Fall is the time of year to celebrate the incredible and magical transformations that nature undergoes. Many individuals have their own traditions on how to enjoy this beautiful season, but most often they involve colorful leaves and harvested produce. In my experience , an annual trip to these farmlands is a must. Delfino Farms, formerly, Kids Inc. is also a popular ranch, it's a great choice both for kids and adults (it's one of my traditional stops). Kids Inc. also has a gorgeous Nature Trail, leading guests on a winding path through the orchard and down to a creek. High Hill RanchHigh Hill Ranch offers the widest selection of outdoor Apple Hill activities for kids and the whole family every fall season.
From apple picking, fishing for trout, pony rides for kids, hayride tour, school field trips, wine tasting, to a pumpkin patch, or you can shop at the largest craft show of Apple Hill! This farm is an excellent choice for the entire family to visit and just have fun. To learn more, visit the High Hill Ranch website. Check out their Harvest Calendar to find out what's in season and review their detailed Apple Hill Growers map.
View the apple varieties by farm, or download their dedicated app for updated info on every ranch plus food, lodging, events and more. HARRIS TREE FARM. This seven-generation family-owned farm is more than just a Christmas tree farm. It also produces berries, apples, pumpkins and vegetables. Situated the farthest east of any of Apple Hill's farms, Harris Tree Farm is definitely worth the extra drive. In the barn you'll find for sale homemade pies, donuts, preserves, apple cider, blackberry salsa and even enchiladas. Just across the street from the farm you'll find a beautiful and secluded nature trail that is perfect for those looking for a leisurely walk.
The serene trail follows the banks of the El Dorado Irrigation District Main Canal, which is more like a little stream tucked under the pines than a canal. Located at 2569 Larsen Drive in Camino, Rainbow Orchards has been family-owned for 40 years and is best known for their hot apple cider donuts, a favorite of kids and adults alike. In addition to their on-site cider mill, they produce made-from-scratch pies, cobblers, crisps, tarts, jams, syrups, and vinegar. But they're not all-about-apples… they also grow heirloom pumpkins and squash! If you're looking for something savory, try their tri-tip BBQ or corndogs while tapping your toes to some live bluegrass music. To learn more, visit the Rainbow Orchards website.
Home of the hot apple cider donut, this orchard is known for its variety of good things to eat. Beyond its famous donuts, there's vegan apple pie, an assortment of apples to buy as well as an impressive pumpkin/gourd selection. They sell pre-packaged cold apple cider to bring home, as well as hard cider too. They also have wines, jellies/jams, sauces, and syrups. To balance out all the sweetness there are decent corn dogs to eat at one of their numerous picnic tables located right next to the main barn. Apple Hill is an hour away from Sacramento in the scenic El Dorado Hills, and is made up of 50+ farms, most of them with apple orchards.
It can be overwhelming to know which farms to visit, so here's a list of some of the best Apple Hill farms to go to for apple picking, and where to find the best homemade treats. Larsen Apple Barn is the longest family-owned farm on Apple Hill. They offer over 20 varieties of apples plus pears, grapes, juices, and more. Their bakery is full of pies, turnovers, dumplings, and other delectable goodies. They also have an on-site deli perfect for picking up a quick lunch to enjoy in their grass-covered park with its picturesque waterfalls and arching bridges. While you're there, don't miss the Apple Hill Museum which gives visitors a glimpse into the history of Apple Hill.
To learn more, visit the Larsen Apple Barn website. Delfino Farms has been devoted to creating fresh products from fruit grown on their farm for over 50 years. They welcome families and offer tons of activities for kids including two corn mazes, u-pick pumpkins, a nature trail, farm animals, and a beautiful family-friendly picnic area. To learn more about this kid-friendly farm on Apple Hill, visit the Delfino Farms website.
Autumn in Gold Country means clear blue skies, fiery red grapevines, and an invigorating snap in the air. It's apple season too, with more than 30 orchards and farms dotting the area east of Placerville, about a 2-hour drive east of San Francisco, known as Apple Hill. Visit u-pick farms and roadside stands centered around the tiny hamlet of Camino to sample tart Granny Smiths, thin-skinned Galas, and other varieties, many grown by a new generation of farmers. While many apple ranches close by Thanksgiving, some remain open into December, and by heading up the hill then, you can pick up holiday gifts and might even find a dusting of seasonal snow. For instance, High Hill Ranch (highhillranch.net) hosts a daily craft fair—with everything from handcrafted birdhouses to decorative candles through Christmas Eve. In late spring and throughout the summer, several farms offer U-pick blueberries and other berries, including Harris Tree Farm, which also holds summer "high tea" events in its orchard.
