Au��mn Adven�ures Apple picking and fall fun not far from the Big Apple!
BY KATARINA AVENDAÑO AND JANA BEAUCHAMP
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he start of fall is always an exciting time. While kids are busy with back-to-school, what better way to spend family time on the weekends than to head to one of these apple picking orchards within striking distance of the city. Kids will be pumped to pick apples, learn how food grows and many of the orchards offer hayrides and a host of other fun fall activities on weekends. We’ve included the travel distance from Midtown so you know how long the journey will be. Because each apple picking season is different, be sure to call ahead to check that there will be ripe apples to pick, and provisions for bad weather, before you set off. One Hour and Under Demarest Farms 244 Wiermus Road, Hillsdale, NJ 07642 201-666-0472 (40 min from Midtown)
Starting September 3rd, you’ll be able to taste the first of fall’s harvest! Step foot in the orchards and start picking delicious apples for your seasonal pies, ciders and more. Hop on a hayride, pet and feed farm animals and don’t forget to try Demarest Farm’s sweet apple dessert treats. Some of their tasty apples include Cameo, Cortland, Empire, Fuji, Gala, GoldRush, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Liberty, McIntosh, Mutsu (Crispin), Red Delicious, SunCrisp and Winesap. $7 per person
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Queens Family | September 2019
(age 2 and over), which includes free parking, entrance to the apple orchard, a hay wagon ride, two petting zoos, adventure playground, corn box, photo display area, crooked house village, wooden playsets and picnic area with tables. Open to the public from 3-4:30 pm on weekdays starting Sept. 3. Queens County Farm 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy., Queens, NY 11004 718-347-3276 (40 min from Midtown)
What better way to celebrate fall than to start the season off with apple picking? Join the Queens County Farm on weekends throughout October to explore the grounds and taste a variety of Hudson Valley apples. There will also be scrumptious donuts, apple pie, and even crisp apple cider to enjoy while you pick in the orchards. Don’t forget to pick up your Halloween pumpkins, go for a hayride, and roam The Amazing Maize Maze while you are there. Open 11 am - 4:30 pm. October 5th26th, Saturdays and Sundays, October 14th. Gate admission is free. Hillview Farms 223 Meyersville Road, Gillette, NJ 908-647-0957 (50 min from Midtown)
Make the trip to Hillview Farms to pick seasonal apples from late August until the end of October. Spend the day with the family
on the farm picking from a variety of apples, taking a ride on their hay wagon, and seeing animals roaming around the farm. You can’t go wrong with the classic red apple, but make sure to take home a few other delicious options, such as Cortland, Empire, Fuji, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Jonathan, Macoun, McIntosh and Stayman/Winesap. Open 9 am - 6 pm (field closed to the public at 5 pm), daily. One Hour to One Hour and a Half Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard 130 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem, NY 10560 914-485-1210 (1 hr & 20 min from Midtown)
Be part of the excitement at Harvest Moon for their biggest time of the year. This familyowned and operated apple orchard will be welcoming their main harvest with a variety of delicious apples available for picking beginning Aug 31. Bring the family to visit the orchards as well as their farm store with stone fruits and vegetables. Open 9 am - 4:30 pm, daily (through October). Stuart’s Fruit Farm 62 Granite Springs Road, Granite Springs, NY 10527 914-245-2784 (1 hr & 20 min from Midtown)
Since 1828, Stuart’s Fruit Farm has been a proud family-operated farm. This fall season,