us southern New Englanders natives doesn't require a whole lot of travel!

Pleasant View Orchards
141 Pleasant View Ave.
Smithfield R.I. 02917
Tel. (401) 231-4620

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The Special Roadside Farm Feeling at Phantom Farms in Cumberland, RI

Article and Photo by Eric H.

Phantom Farms might have a slightly menacing name, but you'll feel quite relaxed and refreshed visiting this friendly Cumberland, RI, apple orchard and farm stand.

With cornstalks, rocking chairs, deep orange pumpkins and colorful flowers gracing its wide front porch and adjoining snack deck, Phantom Farms creates a perfect New England country roadside stand atmosphere that gets even better once inside. The store features baked goods, cider, bags of fresh-picked apples, pies, cream and butter fudge, flowers, and jams. A current special is the pumpkin mousse roll! We personally recommend the pumpkin scones, fresh blueberry pie, and moon pies with cream stacked to seemingly the moon!

Phantom Farms, located in the pleasant northern Rhode Island countryside, also features a garden center, flower shop, gift shop and a spectacular fall time pumpkin patch with colorful pumpkins, gourds and squash of all sizes.

The 2008 apple season has ended at Phantom Farms, but this terrific destination is open all year with its tasty and tasteful merchandise. Phantom Farms also offers a wonderful variety of seasons events, which we have posted here, with permission from Phantom Farms!

Phantom Farms is one of the nicest farm stands we've visited in New England. The management and staff are also very pleasant, taking great pride in their business and its customer service. There's a special feeling you get when visiting that makes it a preferred New England farm stand travel destination for us -- noteworthy, given all the great farm stands in this region.

Phantom Farms
2920 Diamond Hill Rd.
Cumberland, RI 02864
Phone: (401) 333-2240

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