It’s harvest time! Want to go pick some apples to celebrate, and choose a pumpkin or two for Halloween decorating with your kids? We thought we’d share some of the best destinations near to New York City, and what better time than now when the leaves are changing brilliantly by the day? Enjoy!
Let us start with our personal favorite for apple picking:
A gorgeous farm from 1916 that is, in itself, educational and enlightening for your kids to walk around and check out. The grounds are loaded with apples right now, and of 40 varieties. Currently, it’s best to go on the weekends.
15 Schism Road, Tivoli NY 845-756-5641
This place is beyond perfect. There’s a honeybee observation area, hay rides, farm animal petting, and cornfield play. It’s also great for small children because there are dwarf trees on this property! This farm has a total of over twenty types of apples to choose from for picking. Need to get your future Jack-O-Lantern? There is also a pumpkin patch on which all sizes go for $9.
101 Jessup Rd, Warwick, NY 845-987-7717. $28/half bushel. Thur–Fri, Sat–Sun, 9am–6pm. $28/half bushel. Thur–Fri, Sat–Sun, 9am–6pm.
This coming weekend will be ripe for crisp Macintosh and Cortland Apples, as well as pumpkins. There’s an on-site winery for parents, and tons of fun stuff for kids (including herb gardens, puppet shows, hay rides, bunnies and sheep).
82 Four Corners Rd, Warwick 845-986-1684. Daily 9am–5pm September 5 through late October. Approx $30 for a half bushel, no admission or parking fees.
A corn maze, a fun park, haunted house, and bakery are all part of this orchard apple picking experience!
63 Apple Tree Ln, Poughquag. 845-227-2306.
Monday -Friday 9am–5pm, Sat, Sun 9am-6pm through Nov 2. General admission $5, children under 2 free (includes petting zoo, hayrides, kids’ special events); Fun Pass $9.50, (includes admission, corn maze, haunted house and family theme park). Apples: 10lbs $15, 20lbs $24.
This charming Hudson Valley gem is less than a half hour from the George Washington Bridge, and has a child’s pumpkin patch where each small pumpkin is only $3.
306 Rte 304, Congers 845-268-7020. Daily 10am–4pm from Labor Day. $37 for 25 pounds. Pole rental $3 (you get $1 back once it’s returned). Cash only.
Another one of the Hudson Valley’s favorites, this one is in Red Hook, NY. We love the pumpkin patch here, and right now the apples are low so we recommend it for pumpkins only.
223 Pitcher Ln, Red Hook 845-758-1234.
Daily 9am–7pm through the end of October. $25 for a half bushel.
Enjoy Apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, bonfires, a cornfield maze, farm pets to feed, the kid’s corral, riding the cow train, shooting the apple launcher, wandering on the eco-discovery trail, visiting the fish pond, and doing the giant slide on Sand Mountain. Pedal tricycles down the Tots Trike Trail, visit 18th century dutch threshing barn for refreshments and gifts. They have hot apple cider, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, fresh apple cake and more.
2187 Rte 32, Modena
Phone: 845-883-7825.
Season begins in late August. Monday-Sunday 9am–5pm. $15, children under 3 years old are free. Pick your own apples $7 for a half peck, $12/full peck, $20/half bushel, pumpkins 60c per lb.
Could the name be any sweeter? There’s also an ice cream shop that features sundaes topped with the fruit grown on the property. Their shop has tons of honeys to choose from, and apple ciders. There are pony rides, a mini pig that goes by the name of Ellie Mae, ducks, an adorable white mini horse, bunnies, and a llama named Morgan. If you’re hungry there’s a little Mexican cantina with a kid’s menu.
1421 Rte 9H, Ghent, NY
Phone: 518-828-5048.
Mon–Tues 9am–5pm, Wed-Thur 10am–5pm, Fri–Sun 9am–6pm. The apple prices are subject to change.
The Milk Pail Farm and Orchard
As their site states, “We are open every weekend in September & October – Friday, Saturday & Sunday – 10am to 5:30pm weather permitting. Please check this announcement for up to date information and possible closures due to weather.”
50 Horsemill Lane, Watermill, NY. 631-537-2565
Pick apples and take a tractor ride around this family operated farm. They also have a corn maze and hay rides for the kids. Pick your own apples from 9am-5pm.
130 Hardscrabble Rd. North Salem, NY 10560 914- 277-3188.
This orchard is absolutely beautiful and features pumpkin fields, a kiddie maze, hay rides, and farm animals. There is also a beer garden and farm market.
169 NY-94, Warwick, NY 845-986-7080. Daily 9am–5pm. Half bushel $30/bag, 20–22lbs is approx. $1.50/lb. Cash only.
Okay, this isn’t that near to NYC, but it’s close enough and the Berkshires are beyond beautiful, so it’s worth it. The corn maze is now closed, but there are hay rides every weekend. There’s also a three acre pick your own pumpkin farm. In their animal area are goats, bunnies, llamas, and chickens. In the greenhouse, they have turtles.
119 Park Street North
Great Barrington, MA 01230
phone: 413-528-1515