If your favorite weather is sweater, apple cider is your drink of choice and your favorite hues are the reds, oranges and browns of changing leaves, you’re not alone. Twenty-nine percent of Americans name fall as their season of choice according to a YouGov poll. Celebrate with one of the hottest seasonal activities around: visiting an orchard. Between hayrides, apple picking and lots of foliage, an orchard trip screams autumn.
Mercier Orchards — Blue Ridge, GA
The iconic Georgia peach is in the spotlight at Mercier Orchards, along with apples, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries. This fourth-generation family farm grows fruit on 300 acres of land, with harvest season running from June to October. You can pick as much as you can carry, basking in the serene landscape that is the orchard, or take a tractor tour of the land before picking fruit. For those who want to pass on the labor and go straight to the eating, Mercier Orchards also sells fresh fruits, veggies, jams and jellies in its on-site store. Adults can indulge in Mercier Orchards’ Tasting Room, serving homemade hard cider and a variety of wines. If you find yourself missing Mercier Orchards after returning home, get yourself an apple subscription to receive fresh produce, products and recipe cards.
Chattooga Belle Farm — Long Creek, SC
For an orchard with charm, look no further than Chattooga Belle Farm in Long Creek, South Carolina. Less than two hours away from Mercier Orchards in Georgia, the Southern orchard experience can continue with apple picking and hayrides. Chattooga Belle Farm is 198 acres of fruit-picking goodness featuring apples, grapes, berries, pears and figs. Chattooga Belle Farm also boasts farm-to-table dinners with 270-degree views of the Blue Ridge Mountains as well as lodging for those who want to enjoy a more immersive experience. The farm also has a distillery, proving to have an activity suited for everyone. And if you had to cancel an event due to the pandemic, Chattooga Belle Farm can host any and all events, even a wedding. After you leave and find yourself missing the delicious homegrown fruits, feel free to order from the farm to enjoy its products at home.
Great Country Farms — Bluemont, VA
The Blue Ridge Mountains is a perfect backdrop for fall activities. And like Chattooga Belle Farms, orchard activities at Great Country Farms in Bluemont, Virginia, are accompanied by the beautiful sights of the peaks. A 400-acre farm, Great Country Farms grows everything from cherries and strawberries to potatoes and pumpkins. The farm also makes cider donuts and hand-dipped ice cream in its on-site market, ensuring that your sweet tooth won’t go unsatisfied.
Alyson’s Orchard — Walpole, NH
Nothing beats the bright colors a New England fall season produces, which is why Alyson’s Orchard in Walpole, New Hampshire, is a great fall visit. With over 50 acres of fruit-bearing trees, 50 different varieties of apples, seven varieties of peaches and numerous varieties of blueberries, raspberries, plums and pears, you won’t ever run out of fruit to pick here. Alyson’s has three different lodging options, from a classic farmhouse to a cozy lodge. Whether you stay for a weekend or for a week, your stay is sure to be a picturesque adventure straight out of a Hallmark movie. Alyson’s Orchard also hosts weddings, with five different ceremony sites that will fit any couple. So whether you’re a bride, a family of five or a couple looking for a weekend getaway, Alyson’s Orchard will provide you with all the fall sights, sounds and smells that will make this season memorable.