Best Pick-Your-Own Fruit Farm
Bright berries bursting with flavor, crisp apples dripping with juice and other perfectly ripe seasonal produce are waiting to be harvested at these pick-your-own-fruit farms. In addition to a bounty of delicious strawberries and cherries, these orchards feature on-site activities like hayrides, playgrounds and adorable barnyard animals, making them a fun choice for families. But on-site hard cider tastings and delicious food options make these farms just as fun for adults looking for a weekend excursion.
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Blue Fruit Farm | Winona, MN
Overlooking the beautiful Wiscoy Valley, which is filled with native plants and attracts a range of pollinators to the area, Blue Fruit Farm grows a variety of certified organic berries and plums. Handy hint: The farm encourages you to lift lower branches to discover hidden plump berries that others may have missed in their haste. Contact the farm to make a picking appointment before heading over.
Blueberry Bill Farms | Hammonton, NJ
It's no surprise that one of the best places to pick blueberries in the country is located in the "Blueberry Capital of the World"—Hammonton, New Jersey. At Blueberry Bill Farms, pickers can harvest until their heart's content because the berries are just $3 a pound. Wishing you could recreate this experience in your own backyard? You can! Blueberry Bill sells fruit bushes that you can take home.
Garwood Orchards | La Porte, IN
Escape the bustle of Chicago in the summer by driving just over an hour to Garwood Orchards, a family farm dating back more than 180 years. With the baskets of fruit you pick here, you can flex your homestead muscles (even if you're city folk). Make sweet jam with your strawberries, pie filling with your cherries and a few dozen or so canned peaches to enjoy during the winter.
Green Mountain Orchards | Putney, VT
Green Mountain Orchards has been growing fruit on its lovely, rolling green hills since 1914. Open every day of the week during picking season, the orchard allows you to collect blueberries and apples while you soak up the scenery of your surroundings. If you're lucky (and Mother Nature has been kind), you may also have the chance to snatch a few peaches, raspberries and plums from the farm's limited supply.
Harvold Berry Farm | Carnation, WA
Bushes heavy with juicy red fruit await you at Harvold Berry Farm. Set on nearly 180 acres and run by just two people, Harvold's surprisingly doesn't hire commercial pickers; everything that's in season is ready to be harvested by someone like you. In addition to strawberries and raspberries, the farm has a dazzling field of sunflowers, highlighted by its end-of-summer Sunflower Festival each year.
Kauffman Orchards | Bird-in-Hand, PA
Plenty of farms have extra on-site activities that allow you to spend the entire day, but have you ever seen one that invites you to stay the night? At Kauffman Orchards, you can meander through 12,000 trees, picking many of the 11 different fruits that grow here. When night begins to fall, you can retire to your RV parking spot (reserved through Harvest Hosts) for the evening.
Kula Country Farms | Kula, Maui, HI
Due to the climate of its location, strawberry season at Kula Country Farms starts earlier than you might think: February! Whether you live on the island or are just vacationing in Maui, this is a great afternoon activity for families during the growing season. The family-owned farm is located on Haleakalā and is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Lautenbach's Orchard Country |
Fish Creek, WI
Lautenbach's Orchard Country is set in Door County, once designated as Cherryland USA, so you know the cherries here are good. From mid-July to early August, you can grab a pail to fill with Montmorency cherries before stopping at the Cherry Pit Spit to see how far you can launch a pit. On your way out, swing by the market for all things cherry: pies, doughnuts, turnovers and strudel.
Linvilla Orchards | Media, PA
Pack up the kids and head to Linvilla Orchards, an expansive 300-acre family farm that has been in operation for more than 100 years. Pluck a rare apricot from the tree, fill a basket with blackberries and snag some of the farm's favorite figs. When your children tire of picking , check out the mini golf, pony rides and face painting.
