How to Find a 'Pick-Your-Own' Apple Orchard Near You

October 2, 2012 at 11:33 AM | by JetSetCD | Comments (0)

The season for apple picking is officially from around September 20 through the third week in October, so though you've got a little time left to add it to your iCal, making plans with friends and family for an outing should happen sooner rather than later.

Now, we could make a Top Ten list of DIY apple orchards, but we'd rather have you find the ones nearest you. For this, check out PickYourOwn.org, a website that lists places depending on your area within a state, and even shares a list of tips to best prepare you for a day in the orchards.

For New York City, the closest options are out in Long Island and listed here. For Chicago, the options are here, including some organic farms and some with pick-your-own-pumpkins as well.

Our personal favorite DIY apple picking spot is MacQueen Orchards and Cider Mill in Holland, Ohio. This orchard will equip you with a basket and set you loose amongst the trees, their branches heavy with apples, for a crisp $20 bill.

This is actually the perfect time to seek out MacQueen's in Northwest Ohio (a quick drive from Detroit, Ann Arbor, Dayton and 2 hours from Cleveland or Fort Wayne) as the Orchards hold their annual Apple Butter Stir Festival, October 6-7. It's a free festival to attend, with activities including pony rides, hayrides, an apple pie contest a kids talent contest, arts & crafts and a chance to hit the orchard for apple picking with lots of others, in a party-like atmosphere.

Pro tip! Get a hot apple dumpling with cinnamon ice cream on the side.

[Photo: @hannahtornquist at MacQueen's]

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