10 great places to pick your own apples
— -- Johnny Appleseed would be proud to see the crowds at pick-your-own orchards this season. Todd Hultquist, spokesman for the non-profit U.S. Apple Association, is celebrating this year's crop at the North Carolina Apple Festival in Hendersonville this weekend. He shares his list with Kathy Baruffi for USA TODAY of great places for hands-on fun.
Silverman's FarmEaston, Conn. "In addition to apple picking, autumn in New England is wonderful for leaf-peeping," Hultquist says. Everybody gets a tractor ride when they go to pick apples here because the orchard is on a big hill. Buffalo, llama and deer are among the animals at the 5-acre petting zoo. Stop at the hands-on Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, before or after your visit, where you can touch sea stars, horseshoe crabs and rays (stingers removed) from nearby Long Island Sound. 203-261-3306; silvermansfarm.com
King OrchardsCentral Lake, Mich. "Enjoy the recreation playground of northern Michigan when you pick apples here," Hultquist says of this orchard near Traverse City. Camping, boating and fishing opportunities abound in the area. Located on the high hills called drumlins, this working farm has beautiful views of Lake Michigan from the peach orchard. 877-937-5464; kingorchards.com
Richard's Fruit MarketMiddletown, Va. "This orchard is in the Shenandoah Valley, the historic heart of the U.S. apple industry," Hultquist says. "President Lincoln is known to have favored fresh apples and apple cake." York apples, an old variety that is firm and tart, are available here. You also can pick your own flowers. There's a Food and Wine Festival on Sept. 19 and an Apple Festival Oct. 17-18. 540-869-1455; richardsfruitmarket.com
Applewood OrchardsWarwick, N.Y. "This Hudson Valley orchard also has a winery where hard apple cider is made," Hultquist says. On the weekends you can enjoy the gardens, live music, wagon rides and a country store, as well as free-range chickens and sheep wandering around. The orchard is less than an hour from Storm King Art Center, where Maya Lin's Storm King Wavefield, a 4-acre earthen sculpture, opened this year. 845-986-1684; applewoodorchards.com
