From apple pies to apple turnovers, apple cider doughnuts and even just the fresh fruit itself, there are countless different ways to enjoy everyone's favorite fall fruit. And it's even more satisfying to eat apples that you've picked from the tree yourself. Ideal apple picking season goes from late summer through October, so it's prime time to add this to your fall bucket list, right up there with visiting a local pumpkin patch and queuing up a fall movie marathon.
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As fall gets underway, U-pick apple orchards across the country are offering a huge variety of different apples for visitors to choose from. We've put together a list of all the best apple picking orchards in the country, where you can fill baskets and bushels to the brim with tart Granny Smiths, sweet Fujis and even exotic varieties. Once you've picked your fill, many orchards also provide family-friendly activities such as hayrides, corn mazes and giant slides. Those seeking a more adult-oriented trip should look into spots such as Terhune Orchards and Mercier Orchards, which boast their own wineries and cideries right on site.
Read on to find out where you should take your family and friends this fall for apple picking. With locations across the country, your new go-to apple orchard could be just a short drive away. Before you hit the road, though, check these farms' websites or call to find out which apples have ripened and which need a little more time.
Applecrest Farm Orchards
Photo by Allagash Brewing on Flickr.
Where: Hampton Falls, N.H.
Applecrest Farm Orchards welcomes apple season with several fall harvest festivals. The farm grows more than 40 varieties of apples on 220 acres of verdant New Hampshire farmland, meaning you can spend hours wandering from tree to tree. Stop by the Farm Market to pick up fruits of all kinds, plus baked goodies, cheddar cheese and local maple syrup.
Poverty Lane Orchards
Where: Lebanon, N.H.
Don't let the name fool you — the fields at Poverty Lane Orchards are rich with fruits. From September to October, you can select from numerous delicious apple varieties planted in the orchards. Once you're done picking, grab a glass of Farnum Hill cider and relax on a tractor-drawn wagon ride around the property.
Fishkill Farms
Where: Hopewell Junction, N.Y.
Photo courtesy of Fishkill Farms.
Fishkill Farms grows organic produce and eco-certified fruit, meaning you're picking the best of the best for both you and Mother Nature. In keeping with Fishkill's mission to protect natural resources, guests must reserve a pick-your-own fruit package before visiting. After a day in the orchard, head to the Cider Bar and Grill to cool off with light bites and an ice-cold glass of apple cider.
Terhune Orchards
Where: Princeton, N.J.
Photo courtesy of Terhune Orchards, Princeton, N.J.
Family-owned Terhune Orchards is known throughout the state for its abundant fresh produce, which you can purchase at the Farm Store and pick directly from the trees. Besides apples, you can pick your own berries, flowers and peaches at other times of the year. Toast your harvest with a glass of Barn Red or Front Porch Breeze at Terhune's award-winning winery.
Honey Pot Hill Orchards
Where: Stow, Mass.
Photo by Ciera Holzenthal on Flickr.
People looking for something special are in luck at Honey Pot Hill Orchards, which features a diverse array of different apples for picking, including classics such as Red Delicious. You can also take a hayride, meander through a corn maze and meet farm animals such as mini ponies and pigs.
Milburn Orchards
Where: Elkton, Md.
Photo courtesy of Milburn Orchards.
The Milburn family has run its farm for four generations, dating back to 1902. Guests planning to pick apples at Milburn Orchards must reserve a spot beforehand, but the extra planning helps keep the crowds down at this ultra-popular, family-friendly spot. Once you arrive, you'll start your visit with a wagon ride into the orchard before picking from the pedestrian-friendly dwarf apple trees.
Sky Top Orchard
Where: Flat Rock, N.C.
Photo courtesy of Sky Top Orchard.
In the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Sky Top Orchard grows more than 20 varieties of apples and fries up some of the best apple cider doughnuts on the East Coast. Before picking, kids can blow off some steam by exploring the apple and pumpkin playhouses, while the adults can fire an apple cannon near the pond. Your four-legged friends can also join the fun.
Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard
Where: Hendersonville, N.C.
Hendersonville, N.C., hosts an annual apple festival, so it's not surprising to learn that you can find so many stunning farms in the area. Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard is one of them, with six different orchards open for picking. Bring along a picnic lunch to eat beneath the trees, or fill up on treats from the Farm Market.
Windy Hill Orchard
Where: York, S.C.
Visitors to this boutique apple orchard can pick just one kind of apple — the crisp, tart Stayman Winesap. And after your first bite, you'll understand the appeal. Windy Hill also uses this variety to brew hard cider. After picking a bag or two of Stayman Winesaps (reservations required), purchase a cider slush for a taste of pure fall.
Mercier Orchards
Where: Blue Ridge, Ga.
Photo by Ethan Trewhitt on Flickr.
Guests can pick from 300 acres of fruit, including apples, at Mercier Orchards. During good weather, you can take a tractor tour with a guide who will give instructions for picking the best fruit. Ride back to the market for a glass of hard cider, which pairs well with the fresh apple fritters.
