Everyone is heading back to school, but that doesn’t mean family outings must stop. Keep learning your ABCs when you literally take on A is for apple at your local orchard.
Yes, the top fun-for-all activity in September is apple picking. You can easily get apples in the food store, but here in the Northeast pick-your-own is the perfect outdoor family activity.
Plus, it’s educational, shouldn’t your children see how apples grow – certainly not in a plastic bag at the supermarket. And when kids pick apples, they tend to eat them too! So be prepared, your family will to polish off these nutritious beauties in no time.
Visit these orchards for nearby apple picking. Some locations also sell other items such as farm fresh fruits, vegetables and apple cider. And some offer freshly made donuts and apple pie. Others celebrate the season with hayrides, animals, corn mazes and kids’ activities. So, get the family together and go apple picking on a perfect September day!
Heading Out to Pick-Your-Own
Some farms have pick-your-own on weekends only so always call ahead to ask about activities, picking hours, crop availability, variety and prices to make sure your family has the best experience possible!
Westchester County, N.Y.
Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard
Country store, educational visits
130 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem
914-485-1210. harve
Outhouse Orchards
Hayrides
139 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem
914-277-3188. outho
Stuart’s Farm
62 Granite Springs Road, Granite Springs
914-245-2784. stuar
Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm
Hayrides to and from the orchard
1335 White Hill Road, Yorktown Heights
914-245-5111. wilke
Dutchess County, N.Y.
Barton Orchards
Hayrides, petting zoo on weekends
63 Apple Tree Lane, Poughquag
845-227-2306. barto
Cedar Heights Orchard
Crosby Lane, Rhinebeck
845-876-3231. rhine
Fishkill Farms
9 Fishkill Farm Road, Hopewell Junction
845-897-4377. fishk
Fraleigh’s Rose Hill Farm
19 Rose Hill Farm, off Rte. 9, Red Hook
845-758-4215. pickr
Greig Farm
223 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook
845-758-1234. greig
Lawrence Farms Orchard
39 Colandrea Road, Newburgh
845-562-4268. lawre
Mead Orchards
15 Scism Road, off Rte. 9, Tivoli
845-756-5641. meado
Meadowbrook Farms
29 Old Myers Corners Road, Wappingers Falls
845-297-3002. meado
Fairfield County, Conn.
Blue Jay Orchards
Hayrides start in October
125 Plumtrees Road, Bethel
203-748-0119. bluej
Silverman’s Farm
Open year-round, hayrides, animal farm
451 Sport Hill Road, Easton
203-261-3306. silve
Long Island, N.Y.
Davis Peach Farm
Farm animals, apples
Hulse Landing Road, Wading River
631-929-1115. davis
Fort Salonga Farm
30 Meadow Glen Road, Northport
631-269-9666. forts
The Milk Pail
1346 Montauk Hwy., Water Mill
631-537-2565. milk-
Seven Ponds Orchards
65 Seven Ponds Road, Water Mill
631-726-8015
Wickham’s Fruit Farm
U-Pick yearly membership required
purchase on arrival at farm, $20/family
28700 Main Road (Rte. 25), Cutchogue
631-734-6441. wickh
Orange County, N.Y.
Applewood Orchard & Winery
Wagon rides, puppet shows, farm animals
82 Four Corners Road, Warwick
845-986-1684. apple
Masker Orchards
Music and horse-drawn wagon rides
45 Ball Road, off Rte. 17A, Warwick
845-986-1058. maske
Ochs Orchard
Farm animals, baked goods and ice cream
4 Ochs Lane, off Rte. 94, Warwick
845-986-1591. ochso
Pennings Orchard
Hayrides, farm market, farm animals
169 State Rte. 94 South, Warwick
845-986-7080. penni
Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery
114 Little York Road, Warwick
845-258-4858. wvwin
Rockland County, N.Y.
Dr. Davies Farm
Hayrides
306 Rte. 304, Congers
845-268-7020. drdav
The Orchards of Concklin
Rte. 45 and S. Mountain Road, Pomona
845-354-0369. theor
Ulster County, N.Y.
Apple Hill Farm
Hayrides
124 Rte. 32 South, New Paltz
845-255-1605. apple
Apple Valley Farms
155 N. Ohioville Road, New Paltz
845-255-7077
Dressel Farms
Pick-your-own weekends only, hayrides
271 Rte. 208, New Paltz
845-255-0693. dress
Hurd’s Family Farm
Hayrides and farm animals
2187 Rte. 32, Modena
845-883-7825. hurds
Jenkins-Lueken Orchards
69 Yankee Folly Road, New Paltz
845-255-0999. jlorc
Locust Grove Fruit Farm
Weekends only, farm stand, cider donuts and wagon rides
199 North Road, Milton
845-795-5194. locus
Minard Farms
250 Hurds Road, Clintondale
866-632-7753. minar
Prospect Hill Orchards
Hayrides
40 Clarkes Lane, Milton
845-795-2383. prosp
Tantillo’s Farm Market
730 Rte. 208, Gardiner
845-256-9109. tanti
Weed Orchards
Hayrides, farm animals, cafe and bakery
43 Mt. Zion Road, Marlboro
845-236-2684. weedo
Wilklow Orchards
341 Pancake Hollow Road, Highland
845-691-2339. wilkl
Jean Sheff is Editor of Westchester Family.
