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Saturday, 29 July 2023

Best Apple Orchards in Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor

Delight your taste buds with fresh cinnamon sugar doughnuts and homemade apple cider at southeast Michigan’s best cider mills and apple orchards this fall.

Bring out the whole family and make a day of it — head to one of your local orchards to pick apples, venture through a corn maze or play at one of the many other cool attractions offered.

Many locations are open daily; some even year ’round. Browse this list of the best cider mills in Michigan’s southeast region and head out to an orchard near you to make sweet fall memories with your family and friends!

If you’re looking for even more fall family activities, check out our list of best corn mazes, coolest hayrides and haunted houses and top Halloween events.

Quick tips for parents before heading out

 While apple picking can be a fun time for kids of all ages, here are a few things to keep in mind when visiting:

  • Check if they’re open first. Always look for daily updates from the farm, either on their website and social media channels or by calling ahead to see what apple picking options look like for the day.
  • Get there early. Arrive as soon as the farm opens to avoid crowds.
  • Check the weather and dress accordingly. Wear hats and apply plenty of sunscreen if it’s sunny. Put on rain boots if you expect muddy conditions.
  • Pack snacks and water. If it’s a long drive, plan ahead with food for the car ride or even a picnic basket with lunch.
  • Bring a stroller or wagon (if allowed). Some farms require a lot of walking and while the roads can be bumpy, you want to keep your littles happy.
  • Be patient. Depending on your child’s age, they can lose focus fast so try to remind yourself it’s more about having fun than rushing to fill your baskets to the rim.

Macomb County

Altermatt Farms

Altermatt Farms has been family owned and operated since 1960. They offer a variety of produce, including pumpkins when they are in season. Items are sold in their farmer’s market daily.

Big Red Orchard  

Take a wagon ride to the fields and pick your own apples or pumpkins. Enjoy some free family fun activities including cornhole, straw mountain, a petting zoo and more. Pick apples or pumpkins and enjoy cider slushies and caramel apples.

Blake Farms 

Head into the fields to pick your own apples or select pre-picked apples and other apple products in the market. Kids will love the Funland, which includes petting zoo, Amish play structures, haunted village & blackhole, John Deere speedway, straw mountain, inflatable ax throwing, sand diggers and much more.

Hy’s Cider Mill

Hy’s is a great Michigan spot to spend a day picking apples, eating fresh donuts and drinking fresh cider from the working mill. Open weekends only September-October, check the website for updated picking schedule of your favorite apple and for changes in restrictions.

Westview Orchard and Adventure Farm 

The orchard and farm offers everything from a corn maze, three-acre playground, farm animals, straw mountain to apples straight from the trees.

Oakland County

Ashton Orchards Cider Mill

For top-notch cider and donuts that melt in your mouth, visit Ashton. Stop in the bakery for pies, breads, caramel apples, pastries and apple sauce.

Cook’s Farm Dairy

Cook’s has been serving the metro Detroit area since 1933. In October, families can enjoy hayrides to the pumpkin patch to pick their own pumpkins. Then, stay for a donut or try seasonal ice cream flavors like pumpkin crunch in the Fall and peppermint stick and egg nog in the Winter.

Diehl’s Orchard and Cider Mill 

Bring the whole family (leashed dogs included). There will be no U-Pick apples, only for pumpkins. Ciderfest 2023 will be held 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 23-24, and the Ciderfest Run will take place at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 23. The Corn Maze will open in early September.

Franklin Cider Mill 

Check the mill’s Facebook page or website to learn what is being picked each week from the 25 varieties of apples. The 2022 season begins on September 3. The Honey Crisp Cider will be available in gallon and half gallon sizes in late September. Make sure to ask about their gluten free donuts, apple bars and vegan scones.

Long Family Orchard, Farm & Cider Mill 

Pick your own apples and pumpkins, take a relaxing wagon ride and check out the Corn Maze. Try some homemade doughnuts and cider. Pick up some honey, apple butter, preserves and breads too.

Rochester Cider Mill

Pick up apples in the store, then take the kiddos out to climb the straw pyramid and see the petting farm. You can also admire a collection of antique farm equipment outside and in, where you can guess what the old tools were used for by matching their number to a description.

Yates Cider Mill

Pick up your apples in the apple tent, then head to the Fudge Shoppe for even more tasty treats. Enjoy fresh cider and donuts. Kids love the petting zoo and pony rides. Pets are allowed on the premises as long as they are on a leash.

Washtenaw County

Alber Orchard & Cider Mill 

Families can select from more than 100 varieties of apples that are pre-picked from the heirloom orchard. Try their apple cider, too.

Dexter Cider Mill

This is Michigan’s oldest continuously operating cider mill. Dexter Cider Mill offers fresh doughnuts and apple nut bread daily, as well as apples from the barrel. More homemade treats are available on the weekends. Cash or check only.

Jenny’s Farm Stand and Cider Mill

Come check out the free straw maze and petting farm and pick out your own apples or pumpkins. Enjoy pony or hayrides and shop the store for apple cider, donuts, mums, canned pickles, jams and salsas.

Lesser Farms and Orchards 

At this fifth-generation family farm, stock up on pre-picked apples, fresh cider, fresh eggs, honeycomb, homemade jams and jellies and more.

Wasem Fruit Farm 

Cider and doughnuts are lures in addition to over a dozen varieties of apples. Guests can u-pick mini pumpkins and gourds.

Wiard’s Orchards & Country Fair 

Families can enjoy the corn maze with the cost of admission, which also includes the family play areas, wagon rides, mega triple slide, wagon rides and more. County Fair tickets are only available online.

Wayne County

Apple Charlie’s  

This cider mill and farm farm has u-pick home grown apple, beginning at the end of August. The pumpkins will be ready to pick at the beginning of October. Donuts and apple cider available, too.

DeBuck’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch 

With 20 acres of pumpkins in varying colors and shapes, there’s plenty to choose from at DeBuck’s. Admission includes a hayride to the pumpkin patch, plus access to the corn mazes and family fun areas.

Obstbaum Orchards 

This family-run, 40-year-old orchard, named the German word for “fruit tree,” has fresh-picked apples, pressed cider, caramel apples, pumpkins and homemade donuts.

Parmenter’s Northville Cider Mill

Since 1873, Parmenter’s has offered the best in fall fare, including donuts, pies, pumpkin butter, cider, roasted almonds and much more.


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