It’s that time of the year again! It’s time to bust out that scarf, a nice flannel, and head to your favorite apple orchard and cider mill for apple picking, fresh donuts, and all the cider you can drink. Man, do we love fall in Ohio.
Apple Hill Orchards
1175 Lexington-Ontario Rd., Mansfield
This one’s a bit further away, out in Mansfield, but it’s well worth the drive. In addition to a large variety of apples and peaches, Apple Hill is known for their wonderful bakery, including doughnuts and pies that are a must if you make the trek out to Mansfield. There’s also a location in Fredricktown. Oh, and the market has a drive-thru. Open daily. Credit:Apple Hill Orchards/FacebookGrobe Fruit Farm
43875 Telegraph Rd., Elyria
Grobe’s doesn’t have a pick-your-own option, but it sells 20 varieties of apples, presses its own cider and offers potatoes, corn and other vegetables grown on the farm at its fruit stand. Oh, and they have giant pumpkins. Open daily. Credit:Grobe Fruit Farm/FacebookLegend Hills Orchard
11155 Reynolds Rd., Utica
Legend Hills is a bit of a trek from Cleveland, but has a lot to offer, from you-pick apples by the peck to cheeses, chocolates, maple syrup, jerky, and canned goods. And when all the apples are gone, you can cut your own seasonal pine or spruce tree. Open daily. Market Day is on October 7th. Credit:@brigezo/InstagramEddy Fruit Farm
12079 Caves Rd., Chesterland
Don’t stop at apples when you head to Eddy Fruit Farm. Instead, pick out a whole meal. The farm grows not only fall fruits but lettuce, zucchini, tomatoes and peppers too, making it a one-stop shop for fall groceries. Open daily. Credit:Eddy Fruit Farm/FacebookBurnham Orchards
8019 State Route 113, Berlin Heights
The only orchard in this list with its own hard cider brewery, Burnham Orchards offers more fun for adults than kids. After picking your bushel, the farm serves up its homemade hard apple and pickle cider. Yeah, they make pickle cider. Also on site is Grandma Bea’s Bakery, which offers as scrumptious and hearty desserts as the name suggests. Open daily. Special fall festival eery weekend through October 22nd. Credit:Burnham Orchards/FacebookBauman Orchards
161 Rittman Ave., Rittman
Only about 45 minutes away from Cleveland, Bauman Orchards offers a more conventional apple picking experience. Decorated with dried corn, red and orange leaves along with rustic trucks, the orchard makes sure visitors know the last days of summer are coming to an end and fall will be here shortly. You can pick apples starting on September 16th. Credit: xArrowhead Orchard
11724 Lisbon St., Paris
Pick-your-own apples is every Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through October 30th at Arrowhead Orchard from 9 a.m to 6 p.m (Opens at noon on Sunday). Their market sells a variety of apples, cider and even apple wood from the crates that store their apples. Credit:Diane Cordell/FlickrHillcrest Orchards
50336 Telegraph Rd., Amherst
This fourth-generation apple farm has an activity barn with a crate maze, animals and pick-your-own pumpkins and apples. Among the 19 varieties of apples you’ll find are McIntosh, Cortland, Jonathan, Red Delicious, Empire, Golden Delicious, Melrose, Mutsu, Winesap and Granny Smith. Hayrides, a corn maze and much more makes this place perfect for the whole fam. Apple Picking goes through every weekend in October. Farm market open daily. Pick your own apples, maze and other activities Saturday and Sunday through October 29th. Credit:Hillcrest Orchards/FacebookSunrise Farm
13115 Kinsman Rd., Burton
Burton’s Sunrise Farm is already in full fall swing with an entire Halloween section in its market as well as pumpkin picking in its fields. Like the others, Sunrise is offering apple picking as well, but it’s real draw is to those who want to get a serious jump-start on celebrating Hallow’s Eve. Fall festival every weekend in October. Credit:Scene ArchivesPatterson Fruit Farm
11414 Caves Rd., Chesterland
Closer to home, Patterson Fruit Farm offers the whole breezy autumn package. From hayrides, to pumpkin painting, this pick-your-own apple farm makes sure Clevelanders leave ready for the leaves to change. Don’t miss the apple fritters (which is difficult to do, considering that they’re the size of your head). Open daily through October. Family Fun Fest (8765 Mulberry Rd., Chesterland) everyday through October 29th, just down the street from the farm market. Credit:Patterson Fruit Farm/FacebookMonroe’s Orchards
6313 Pioneer Trail, Hiram
The former Pioneer Trail Orchard changed its name a few years back but continues to offer 23 varieties of apples (you can pick them yourself on weekends through October), plus Bartlett pears, red raspberries and cider pressed on site are available at the front of the orchard. Apple Harvest Festivals September 30th, October 7th and 14th. Pick-your-own apples Saturdays and Sundays through October. Credit:Monroe's Orchard/FacebookGeig’s Orchard
8468 Wooster Pike Rd., Seville
Great views from the hilly terrain south of Medina mark this orchard and shop, which offers 20 varieties of apples, cider pressed on site, pumpkins, canned goods processed on site, local honey and when the season is right, maple syrup. Harvest Festival September 30th. Pick-your-own-apples October 1st, 7th and 8th. Credit:Geig's Orchard/FacebookMiller’s Apple Hill
