Fall is here, and with that come pumpkins, beloved holidays like Thanksgiving and Halloween, and seasonal treats. But there’s a fun family-friendly activity that you can also enjoy with the little ones this time of the year: apple picking!
Whether you live in the Boston area or are just visiting, visiting an apple orchard is a must that you will want to add to your list for this season!
There are many apple farms in and near Boston, so we’ve created a list of the best ones for apple picking with kids. Some of these places also offer other fun outdoor activities for the whole family, including mazes and inflatables.
In Massachusetts, the initial apple harvest typically occurs in the middle to later parts of August, while the majority of other apple varieties ripen from September to October. Be sure to mark your calendar and savor the experience of exploring Massachusetts’ vibrant apple orchards during this fruitful season.
1
54 Felton St, Peabody, MA 01960, USA
Brooksby Farm
Owned by the City of Peabody, Brooksby Farm is a 270 acre farm and apple/peach orchard.2
45 Redstone Hill Rd, Sterling, MA 01564, USA
Davis Farmland Discovery Farm
Davis Farmland, located just an hour away from Boston or a half-hour from Worcester, is a premier destination for family fun and the ultimate children’s discovery farm.3
89 Pleasant St S, Natick, MA 01760, USA
Lookout Farm
Lookout Farm offers seasonal apple and fruit picking, dining, a market shop, farm crafted beer and hard cider, event space and family fun.4
101 Brookside Ave, Stow, MA
Carver Hill Orchard: Stow
Carver Hill Orchard is a family-run orchard located in the heart of Apple Country. This is a perfect destination to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Families will be surrounded by peace and nature. There are low trees for the little apple pickers, and visitors can also pick squash, corn, pumpkins, and peppers!5
95 Farwell Rd, Tyngsboro, MA
Parlee Farms: Tyngsboro
Parlee Farms’ apple orchard covers over 19 acres and is filled with dwarf apple trees that produce large and delicious apples! . If you visit the farm on weekends and fall holidays, there are hayrides available to take you to the orchard!6
138 Sudbury Rd, Stow, MA
Honey Pot Hill Orchards: Stow
The farm features 186 acres of apples, peaches, blueberries, and a few other small crops. This popular apple-picking spot is a favorite for families in the area. A tractor-drawn hay ride will take you to the apples, and after picking up your fruit, you can enjoy a meal on the picnic tables or photo ops at the old tractor. Families can enjoy many activities, such as an indoor tunnel maze, a large hedge maze, a mini hedge maze, and more!7
15 Stowe Rd, Millbury, MA 01527, USA
Stowe Farm
Stowe Farm, offers a delightful countryside escape with a variety of activities for visitors of all ages. This charming destination provides a range of outdoor experiences, including pumpkin patches, corn mazes, zip-lining, rock climbing, and more.8
30 Rockwood St, Sherborn, MA 01770
Dowse Orchards: Sherborn
Dowse Orchards is located very near Lookout Farm, and it has over 200 years of history of family production in apples, veggies, flowers, pumpkins, Christmas trees, and more. Families will find up to 20 varieties of pick-your-own apples that become available during the weekends starting in September. There’s also a farmstand with stone fruits, corn, cider, and more, which is open daily.9
30 Valley Road (Rt. 35), Danvers, Massachusetts
Connors Farm: Danvers
Connors Farm is the perfect destination for Fall fun, especially for the little ones. Besides apple picking, families with kids can enjoy inflatable jumping pillows, a corn maze, hay rides, a ropes course, Fort Connors, play areas, pedal carts, a farm stand, and more!10
1370 Turnpike Street, North Andover, MA 01845
Boston Hill Farm: North Andover
Boston Hill Farm offers pick-your-own apples on fall weekends from early September through the end of October. There are many apple varieties to pick from, including McIntosh, Ginger Gold, and Paula Red. Families can also enjoy cider doughnuts, live music, and ice cream. Children love the petting farm with bunnies, goats, sheep, chickens, and geese.11
45 Fern Ave, Amesbury, MA
Cider Hill Farm: Amesbury
Cider Hill Farm is located near the New Hampshire Border, which is over an hour’s drive from Boston, and it features five apple orchards and nearly 50 varieties for families to pick from late August to mid-October. Other activities for kids include a giant sandbox, a bee observatory, and the “Farmer Glenn’s Trike Yard” playground!12
178 Mass Ave.Harvard, Massachusetts
Westward Orchards: Harvard
Westward Orchards offers a diverse selection of fruits and vegetables through its farm store and CSA Program, as well as Pick-Your-Own blueberries, apples, and pumpkins.13
115 Oak Hill Rd Harvard, MA 01451
Carlson Orchards: Harvard
Families can choose between 14 varieties of apples ready to pick up! These varieties include McIntosh, Granny Smith, Fuji, and others. Carlson Orchards now grows fruit on 100 acres, producing 30,000 bushels of apples, 5,000 baskets of peaches and nectarines, 50-year-old blueberry patches, raspberries, and sweet cherries.14
315 South Bradford Street, North Andover, MA 01845
Smolak Farm: North Andover
North Andover’s Smolak Farms offers fun for everyone! From late September on, pick up apples from the orchards and shop at the farm stand and bakery! Kids will have a blast enjoying the different fun activities available, such as hayrides, meeting the animals, or simply running around exploring nature.15
143 Argilla Rd. Ipswich, MA
Russell Orchards: Ipswich
Apple picking opens in September and is available daily. Hayrides are offered on weekends, and live cider pressing happens only on Saturdays. Kids will love seeing the farm animals in the barnyard!16
327 Ayer Rd, Harvard, MA 01451
Doe Orchards: Harvard
Doe Orchards is a family-owned farm growing blueberries, raspberries, peaches, apples, and Christmas trees. Doe packs a wide variety of apples into 25 acres. Picking begins Labor Day weekend and runs daily through late October.17
234 Ball St, Northborough, MA 01532
Tougas Family Farm: Northborough
Tougas Family Farm grows over thirty varieties of apples that are available for picking from mid-August to the end of October. Families will find an extensive selection of apple varieties, many of which are not found at the supermarket.18
455 Highland Ave, Phillipston, MA 01331
Red Apple Farm: Phillipston
From rows of trees with a variety of different in-season apples, to beautiful sunflowers, you will have a unique u-pick experience at Red Apple Farm! The farm also has a taproom and restaurant called Brew Barn on site.19
252 Rowley Bridge Road in Topsfield, MA
Connemara House
Connemara House offers a “Pick Your Own” Apple Picking experience in September and October. The Orchard is not commercially picked, so visitors are free to wander the rows of trees at their leisure, selecting from over 10 varieties of apples. It’s a great way to spend the day with family and friends!20
100 Wattaquadock Hill Road, Bolton, Massachusetts 01740