24Carrot Farm boasts a summer produce farm stand, U-pick flowers, and gatherings like a sunset movie night at the ranch. For those pining for U-pick apples, consider an early September visit for the best harvest-your-own opportunities. Some of the farms strictly offer apple picking while others have fall festivals and other activities in addition to pick-your-own apples. Our handy guide to apple picking in Ohio will help you find the best places to pick apples near you.
The season culminates in the fall with more than a dozen classic NY apples, heirloom varieties, and pumpkin-picking. The spectacular views, lovely fall weather, and the satisfaction of picking your own organic, sustainably grown fruits and vegetables combine for great family-friendly fun. Check this Apple Ripening Chart to help plan your visit!
Still don't see the apple you're looking for? We grow over 100 varieties, so give us a call or shoot us an email to see if we have it. Enjoy apple picking in this apple orchard in Ashtabula, OH. In addition to apples, they have other seasonal fruit including peaches, pears and pumpkins. The mountains of western North Carolina are full of pick your own u-pick orchards.
View our downloadable map to see all that we have to offer and visit our picking schedule to find out what's available now. Farm gate sales of apples & fresh local produce. Frozen homemade meals, soups and meat or vegetarian pies. Honey, cider, giftware, maple syrup, pies, pumpkins, tours, Christmas trees and greenery. Contactless window and curbside pick up, order online. Here you'll find rolling hills showcasing beautiful vineyards, orchards and pines and plenty of food and drink offerings.
Stop by Joan's Apple Bakery for a piece of pie, Henrietta Stich Hard Cider or Edio Vineyards Wine for a drink. Families with kids will particularly enjoy the pumpkin patch, corn maze and nature trail surrounding the property. Sebastopol | Located in the rolling hills of Sonoma County, pack a picnic and head to a local, family-run farm focused on apples and pears. Their ranch has picnic tables and ample parking. In addition to apples, you can also take home some of their award-winning crisp apple cider. Their "U-pick" season is typically offered September and October where you can harvest your own Gravenstein, Golden Delicious, and Romen Beauties apples.
A farm that grows organic produce, including apples, cherry tomatoes, and pumpkins that visitors can pick themselves. There's also a farm stand where you can purchase organic fruits and veggies and is open from the end of April all the way into the end of November. If you're coming to pick apples, make sure to call ahead and see if they're still in season/available. This farm is a lot less touristy than the other farms and the fields are open so you can see the workers in progress. It's a great place to find the perfect pumpkin for your front porch.
In addition to pumpkins, many farms also grow other fall staples like ornamental corn and gourds. Delfino Farms has a 3-acre you-pick pumpkin patch as well as a 2-acre corn maze. O'Hallorans Apple Trail Ranch also has a you-pick pumpkin patch. Apple Ridge Farms has a pumpkin patch, as well as pictures with the giant pumpkin and a hay bale maze for the little ones.
High Hill Ranch also has pumpkins, as well as hay rides through the orchards. Boa Vista Orchards has a scenic pumpkin patch overlooking the canyon beyond. Rainbow Orchards is a 3rd generation family farm based in Camino, California.
Our Apple Hill℠ farm has provided the finest mountain grown fruit since 1977 – for over 40 years! We grow the best apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, and blueberries you've ever tasted. All this delicious fruit, as well as fresh pressed apple cider, is available at our famous Bake Shop and Apple Barn or at a farmers market near you. Aside from apples, you can also pick peaches, pumpkins, cider, and freshly baked pies and bread. You can also visit during the fall every weekend for some delicious wine tasting. In our farm market we sell freshly picked apples, apple cider, apple butter, apple sauce, honey and organic squash, beets and garlic, which we grow on our family farm.
You'll also find some of the best corn mazes , plus farm-fresh apple cider doughnuts, home-baked pies and sweet local honey. One of the more unique places at Apple Hill, Larsen Apple Barn indulges visitors in the history of how the Larsen family got started. Touted as the longest family-owned Apple Hill ranch, the Larsens founded their farm in the 1860s and showcase some of the original farm tools in a barn on the property. See old-time tractors, equipment, kitchen set-up and even a covered wagon before grabbing some fresh-picked apples and pies. Click here for more on Larsen Apple Barn and Bakeshop. Visit the most popular apple orchard and farm market in the North Georgia Mountains located near Ellijay, Georgia.
We are a short 1.5 hour drive from Atlanta, Georgia or Chattanooga, Tennessee. Hillcrest Orchards is a seasonal business and is only open September 4th - October 31, 2021. Hillcrest is family owned and operated and has been growing apples and fun for children, adults and seniors since 1946.
Smokey Ridge Ranch is a small family farm offering children the opportunity to observe the diversity of produce that can be grown on a small-scale agricultural operation. The farm produces grapes, chestnuts, 17 types of apples, olives, figs, pears, and pumpkins. They also make handmade preserves, condiments, and custom sausages with the items they grow. Kids love the u-pick chestnut and pumpkin options offered at the location, and families often visit to enjoy the farm-to-table lunches by their beautiful pond. To learn more, visit the Smokey Ridge Ranch website.
