Looking for the best places to pick apples in new jersey? We got those and more!
In The Hood:
Demarest Farms(244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale, 201-666-0472) is home to more than 14 varieties of pick-your-own apples, spectacular views, and well-manicured trees. Enjoy hay wagon rides, pumpkin picking, farm animal feedings, a corn maze, and eating mouth-watering, apple-filled treats- plus their famous donuts (yum). ($5 admission, $9/bag of apples, Apple Picking Starts September 6, Pumpkin Picking Starts September 20th, Monday-Friday 3:00-4:30pm, Saturday + Sunday 10:00am-4:30pm)
Under an Hour Drive:
Dr Davies (306 Route 304, Congers, NY, 845-268-7020) boasts over 4,000 trees on 35 acres, located on Lake Deforest, we got lost meandering in the orchard. Grab a picking pole and get busy. The farm also offers trailer rides for pumpkin picking with a beautiful scenic backdrop and has a small roadside market for vegetables and baked goods. Go early and bring a camera! (Apple Picking typically starts Labor Day, Open 7 days a week from 10am-4:00pm, cash only)
The Orchards of Concklin (Rte 45 & South Mountain Rd, Pomona, NY (845) 354-0369) gently reminds visitors to treat the trees well: no beating, shaking or climbing. In addition to their wide variety of apples available for picking, the farm has a slide, Jurassic Adventure, a Kids Haunted House and Bounce so your tots can bounce around while you hit the market for their “award winning” apple cider donuts. (Apple Picking starts Sept 20th, Pumpkin picking starts late September. Open Saturday and Sunday only 10am-5pm, $9/bag of apple, pole rental $2)
Between 1 and 2 hours:
Alstede Farms (1 Chesterfield Dr., Chester, 908-879-7189) harvests fruits on more than 500 acres. Fams can enjoy apple picking plus peaches, berries and other seasonal fruit. There’s a kids corn maze, plus a giant corn maze which opened on August 29th, celebrating the 200th anniversary of our national anthem. Your kids can even enjoy pony rides, a moon bounce, a corn kingdom, wagon train rides, and tons more. Check out the Alstede Farms Calendar for the full schedule of events. (Apple Picking runs through end of Oct, Pumpkin Picking starts mid sept- November, Open 7 days a week, 9:00am-7:00pm, admission prices start at $5 for a base ticket)
Stony Hill Farms (8 State Route 24, Chester, 908-879-2696) This farm offers 19 different varietals of apples, pumpkin picking and strawberry picking when in season plus a corn maze and Fun Park which includes gemstone mining and an arc structure your kids run through until they’re ready for naptime. (Apple Season runs Sept- Mid Oct, Pumpkins are available Sept 28th through October, Open daily from 10am to 5pm, Apples are $1.99/lb)
Day Trip It
Hurds Family Farm (2187 Route 32, Modena, NY, Phone: 845.883.7825) Owned by the Hurd family for over 100 years, this 120-acre farm in Modena, NY, specializes in giving visitors a real Fall Harvest experience. Apple picking well into October, Pumpkin Picking, an apple launcher, hayrides, corn mazes, brand new gem mining, critters, a Big Apple Bounce, Picnic Tables, Nature Trails and Paddle Boats, plus a Kiddie Coral make this Upstate New York Farm a go-to spot for all-day Seasonal Family Fun.(Open Monday - Friday 9am-5pm, Weekends 10am-6pm)
Silverman’s Farm (451 Sport Hill Road, Easton, CT, 203-261-3306) If you’re serious about your fall harvest head north up the Merritt Parkway to Silverman’s Farm in Easton, Connecticut. Home to dozens of apple tree varietals, a huge market and pumpkin patches, plus a large animal petting zoo and food trucks, plan to spend at least a few hours. Remember to bring a wagon to tote around the little ones (and pumpkins). Post-picking walks through nearby Westport are a fun way to end the day.(Apples available now through mid October, Pumpkins available mid-Sept through November, Open 7 days a week from 9am-5:30pm)
