Bailey's Berry Patch

Every year, my Mom, my sisters and I get up well before the crack of dawn to drive several hours north to pick blackberries and blueberries. Then we trek home and spend the day making blackberry jelly. It has become a tradition. It's also something that my kids have come to love. Here's the skinny:

Where: Bailey's Berry Patch is located in Sadler, TX - which is north of Denton between Gainsville and Sherman. (About 1 1/2 hours from Fort Worth)

When: They open when they have the first berries - typically June - and are open until about mid-July.

Hours: This varies each season. Last year, they opened at 8 a.m. and were open until the berries were picked out. Be there on time if you actually want berries!

Cost: $12 for a one gallon level bucket. This ends up being much cheaper than buying your berries at the store. They provide everything you need to pick the berries, but you may want to bring a cooler to get the berries home.

Other Stuff: They sell lots of other things - preserves, syrups, salsas, blueberry lemonade (yum!). They have lots of fun activities planned throughout the season. They also have picnic tables you can eat at as well as a fish pond with food for sale for feed the fish.

Website: Bailey's Berry Patch You should go visit the website and sign up for the newsletter. Ann, the "Berry Lady" sends out newsletters to let you know when the berries will be ready for picking. Not only is she just the cutest lady, but she'll also include yummy recipes! If that doesn't work for you, they now have a Facebook page that you can join - click here - that will give you info too.