Now that summertime has wrapped up, it’s easy to feel like you have to burrow inside until the weather heats up again. We don’t want you to hibernate for the Fall and Winter, so we created a list of 15 Orchards for Apple Picking to keep you moving this Fall! How do you like them apples?
1. Fruition Berry Farm
Get a true feeling for farm life at the Fruition Berry Farm in Kingston, located just North of the city, Fruition offers tractor rides to bring its pickers around their vast growing fields. With great low prices for picking, fun games including a corn maze, and yummy treats offered at the time of purchase, your going to have to add this to your annual to-do list!
2. Halls Apple Market
What is even better than fresh apples? Fresh apple pie of course! At Hall’s Apple Market, you can pick your own batch to make something flaky and crumbly at home, or, to save you some time in the kitchen, grab one of their fruity pies on your way out – we hear they are the best in Brockville.
3. Mountain Orchards
You could certainly plan a whole day outing around a trip to the Mountain Orchards near in Kemptville. Bring the kids and take a wagon ride through the crops, pick some fresh crisp apples, grab a few hot and freshly made doughnuts with maple syrup, enjoy hot dogs on the BBQ and don’t forget to drop by the bakery before you leave for some freshly baked goodies.
4. Waddell Apples
Grab the kids and the spouse and have a farm outing! Waddell Farms offers ‘Pick-Your-Own’ apples and pumpkins, with a beautifully scenic walk beside the Rideau Canal. Pickers are never disappointed in the wonderful selection of sweet and savory ‘fruits of labour’ including baked goods, preserves, cider, beer, honey, cheese and much more!
5. Marlin Orchards & Garden Centre
Have you got a green thumb? Looking to build your own little getaway at home? Are you also hungry and love some sweet, crunchy apples fresh from the tree? Marlin Orchards & Garden Centre should be on your list for the next ‘day-cation’. Their local staff can help you shop for beautiful plants and decor for your home garden, and then you can go pick some fresh McIntosh apples to take home!
6. Cannamore Orchard
If you can muster up the courage, you should definitely take a drive over the Cannamore Orchard in mid to late October. Start out by picking some yummy apples, and then toughen up to face the Acres of Terror, Spooky Wagon Ride, House of Horrors, Spooky Village and Spooky Fog Maze. The wonderful staff don’t break character, so prepare to be thrilled so you don’t lose your apples!
7. Avonmore Berry Farm
Apples and Pumpkins galore! Avonmore Berry Farm provides more than just its namesake, with a ton of things to do for any age, including a children play area, “The Pantry” of fresh baked goods and delicious snacks, wagon rides and (of course) fields and forests to be picked.
8. Smyth’s Apple Orchard – Iroquois
Taking the prize for one of the oldest family-run orchard on this list is Smyth’s Apple Orchard! Starting out in the late 1800’s, and McIntosh orchards around the world have actually originated from this spot – how cool! Whether you like it sweet or tart, they have plenty of options for picky-pickers including apple bark, candied apples and a variety of apple snacks.
9. Campbell’s Orchards
You can start a new tradition of having a family adventure at Campbell’s Orchards in Prince Edward County. Take a stroll through their fall maze, then relax on a wagon ride before you pick your own batch of scrumptious apples. Over 19? Don’t forget to try some of their freshly made cider before you head back home.
10. Maws Lakeview Orchard
If you aren’t in the mood for picking, drive over to Maw’s Lakeview Orchards, just 15 minutes outside of Picton and Belleville. Open all week until 5 PM, which means you can pick up some juicy, mouthwatering apples, cider, jams and a variety of locally grown veggies. They also offer a variety of QQA and Fruit wines from Thirty Three Vines Winery during the weekends.
11. Wynn Farms – Napanee
They have an astronaut themed corn maze, I repeat, an astronaut themed corn maze!! Grab some friends and try to see who knows more about the scary sky we call space. If you want a challenge, try their moonlight corn maze, open on Friday and Saturday nights until 10PM. Then, take a pick of some of your favourite apples including Paula Red and Macintosh in their vast orchard! Bring us a caramel or candy apple on your way home!
12. Spring Meadow Orchards – Napanee
Family first – a value so many of us share. This third generation farm is the perfect spot to bond with your family while the leaves change colours. You can make a day of it with pony rides, hayrides and apple picking. We hear they have the best doughnuts around, so please try their apple cider doughnuts and let us know how good they are!
13. Loughborough Heritage Orchard – Inverary
You will be stepping back in time at this 70 year old heritage orchard. Beautifully maintained and cared for, you can pick apples daily from September to October from 10am to 5pm. Did we mention they are pesticide and herbicide free? Oh, and you can find some maple syrup and free range eggs while your there!
14. Roots Down Organic Farm
Located inside the Frontenac Arch Biosphere, this biodiverse area is perfect spot for growing delicious fruits and vegetables. Take a trip to not only pick some yummy veggies and apples, but to also be in awe of the beautiful fields and landscape, home to many species of animal including snakes and turtles!
15. Grills Orchard
Grills Orchard is the ultimate local farmer in the South Eastern Ontario area. While you can stop by to pick from their beautiful apple orchard, you may get distracted by the smell of fresh bread baked daily, as well as homemade fudge that melts in your mouth. Bring the kids along as there are plenty of fun activities from wagon rides to a corn maze!
