10 Best Pick-Your-Own Apple Orchards (Slideshow)
10. Kiyokawa Family Orchards in Parkdale, Ore.
Family owned and operated, this Parkdale, Ore., orchard is dedicated to using sustainable growth practices and has more than 80 distinct varieties of apples, pears, and Asian pears on its land. Mount Hood provides a scenic backdrop while guests pick apples that they fill their bags with. They can also purchase pies, turnovers, local honey, jams, and fresh cider from the on-site fruit stand. On select weekends, the orchard hosts special events like a Mexican-themed Fiesta Day that includes authentic food, piñatas, and a mariachi band.
9. Champlain Orchards in Shoreham, Vt.
This idyllic Vermont orchard comes complete with a sprawling farm, animals, and sky that goes on for miles (just check out the pictures to see for yourself), and also offers visitors more than 40 varieties of apples prime for picking. Visitors can support local agriculture when they purchase fresh-baked apple pies, hard cider, or plain cider — cranberry-apple is one highlight here — from the on-site bakery and cider mill. Champlain Orchards also occasionally hosts festivals that feature local produce, meat, and a bluegrass band that plays tunes by artists ranging from Flatt & Scruggs to Blondie.
8. Applecrest Farm in Hampton Falls, N.H.
New Hampshire's Applecrest Farm is noted for hosting fall festivals every weekend in September and October. In addition to picking your own apples, raspberries, peaches, and pumpkins, you can also cut your own fresh flowers. Activities abound during these fall weekends. Listen to folk and bluegrass music, participate or just watch pie-eating contests, make your own scarecrow, visit with animals at the petting zoo, or indulge in one of the 25 locally made ice cream flavors featuring fruit grown on the farm. If you still need more to do, special events here include bike races, a strawberry festival, 5K runs, and even an antique tractor plow day.
7. Weston Antique Apples in New Berlin, Wis.
Wisconsin orchard Weston Antique Apple was established in 1935 and has been providing the surrounding area with historic apple varieties for more than 60 years. One of Weston's missions is to preserve rare apples varieties. According to its website, the Old Church apple is only grown on its grounds. Another standout variety includes the Chenango Strawberry, which both tastes and smells like roses. In keeping with the idea of remembering the past, this orchard is designed to look like a turn-of-the-century farm and has even been added to the National Register of Rural Historic Landscapes.
6. Happy Apple Farm in Penrose, Colo.
Reach out and grab Fuji, Granny Smith, Jonathan, Gala, or Golden Supreme apples at this Colorado farm. If you'd like to take home more than apples, you also can find your own pumpkins or raspberries. Pay a visit to the Country Store for fresh-baked apple pies, cobblers, jams, jellies, apple butter, marinades, and pickled vegetables and garlic. This is a pet-friendly farm, so feel free to bring Fido along when you hand-pick your harvest.
5. Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock, N.C.
As this North Carolina orchard's name would suggest, it lies on top of Mount McAlpine in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Enjoy panoramic views of the mountains as pick from more than 22 apple varieties. If you'd rather not pluck fruit from the trees, you can still take a tractor-pulled ride, feed ducks, visit a petting zoo, explore a bamboo forest, and spend time on the playground. If you'd rather exercise your wallet rather than your arms, fresh apples, cider, cider slushies, produce, and fresh-made apple cider donuts are available for purchase.
4. Stribling Orchard in Markham, Va.
About an hour from Washington, D.C., Stribling Orchard has approximately 2,500 apple and 800 peach trees on its sprawling rural Virginia farm. For a list of what you can pick check their website, but it's best to call ahead to find out exactly what's available. Visitors can picnic here, too. And even though there isn't an official petting zoo, they can pet the animals — like Piggy the pig, Blackie the horse, and Sparky the steer — that come up to the fence. You also can find food products and baked goods at the Harvest House and Bakery. Standout items include fresh-baked apple-cinnamon raisin bread and apple cake in addition to apple and pumpkin pies.
3. Patterson Fruit Farm in Chesterland, Ohio
On the weekends, hitch a (hay) ride out to this Ohio orchard on a wagon and pick as many apples as you like. To stay up-to-date on what's hanging on the trees and what would be ideal for baking or eating, check out the farm's own nifty chart. If you'd prefer to just buy products off the shelves, head to the on-location Farm Market. There you can purchase fresh-baked pies and donuts, maple syrup, red tart cherries, peaches, apple cider, and of course, apples.
3. Patterson Fruit Farm in Chesterland, Ohio
On the weekends, hitch a (hay) ride out to this Ohio orchard on a wagon and pick as many apples as you like. To stay up-to-date on what's hanging on the trees and what would be ideal for baking or eating, check out the farm's own nifty chart. If you'd prefer to just buy products off the shelves, head to the on-location Farm Market. There you can purchase fresh-baked pies and donuts, maple syrup, red tart cherries, peaches, apple cider, and of course, apples.
2. Wilson Banner Ranch in Clarkston, Wash.
This Washington ranch is devoted to using sustainable growing methods and sells — in addition to the apples and pears you can pick — peas, onions, lentils, beans, and harvested-on-site honey. To see what's in season, please visit their website. They also have a fun-filled Harvest Fair during two weekends in October. Look forward to a maze, live music, a petting zoo, local artisans selling their crafts, an obstacle course, and even a pie-eating contest.
1. Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery in Warwick, N.Y.
Take a tractor ride or walk to Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery's orchard (smack dab in the middle of the Hudson Valley), and enjoy picking from the more than 30 different apple varieties with a glass of wine, sangria, or cider in hand. But the fun doesn't stop there. Visitors also can enjoy tastings of the winery's own wines, ciders, brandies, and liqueur. Every weekend, except when they're hosting a festival, give your ears a treat with live music. And if all that apple-picking and drinking has left you hungry at the end of the day, treat yourself to fresh bread, pizzas, sandwiches, and salads from the on-site Pané Café.