APPLE/PUMPKIN PICKING

Find fresh air, pretty trees, apple cider doughnuts, hay rides and agritainment at farms not too far from the city. Also our guide to urban pumpkin patches.

General tips:

🍎 Be prepared for lots of walking in uneven, possibly muddy terrain. Think boots, layers and baby carriers instead of strollers.

🍎 Bring cash, lots of it. Most farms don't take credit cards and all the food and activities add up quickly. If you're just there for the apples, make sure your kids know that in advance.

🍎 Call or check the farm's website to confirm apples (sometimes they are picked out) and activities are available.

🎧 Some great podcasts for the drive.

Westchster/Hudson Valley

Stuart’s Fruit Farm

Granite Springs
🎟 $25/bag

🍎 Pick a variety of apples among pretty farm foliage at this friendly, family-run farm with a great view.

🎃 Choose from a pumpkin patch.

🚜 Hay rides available on weekends.

🍩 Visit the farm stand for gourds, Indian corn and corn stalks plus produce and freshly baked farm-made pies and doughnuts.

⏱ No reservations needed. Apples get picked out so go early (in the day and season). Lots of walking and can get quite muddy so wear the right footwear.

🚙 Approx. 1 hour drive from midtown Manhattan.

Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm

Yorktown Heights
🎟 1 peck bag min., apple prices vary

🍎 P Pick-your-own apples at this peaceful farm. Pick up bags, baskets, and picking poles then walk to this week’spicking orchard.

🎃 Get a pumpkin from the patch.

🌽 Explore a corn maze.

🚜 Take a wagon ride to and from the orchard on select weekends in early September – on other days, be prepared for a trek.

🍩 Shop a market, bakery & country shop with pressed apple cider, freshly baked pies, apple cider donuts, holiday decor and gift items.

🚙 Approx. 1 hour drive or train ride from mid-Manhattan.

🚂 15 minute taxi ride from the Metro-North (Hudson Line) Croton-Harmon or Peekskill stations.

Outhouse Orchards

North Salem
🎟 $25/car weekend, $30+/ bag

🍎 This family-owned and operated orchard in northern Westchester has lots of apples to pick and gorgeous views.

🎃 Pick from a wide selection of pumpkins and gourds in the (vine-free) pumpkin patch.

🌽 Use the map to find the hidden clues among the stalks in the fun corn maze to solve a puzzle and learn facts about apples ($10).

🚜 Take hay rides to the orchard and more. Pose by fun Halloween decorations and sunflower patches.

🍩 Shop for daily fresh picked produce, local honey, artisanal goods including oils & vinegars, jams, jellies, & preserves, decoration, warm apple donut, fresh apple cider, homemade pies and more from the farm store.

🐶  Dogs welcome; milk bones and water available at the apple picking station.

⏱ Reservations required on weekends & holidays. Across the road from Harvest Moon (which has more food and hard cider options).

🚙 Approx. 1.5 hour drive from midtown Manhattan.

🚂 Two mile taxi ride from the Metro North Harlem Line Croton Falls stop.

Hurds Family Farm

Modena
🎟 $25/admission, free/ages 3 & under, $14+/bags

🍎 Choose from tons of apple varieties at a 120-acre, uncrowded family farm with lots of agritainment.

🎃 Pick pumpkins from a patch on a scenic hill ($6-$25).

🌽 Follow clues to solve a riddle in the 2-acre scarecrow- shaped corn maze. Little ones can follow the alphabet through a smaller maze.

🚜 Extensive outdoor activities include a hayride, a big slidekids corral playground and apple launchingTry a Ninja Warrior inspired Wild Apple Obstacle Course made from repurposed farm equipment. Jump on the Big Apple Bounce air pillow with a beautiful view of the Mohonk Mountains and ride a zip line. Ride a cow train,  feed farm animals and fish in a pond ($3). Prospect at Gem Mining ($7) located near the Rubber Duck Derby and nature trails entrances. Pony rides ($8) on Sundays.

🍩 Dine on doughnuts, hot dogs, apple turnovers and a fresh, farm-to-table option like butternut squash soup or kale squash frittata plus cider slushies and craft ales.

🐶  Dogs welcome.

⏱ Timed reservations required with a range of prices for different activities.

🚙 Approx. 1.5 hour drive from midtown Manhattan.

Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard

North Salem
🎟 $15/admission, free/ages 3 & under, $15-$40/bags

🍎 Pick apples on a beautiful hillside orchard with panoramic views of the beautiful Hudson Valley. Picking bags start at $15 for 3 lbs (cash only).

🎃 Pick pumpkins from a patch.

🚜 Enjoy live country music, apple cannons and hay rides.

🍩 Refreshments including BBQ lunch, farm-raised burger, apple cider slushies and fresh apple cider donuts, plus sweet and hard cider at three bars. Shop for local produce, farm fresh eggs, pastured meats, local farm products such as honey, maple syrup, and jams/jellies, baked goods, ice cream, and donuts at the Farm Store.

⏱ Advance timed reservations required. Across the road from Outhouse Orchards, which has a fun corn maze.

🚙 Approx. 1 hour drive from midtown Manhattan.

🚂 Two mile taxi ride from the Metro North Harlem Line Croton Falls stop.

Barton Orchards

Poughquag
🎟 $29.95/adults, $15/ages 4-12, free/ages 3 & under, $20/bag

🍎 Visit this 175 acre working family farm for apple picking and tons of activities.

🎃 Pumpkins available.

🌽 Explore a five acre corn maze.

🚜 Feed goats, alpacas, peacock, rabbits, mini horses, pigs and ducks at the Petting Zoo. On weekends, enjoy live music, a Fun Park with mazes & games, hay rides, pig racing wooden ship playgroundgemstone mining, magic & reptile shows and more.  Kids over 60 lbs can try tree top ropes courses with zip lines ($39.95).

