As summer makes its slow departure, the agricultural mecca of Michigan comes to life! The humid air is overtaken by a refreshing breeze. The lush, green landscape morphs into a vibrant panorama of oranges and reds. Campfire s’mores are replaced with crisp caramel-covered apples, and the smell of freshly cut grass is soon overpowered by the sweet scent of cinnamon sugar donuts and spiced ciders! To join in on the fall fun, visit any one of these amazing You-Pick apple orchards in Michigan and experience the beauty of the harvest in the Great Lakes State!
Central-West Michigan Orchards
Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery | Grand Rapids, MI Picking apples is just one of the many enjoyable activities offered at the Robinette’s Apple Haus and Winery. Take a horse-drawn hayride or hit the corn maze as a family before letting the kids loose on the jumping pillow! As your little ones bounce around, you can head into the barn to sample some wine and hard cider! End your day by browsing a wide selection of breads, pies, and pastries made fresh in the on-site bakery!
Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm | Grand Rapids, MI Operated by a group of farm-lovin’ females, Ed Dunneback and Girls Farm is a family-owned business focused on all things fruity! In addition to apple picking, here you can also sip on their signature caramel apple shakes, grab a take-and-bake pie to enjoy later, or challenge your loved ones to a competitive race through the corn maze! The on-site kitchen offers soups, sandwiches, and more so you can refuel for the fun after spending a full afternoon in the orchard!
Schwallier’s Country Basket | Sparta, MI Having opened its barn doors in 1989, Schwallier’s Country Basket boasts a long history of providing the local area with an array of fruits and fresh-baked goods. With over 15 varieties of apples, you’ll have quite a selection to choose from when you head out into the orchard! A corn maze is also available, as well as an animal barn filled with adorable farm animals like goats, chickens, and bunnies!
Steffens Orchard and Market | Sparta, MI With over 300 acres of apples, Steffens Orchard and Market is a metropolis of crisp and succulent honeycrisps, fujis, and golden delicious apples, among many others! They provide small wagons which you can take into the orchard to more easily gather and transport your apples. If you go on a weekend, you might be lucky enough to catch the Moon Bounce, which the kids can jump around in at no extra charge!
Fruit Ridge Hayrides | Kent City, MI Also located in the heart of Michigan’s fruit growing region, Fruit Ridge Hayrides offers around a dozen different apple varieties to pick from! Tour the fall colors on a horse-drawn hayride or get lost in the 10-acre corn maze! Treat your little ones to a pony ride or walk around the petting zoo and meet the llamas, mini horses, pigs, goats, and more! After the fun leaves you exhausted, stop by the little barn bakery and enjoy a hot dog, nachos, or a hot spiced cider!
Lower-East Michigan Orchards
Long Family Orchard | Commerce Charter Twp., MI Everyone, no matter what their age, will have a great time at Long Family Orchard! If you visit on a weekend to pick your own apples, you’ll also enjoy free hayrides! In addition to apple picking, there is also a nighttime corn maze, a goat farm, two giant jumping pillows, large play structures, pedal karts, and more! Stop into the Cider Mill before taking off to grab some locally-made honey, jams, and mouthwatering apple cinnamon donuts for the road! Blake Farms | Armada, MI As one of the very first ‘pick your own’ orchards in the state, Blake Farms has spent the past 69 years growing apples in Michigan. Although you’ll have a blast plucking apples off the branches in the orchard, the real fun and excitement starts after the sun goes down! Put yourself on edge with the spooky land 3D maze, challenge ghosts and goblins in the 3-story haunted barn, or slay the walking dead on the zombie paintball safari ride!
Northern-West Michigan Orchards
King Orchard | Central Lake, MI Although they specialize in growing Montmorency tart cherries, King Orchards also offers a wide selection of Heritage, Gourmet, and American apples as well. Spend a picturesque afternoon strolling through the orchard, taking in the sights, and collecting bushel after bushel of crisp, juicy apples. Stop by their bakery before heading home for some homestyle goodness. Located in Grand Traverse Bay, this is a great destination to stop at while checking out the Cherry Capital of the World! Hoxsie’s Farm Market | Williamsburg, MI Eager to introduce their guests to life on the farm, Hoxsie’s Farm Market is a charming and educational destination for fall family fun! Choose from 7 varieties of apples and get picking! The fun won’t end once you leave the apple orchard though, as this farm also features a 4-acre corn maze, wagon rides, and an in-barn playland. To top it off you can even enjoy some target practice with produce as your ammo with the apple cannons! Jacob’s Farm | Traverse City, MI Although they are notorious for their annual corn maze, Jacob’s Farm also boasts an extensive selection of apples available for self-picking! If you plan your visit on the weekend, be sure to stick around until the sun goes down and try to traverse their corn maze with nothing but the guiding glow of a flashlight! As you’re waiting to enter the moonlit maze, browse their collection of locally grown and homemade products, including their potting and planting mixes made from their own vermicomposting system to bring you top-of-the-line soil for your home garden!
Lower-South Michigan Orchards
Meckley’s Flavor Fruit Farm | Somerset Center, MI With over 375 acres of countryside strewn with 20 plus varieties of apple trees, you’ll have a blast apple picking at Meckley’s Farm. If your time spent in the orchard leaves you thirsty, the on-site cider mill and cellar has you covered! With over 50 years of experience crafting artesian ciders, they still remain true to the ‘old school’ pressing style which is evident in the unique taste of their products. Relax with a glass of canine-inspired wine or a can of hard cider and enjoy live Bluegrass music while the kids take advantage of the pony rides and bounce house!
Earth First Farms | Berrien Center, MI Situated on nearly 50 acres of vibrant, rolling landscapes, Earth First Farms is home to approximately 3,500 apple trees available for picking! As a certified organic apple orchard, this small family farm is committed to offering produce that is free from harmful side effects for both the environment and the consumer alike. Because apples are among the top 12 produce items contaminated by chemical residue, the apples from this farm are far superior to the pesticide-coated produce of other orchards in the area.
You haven’t gotten the full fall experience until you’ve picked apples yourself in one of Michigan’s many great orchards! So plan your visit today at a farm near you because the peak of the season is only here for a limited amount of time! Do you have another great Michigan destination for old-fashioned fall fun? Is there an orchard that you swear has the best tasting apples around? Let us know in the comments!
