Apple-picking season has started! A New England Fall wouldn't be complete without spending an afternoon picking apples, taking a hay ride and enjoying cider doughnuts. Below is a list of pick-your-own apple orchardson the North Shore and beyond, as well as
Tips For Picking the Best Apples This Season
Brooksby Farm
54 Felton St.
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 531-7456
www.brooksbyfarm.org
An abundant selection of orchard ripe apples are available at Brooksby Farm now through mid October. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Brooksby has a variety of fresh farm products awaiting in its bakery and farm store. Take in the atmosphere and aroma of fresh-baked cider donuts and homemade fudge. Jams, honey, fresh pies and other baked goods are made on the premises and ready to fill holiday baskets and complete any homecoming feast. Its barn is home to llamas, pigs, goats and sheep, rounding out the visit to the farm this season.
Cider Hill Farm
45 Fern Avenue, Amesbury MA
(978) 388-5525
Hours: 8 am to 5 pm
Purchase advance tickets here.
Connemara House Farm
252 Rowley Bridge Road, Topsfield, MA
(978) 767-6381
Hours: Saturdays & Sundays only, from 9:30 am to 4 pm
Russell Orchards
143 Argilla Rd. Ipswich, MA
(978) 356-5366
Hours: 9 am to 5 pm (closed Mondays)
Jersey Mac and Pristine apple varieties are brimming over in the Russell Orchards. Be prepared for the great outdoors and then hunker down in its famous winery. The winery has grown into a local must-visit for wine tasters; home of its original hard cider and unique fruit wines made on the premises. Russell's barnyard animals are almost as popular as its cider donuts, but you should make that decision for yourself when you schedule a trip this fall. Baked goodies made from scratch are available to satisfy every tummy after a day of apple picking in the orchard.
Connors Farm
30 Valley Road
Danvers, MA 01923
(978) 777-1245
www.connorsfarm.com
Come to Connors Farm and pick your own. Connors is a bustling farm with a host of family events and activities, no matter what season of the year you choose to visit. One of the most loved and well-known farms north of Boston, each year, Connors includes new themes and events especially during the fall. Apple picking is only one of the orchards on this working farm. Get a quick bite at Bob's BBQ Pit, Connors Country Kitchen or The Corn Crib before heading off for fresh delicious apples by the bushel. Be prepared for non-stop fun for the family.
Long Hill Orchard & Farm
520 Main Street Route 113
West Newbury, MA
01985
Phone: 978.363.2170
Long Hill Farm is a classic farm stand where the owners sell everything that is grown on site. Pick up some farm-fresh eggs and sticks of butter, as well as baked goods, ice cream, honey, maple syrup, and handmade crafts. No matter what you buy, you can be sure it’s local and its fresh.
Ingaldsby Farm
14 Washington St.
Boxford, MA 01921
(978) 352-2813
www.farmfresh.org
Ingaldsby Farm is waiting for you to pick your own apples. Stop by its farm stand for fresh vegetables and notice its nursery full of fresh flowers. Make the trip home with a few bushels, rosy cheeks and a full day of fresh air. The whole family is guaranteed to get a good night's sleep after such a wonderful excursion in the orchards. Patrons can't say enough about the vast assortment of fresh vegetables and its nursery of flowers, so don't be too surprised if you bring home more than those luscious apples. Ingaldsby is open daily for 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Boston Hill Farm
1370 Turnpike St.
N. Andover, MA 01845
(978) 681-8556
www.bostonhillfarm.com
Boston Hill Farm is the one-stop shop for Macintosh, Cortland or Macoun apple varieties. With so many orchards to choose from, it's a guarantee you'll have plenty of fresh apples for homemade pies, jellies or apple cake. All of those picked apples may get a bit heavy, so hop on the hayride back to the homestead and rest those weary feet. This will be a great day among the orchards with ice cream, a tempting bakery and a petting zoo. Working farms like Boston Hill are always an adventure for the family.
Smolak Farms
315 South Bradford Street,
North Andover, MA 01845
Located in North Andover, Smolak Farms offers both a standard orchard and an antique orchard that offers more than 20 varieties of heirloom apples (which are hard to find elsewhere).
One of my favorite reasons to visit Smolak Farms is that they also offer an on-site pumpkin patch! You can pick your own pumpkins on weekends, and pumpkins are available at their farm stand on weekdays. Their farm stand offers a food court area with burgers, hot dogs and pizza, along with cider donuts, candy apples, popcorn and more. They also have an ice cream stand where you can get homemade apple pie and apple crisp along with an ice cream cone.
What do you do with the Apples that you pick?
Four Apple Recipes Your Family Will Love
How To Make Paper Bag Apple Pie
How to Make a Delicious Jewish Apple Cake