B.J. Reece Orchards
Where: Ellijay, Ga.
Photo courtesy of B.J. Reece Orchards.
B.J. Reece's U-pick apple orchards are open from late August through the end of October, featuring a petting zoo, corn box (think sandbox, but with dried corn kernels instead of sand) and a giant farm slide. Of course, there are also plenty of apples ripe for the picking, plus world-famous fried apple pies at B.J. Reece's market and bakery.
County Line Orchard
Where: Hobart, Ind.
When the gates at County Line Orchard swing open at the end of August, there's no better place to be than beneath the apple trees. You can pick from dozens of different apple varieties, but save some time to try the gigantic corn maze and listen to live music at County Line's Barnyard Jams.
Apple Holler
Where: Sturtevant, Wis.
Photo courtesy of Apple Holler.
The 78-acre Apple Holler offers unique ag-ventures for guests of all ages. You can cover the whole farm on the tractor-drawn tour, taking in views of 150-year-old hardwood trees and historic farm roads. After scooping up all the apples your heart desires, grab lunch or dinner at the Red Barn Restaurant.
Ferguson's Minnesota Harvest
Where: Jordan, Minn.
Minnesota farmers helped craft the prized Honeycrisp, so it goes without saying that the state's orchards are on the very cutting edge when it comes to apples. Ferguson's Orchards has four locations in Minnesota and Wisconsin, but Ferguson's Minnesota Harvest in Jordan ranks as one of the country's top apple-picking spots. Book your tickets in advance to pick Galas, Golden Delicious and, of course, the state's signature Honeycrisp.
Apple Jack Orchards
Where: Delano, Minn.
Photo courtesy of Apple Jack Orchards.
Apple Jack Orchards grows plenty of fan-favorite apples, such as Gingergold and Honeycrisp, but also has a few rarer varieties that might surprise even apple aficionados. Kids will love the bounce pillows and rope play areas, while visitors of all ages can shop for apple-themed souvenirs.
Livesay Orchards
Where: Porter, Okla.
Hundreds of visitors beeline to Livesay Orchards' bountiful apple harvest each year. For one-stop fall shopping, you can take a hayride to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch before visiting Pumpkin Playland. Livesay's giant corn maze should also keep the family busy for quite some time.
Manzano Mountain Retreat and Apple Ranch
Where: Estancia, N.M.
Early Spanish settlers planted a small grove of apples just below the Manzano Mountains, and these centuries-old trees can still be seen in Manzano town. While you can't pick from those trees, you can pick plenty of apples right around the corner at Manzano Mountain Retreat and Apple Ranch. If you can't get enough of apple season, book an overnight stay in one of the quaint cabins.
Apple Annie's Orchard
Where: Wilcox, Ariz.
Photo courtesy of Apple Annie's Orchard.
You might not think of fruit thriving in the deserts of Arizona, but the abundant harvest at Apple Annie's Orchard would prove you wrong. On fall weekends, you can kick off your visit with a hearty pancake breakfast at the Orchard Grill, which should keep you going through hours of apple picking. You might even nab some coveted Pink Ladies.
Stutzman Ranch
Where: Wenatchee, Wash.
In the fertile Wenatchee Valley, the family-run Stutzman Ranch has been growing apples, peaches, cherries and more since 1907. Bring your own basket to pick from the trees, and make sure to arrive early, as parking can be difficult on peak fall weekends. Once you have your spot, you'll be rewarded with a top-notch picking experience complete with views of the surrounding mountains. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask the friendly staff.
Kiyokawa Family Orchards
Where: Parkdale, Ore.
Kiyokawa Family Orchards is run by three generations of a Japanese American farming family. As you pick from the organic apple selection, which includes a handful of unusual Japanese varieties, stop to admire the snowy peak of Mount Hood in the distance.
Mt. View Orchards
Where: Mt. Hood, Ore.
Photo courtesy of Mt. View Orchards.
At Mt. View Orchards, guests can pick from 50 acres of apples and pears. During Saturdays in October, tour the orchard on the tractor-drawn hayride, which includes a visit with Mt. View's unofficial mascot: Carlos the Steer. Otherwise, bring a picnic lunch and settle down beneath the trees to enjoy the peaceful environment and juicy apples.
Willowbrook Apple Farm
Where: Oak Glen, Calif.
Since 2004, the family-run Willowbrook Apple Farm has warmly welcomed guests to its historic orchards, which were established back in 1910. Here, you can pick plump Stayman Winesap apples and press your own half-gallon of cider, perfect both hot or cold. Guests can also visit the farm's friendly critters, such as Comet the mini-horse and Flopsy the rabbit.
Los Rios Rancho
Where: Yucaipa, Calif.
Los Rios Rancho is just a short, scenic drive (or a 15-minute walk) from Willowbrook Apple Farm. If you're not sure where to start on this large ranch, take an apple picking tour or a carriage ride to see everything the orchards have to offer. Cap off your day with a tri-tip sandwich at the Market Barn and Kitchen, but save room for the apple pie à la mode.