Sky Top Orchard | Flat Rock, NC
Sky Top Orchard is tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering stunning views alongside its seemingly endless rows of sour cherries, peaches, grapes and apples. And, boy, does it have apples; in fact, Sky Top grows more than 25 varieties from June to October. Because of its hayrides, apple blasters, fresh doughnuts and fresh-pressed cider, many families consider this spot their "must-visit" fall tradition.
Specca Farms | Bordentown, NJ
If you've always dreamed of having a farm and harvesting your own produce, Specca Farms can indulge your fantasy with its massive rows of fresh veggies and fruits—all available for you to pick. In the spring, you'll find sweet strawberries, as well as asparagus, beets, kale, radishes and more. Come back in the fall for more than 30 other you-pick vegetable options.
Suyematsu Farms | Bainbridge Island, WA
With a history that dates back to the 1930s, Suyematsu Farms has some of the oldest growing fields in the area. Strawberry season begins around mid-June, and just as they are starting to thin out, raspberry season starts. Suyematsu also boasts gorgeous rows of dahlias that are available to pick. Tip: Check the farm's Instagram or Facebook page to make sure the patch is open before driving over.
The Gorge White House | Hood River, OR
A beautiful Dutch Colonial Revival–style home, the Gorge White House is a landmark in its own right, but the 30-acre farm that stretches out behind the home is what really draws people. From June through October, the grounds are full of fruits like blueberries, nectarines and apples, just waiting to be picked. Scenic views of Mount Hood and hard cider flights are a great endcap to a visit here.
Tougas Family Farm | Northborough, MA
Spend the morning choosing the reddest strawberries, the plumpest cherries and the juiciest peaches at Tougas Family Farm. When the sun is overhead, you can cool down with a strawberry slush float or an ice-cream sundae piled high with fresh fruit. Don't forget to swing by the barnyard to meet all the cute animals, which you can feed with special food from the market.
Ward's Berry Farm | Sharon, MA
A family farm that takes full advantage of the growing season, Ward's Berry Farm has a variety of you-pick crops. Visit in the spring for a colorful field of tulips, come back in the summer for ripe berries or wait until the fall for perfect orange pumpkins. Kids love the bounce pillow (open on weekends) and the playground, while parents love to shop in the farm store.
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Lizzy Briskin
Lizzy Briskin is a New York City–based food, travel, wellness and lifestyle writer. Previously, she was the print food editor at Food Network and Real Simple magazines. She has a professional chef's degree from Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and a BA in English from Amherst College. She contributes to Wirecutter, Shape, People, Self, Bon Appetit, The Quality Edit, The Kitchn, Travel Weekly, and other outlets. When she's not cooking, eating, writing or traveling, she's training for her next marathon. Follow her on Instagram and at earthenfood.co.
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Marla Cimini is an award-winning writer and content creator who is passionate about travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures. An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), European getaways and incredible domestic and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Residing in New Jersey (Philadelphia area), Marla is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California and covers those destinations often. Follow her adventures at marlacimini.com.
Susan Lanier-Graham
Susan Lanier-Graham is founder and publisher of Wander With Wonder, an award-winning online travel journalism magazine. She has authored more than 75 books and hundreds of magazine articles while traveling the world over the past three decades. Susan's work has appeared in a variety of publications, including various AAA publications, TravelandLeisure.com, Hotels.com, Modern Luxury, WHERE publications, Fairmont.com, Marriott.com and more. Susan is a member of Society of American Travel Writers, International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association, and North American Travel Journalists Association. She is also a Certified California Wine Appellation Specialist.
Joelle Machia
Joelle Machia is a travel writer, photographer and co-owner of the Wanderers Compass Travel Blog. With a mission to inspire wanderlust, Joelle encourages readers to explore the world through authentic, independent travel. The blog offers a mix of storytelling, destination insights, off-the-beaten-path finds, photography and practical travel tips. Joelle aims to help readers turn their travel dreams into a beautiful reality. She is a proud member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), and the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA).
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