🍩 Buy local craft beer and hard cider at the Tap Room, shop the Farm Market and select from many food options including BBQ & ice cream.

🐶  Dogs welcome.

🎃 Each weekend features a different theme like Country Music or Pumpkin Jubilee. It can get quite crowded, so go early.

🚙 Approx. 1.5 hour drive from midtown Manhattan.

Fishkills Farm

Hopewell JCT
🎟 $48/weekday, $58/weekends (includes up to 5 people plus 1 half-bushel bag)

🍎 Pick sustainably-grown apples, including some organic varieties, straight from the trees on a spacious farm.

🎃 Choose a pumpkin from a (sometimes muddy) patch.

🚜 Enjoy hay rides throughout the large orchard (weekends only, limited capacity). Pick-your-own flowers and herbs, sweet & hot peppers and tomatoes depending on availability.

🍩 ood for purchase includes fresh-pressed cider, cinnamon-sugar donuts, cheese plates, homemade pies, traditional Jamaican Jerk Chicken, grass-fed burgers, seasonal farm-fresh veggie meals and homemade mac & cheese.

⏱ Advance timed reservations required.

🚙 Approx. 1 hour 20 minute drive from midtown Manhattan.

🚂 15 minute taxi drive from the Beacon Train Station on the Metro-North Hudson Line

Pennings Farm

Warwick
🎟 $50/car, includes two 1-peck bags

🍎 50 acres of pristine farmland in the historic Hudson Valley town of Warwick offers pick-your-own apples from a drive-in orchard.

🎃 Drive to a new U-Pick Pumpkin Field down the road anytime between 11am and 4pm. $40 for 2 large or 4 small pumpkins.

🚜 Hayrides available for additional cost.

🍩 Get craft ciders, beers, kettle corn, excellent seasonal food and amazing cider doughnuts at The Cidery, Beer Garden, Ice Cream Stand and Farm Market plus food trucks and face painting.

🌳 Stop by nearby lovely Lake Wawayanda for nature walks/hikes.

🚙 Approx. 1 hour drive from mid-Manhattan.




LONG ISLAND

New Jersey

U-Pick Sunflowers & Blueberries

Manalapan

Take a tractor to gorgeous fields of sunflowers with 10 hidden photo ops and pick your own sunflowers and zinnias ($2.50/stem, cash only). Eight varieties of blueberries & raspberries available for a limited time ($6/pound, clamshells provided).

Enjoy fresh squeezed lemonade and shaved ices and food from a cart and store and feed goats and chickens in a shady picnic area. Activities include tractor rides, animal feeding and a paintball gallery.

Be prepared for heat, dirt and bees. ​Bring a bucket of water to transport your sunflowers home (and lots to drink).

Alstede Farms

Chester

🍎 This spacious family farm hosts pick your own apples

🎃 Also choose your own pumpkins and sunflowers.

🌽 Traverse a giant fruit-themed corn maze with produce facts posted at points along the way and a Blooming Giants Sunflower Trail.

🚜 Activities include scenic tractor-drawn wagon rideswagon train rides for kids, and a bounce house. Visit with farm animals and take pony rides ($17.99 for 1 bounce house, pony ride & wagon train ride).

🍩  Freshly baked pies and cider donuts, fresh pressed apple cider and homemade seasonal ice cream available, plus wine tasting provided by Tomasello Winery.

🎟 Reserve timed tickets in advance online.

🚙 Approx. 1 hour drive from mid-Manhattan.

🚂 2 hours train ride (NY Penn Station to Gladstone Station)with transfer; free Alstede Farms Courtesy Coach from train station on weekends.

Terhune Orchards

Princeton

🍎 Pick-your-own apples at a winery/farm near Princeton. 

🎃 Pumpkins also available.

🌽 Explore a sunflower trail and corn stalk maze.

🚜 Also find pony rides, barnyard animals, a Hay Bale Mazepumpkin painting, pedal tractors, duck races and more. Enjoy live music from local musicians (12-4 pm).  Walk through a life-size story book adventure, filled with the wonder of life cycles, crops, ground beneath our feet and much more brought to life.

🍩 Shop for farm fresh produce, baked goods, Terhune wine, pies and cider, apple cider slush and donuts. Pick up picnic bags of homemade lunch delights, fresh apple cider and pie.

🎟 Advance online ticket purchase required. Pumpkins, food, pony rides not included.

🚙 Approximately 1.5 hrs drive from Manhattan.

Happy Day Farm Fall Festival

Manalapan

🎃 Choose from a large variety of gourds in Pumpkinville and enter a pumpkin house. No apples to pick but plenty else to keep kids busy.

🌽 Explore a 10-acre corn maze. Look for Maize-O-Poly squares to scan with a phone and play a digital game (text and GPS hints available).

🚜 Over 35 games, activities and attractions including a giant fun slide, pig racing, feeding zoo, lots of fun photo ops and much more (all included with admission). Additional fees for the pumpkin blaster, corn cannon and pumpkins.

🍩 Pizza, cheese steaks, fries, hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken tenders, gyros, zeppoles, fried oreos, apple fritters, funnel cakes, fresh squeezed lemonade & more available for purchase.

🎟 Tickets must be purchased in advance online for Friday-Sunday and on the farm for Monday-Thursday (only pumpkin picking, minion corn maze, zinnias and pumpkinville). Purchases within the farm are cash only.

🧻Nursing stations, wash stations and porta-potties available throughout the farm.

The parking field is huge; make sure you head to the main fair area for admission before walking (or riding a tractor) to Pumpkinville on the other side.

🚙 Approximately 1.5 hrs drive from Manhattan.