50549 State Route 113, Amherst
This year-round farm and market celebrates fall with its Apple Pickin’ Spree and Pumpkin Land play area. Admission is free, and gives you access to craft vendors, food, wagon rides, and, of course, the orchards. Pumpkinland and Apple Picking will be open Tuesday through Saturday 9/16 to the end of October. 3 fall festivals, September 30th, October 7th and 14th. Credit:Miller's Apple Hill Ltd./FacebookMiller Orchards
8690 Vermilion Rd., Amherst
Family owned since the mid-1800s, Miller Orchards offers 15 varieties of pick-your-own apples as they ripen. The Amherst-located orchard also has cherries, plums, peaches and other fruits in seasons in addition to local raw honey, local maple syrup and many other products. Open Monday-Saturday. Credit: Scene ArchivesHearthstone Berry Farm
1064 Township Rd., Nova
Hearthstone Berry Farm may be off the beaten path but its sure worth the trip. The family-owned fruit farm is about an hour drive from the city but boasts not only apples but elderberries, currants and gooseberries for visitors to pick. This low-key farm has picking available on Thursdays and Saturdays by appointment. One fun fact to get you started: Nova, Ohio, is the location of the last known living apple tree Johnny Appleseed planted. Credit:Hearthstone Berry Farm/FacebookMapleside Farms
294 Pearl Rd., Brunswick
A favorite for Cleveland families for both proximity and catering to kids, Mapleside offers 20 varieties of apples, plus peaches, corn and other veggies. Plus, the farm’s impressive corn maze (or maize) art is something not to be missed. Mapleside is also a popular wedding venue and a beautiful place to get married. Fall festival featuring the Jurassic Corn Maze every Friday-Sunday through October. Weekly themes. Credit: Scene ArchivesBlue Jay Orchard
17909 Rapids Rd., Hiram
As far as the owners can tell, Blue Jay Orchard is the longest-running pick-your own orchard in Ohio, having allowed folks to pluck apples from their trees since 1948 ( Saturdays and Sundays through Halloween). They have both new and classic varieties, including Mollie’s Delicious, Cortland, McIntosh, Ozark Gold, Gala, Macoun, Empire and Winesap. They also offer cider. Hit up the bakery for some delicious fresh pies when you’re done with your picking. Credit:@Tembo_and_two/InstagramKuner’s Apple Orchard
5424 S Arlington Rd., Clinton
Kuner’s is located just south of Akron. The orchard has several varieties of apples and a ton of great products for sale. Open daily. Credit:@krystaaa15/InstagramRichardson Farms
6984 Lafayette Rd., Medina
Richardson Farms is a sixth generation, fully-working farm. They are open seven days a week, April through October. Pick your own apples and peaches and feel free to say ‘hi’ to the pigs, cows, chickens, and turkeys. Visit the website for hours and directions. Credit:@acupcakeaday/InstagramRidgeview Farm
5488 Kinsman Rd., Middlefield
Ridgeview Farm is so picturesque it offers what it calls “farm foliage” tours to show off its rolling hills and big red barns. Come to pick apples, pet goats and go on buggy rides through the storybook landscape. Credit:Ridgeview Farm/FacebookRittman Orchards and Farm Market
13548 Mt. Eaton Rd. N., Doylestown
Rittman Orchards and Farm Market starts apple picking on September 16th and 17th and go every weekend through October. Rittman has a wide variety of apples and tons of other great products. Credit:Jessica Lucia/FlickrWest Orchard’s Farm Market
3034 N. Ridge Rd. (SR. 20), Perry
Located in Perry, this West Orchard’s Farm Market has been in the West family since 1891. In addition to picking apples, you can pick strawberries and cherries when they’re in season. After visiting the orchard, you should check out their website for some great apple recipes. Open Tuesday-Sunday, with pick-your-own always available when open. Credit:West Orchards Farm Market/FacebookHillside Orchard
2397 Center Road, Hinckley
Hillside has 19 varieties of apples, and you can pick your own (depending on what’s ripe) for the first two weekends of October. You can also pick your own pumpkins at this pet-friendly farm. They also have hard-dipped ice cream, famous fruit pies, frozen apple cider and many more goodies. Fall Festival is the second weekend of October. Credit:Hillside Orchard/FacebookQuarry Hill Orchards
8403 Mason Road, Berlin Heights
Quarry Hill Orchards specializes in what it calls “boutique” fruit and offers over 70 acres of dozens of apple breeds, plenty of which we had never heard of. From the typical gala and honeycrisp to kiku and zestar apples, this orchard has it all when it comes to apples. Check their Harvest Calendar to see when each apple variety they offer is available for picking, but they have so many varieties, something will surely be available. Antique tractor show October 14th and 15th, Apple Peak Harvest Celebration October 21st, Crazy Jack S’Mores, Scores and Stories October 28th-29th. Pick-your-own open daily. Credit:Quarry Hill Orchards/FacebookBeckwith Orchards
1617 Lake Rockwell Rd., Kent
Shop here for 25 varieties of apples, including favorites like Honey Crisp, Melrose, Jonagold, McIntosh, Cortland and more. You can then finish it off with a hayride or a trip to the market for a scrumptious apple pie. You can stroll through the orchard but pick-your-own is not offered. Credit:Beckwith Orchards/Facebook