Kids will love this location, where they can pick out a pumpkin, choose fresh veggies or meet live animals during their visit to this magical farm and orchard. Sloan Winters Mountain specializes in organic produce, but they also feature honey and jams. To learn more, visit the Sloan Winters Mountain Orchard & Garden website. The Fudge Factory Farm will please visitors of all ages. More than just a candy store, they offer handmade chocolates, fudge, candy-coated apples, caramel corn, ice cream, jams, pies, apples, seasonal berries, and more. In addition to these delicious goodies, they welcome families and offer a kids' play area and farm animals.
To learn more, visit the Fudge Factory Farm website. Apple Ridge Farms is a favorite in our destination guide list and is one of the many kid-friendly farms on Apple Hill. Apple Ridge Farms welcomes families to their ranch, which features farm animals, a hay maze, a tranquil pond, and a nature trail this fall season. They also have an apple barn, a bakeshop, a candy kitchen, and a gift shop, too! To learn more, visit the Apple Ridge Farms website. Yep, there's a handy map-based app that lists everything from current weather to traffic conditions to the farms' hours.
Apple Hill can reach the 80s and even the 90s early in the season, so make sure to bring a hat to protect yourself from the country sun. If you're planning to pick apples, wear sturdy close-toed shoes that you don't mind getting dirty . Bring plenty of water, since the apple orchards are not usually flat and can be quite a workout walking through the hills.
Most larger orchards take credit cards, but bring cash for smaller farms. If you're a responsible adult and insist on "real" food before dessert, there are plenty of spots in Apple Hill to pick up lunch. Bodhaine Ranch serves comforting dishes like pot pie, tamales and tri-tip sandwiches, while Boa Vista Orchards has deli sandwiches and burgers. Abels Apple Acres specializes in smoked meats like pulled pork and tri-tip, and also has a chicken pot pie in a bread bowl.
High Hill Ranch also serves lunch, with BBQ items like tri-tip, burgers and sausage, as well as grilled cheese and black bean burgers for the non-meat eaters. Or, if you prefer, you can pack your own lunch and picnic amongst the apple trees; many farms offer shaded picnic tables where you can spread out and relax, including Apple Pantry Farm. Pick-your-own apple orchard in Amherst, OH. The Farm Market also offers jams, jellies, local honey, cider, pumpkins, and Indian corn.
Miller Orchards has been a family-owned operation since the mid 1800s. Working family farm with farm gate sales of perennials, plants, trees, shrubs, fresh cut flowers, vegetables, baking, and fresh breads. Christmas Village Market serving apple cider and hot chocolate with bonfires, baby animals, Christmas trees, wagon rides and visits from Santa Open May 1 to December 24. From apple picking to trick-or-treating, the events at Apple Hill keep families coming back year after year.
Apple Hill is located just outside of El Dorado County and is less than an hour's drive from the heart of Sacramento and two hours east of San Francisco. Those wanting to experience blue skies, autumn temperatures, and a trip to the countryside can also go to the many farms located in and around the small town of Camino, California. 24 Carrot Farm is perfect for kids, who will enjoy picking their own fruit or taking a tour of this certified organic farm. They grow more than just apples… their produce includes fruit, flowers, and vegetables, too! Their farm has a produce stand, a pond, and a picnic area.
Visitors will love learning all about their commitment to sustainable farming techniques. Learn more by visiting the 24 Carrot Farm website. For many Sacramento families, the arrival of the fall season prompts an annual visit to Apple Hill.
This destination guide offers visitors the opportunity to kick-off the cooler season with a day of wholesome family fun. There are many kid-friendly farms on Apple Hill that have been drawing families to the area for more than 50 years. If you are looking for prime apple picking season, going in early September is recommended, when it's still early in the season and there are plenty of apples to pick. Though be aware that certain types of apples are harvested at different times throughout the season, so you can check out this handy Apple Hill guide to see when your favorite type is available.
I recommend the best way to navigate Apple Hill and experience all that it has to offer is to grab a map at the first ranch you pass by once there or download and print this PDF Map. Most of the farms and orchards follow a looped route, making for easy access along the way. Some visitors enjoy just driving along and stopping at each ranch that they see, while others prefer picking specific ones of the map. Any method you decide upon will showcase the wonderful and unique discoveries at Apple Hill. Touting itself as an Apple Hill tradition since 1915, Boa Vista Orchards is one of the first places you'll want to hit up in the morning if you want to snack on some apple doughnuts . However, if the adults are looking for a little hard cider or wine tasting, Boa Vista has you covered there too.
