Expert Tip # 5 Successful Apple Picking is All in the Timing

      Expert Tip #5: It’s All in the Timing

On a weekday morning you may very well be sharing the rows with hundreds of schoolchildren on a field trip. If you visit on a sunny October weekend, steel yourself for longer lines, particularly if you need to be transported by tractor to the orchard. 

If your orchard of choice is in “apple country” in your state, don’t be shocked if the traffic is crawling all the way to your destination. An orchard is a fall weekend destination (think Cape Cod in July) so if you go on a weekend, be flexible and patient. 

On Mondays, the trees may be picked bare from the busy weekend—and what is left is out of reach for your kiddos to twist and pull off themselves. If you can, make your visit during “off peak” days and times, you’ll be happy you did!

Tip for Planning Your Orchard Visit - Check with your orchard to know which apple varieties are being picked at the moment. Don’t even think of heading out unless you know a) they’re not temporarily closed to allow time for fruit to ripen and b) the variety you have your heart set on is in still season and still open for picking. 

Looking for a guide to help you plan your apple picking this fall?

New England Fall Events offers easy to follow guides, features, maps, and contact info for your local or vacation-area New England PYO apple orchards. 

Here are your quick links to the apple picking guides:

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

Find orchard markers and fall attraction maps for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

We've got your guides to Hayrides, Corn Mazes, Food Festivals, and Fall Events guides for every New England State! Visit New England Fall Events for a full list of events and family activities happening this fall.

Expert Tip # 4 Seek Out a Peaceful Apple Orchard in New England

Expert Tip #4: Seeking Peace and Quiet at the Apple Orchard

Few things are lovelier than meandering through a row of fat, juicy honey crisps on a perfect late-September day. 

For a peaceful apple picking experience, stick to the low-profile orchards—the ones that advertise apples and only apples. Often these farms are so low key they don’t even have a website and you might only hear about them through word of mouth.

One of our favorite apples-only orchards is Highland Farm in Holliston, MA. We always find the apples are plentiful with lots of fruit still on low branches. We have great fondness for the extended-day apple picking adventure but there are times when you simply want to stock up on fresh apples or don't have an afternoon to give.  

Tips for Avoiding Over-Stimulation while Apple Picking with Young Children and Toddlers

Apples-only orchards may have plenty
of fruit at child-height for easy picking 

Low key orchards may fit the bill for your little ones. Apple picking is a great excuse to carry your toddler in your Ergo or Boba carrier and, when everyone has had their fill, it’s easy to wrap up and head to the car. A low-key orchard will offer a swifter picking experience which might be ideal for a young child's first time or when they're still at an age with a shorter attention span. 

Another benefit we've noticed is that the straightforward apple orchards also tend to have more apples left on the lower branches--an important feature if your child wants to pick their own fruit. 

The busier, activity-filled orchards can get a bit picked over, especially on the weekends. There may be still be fruit for picking but what is available may be far above the heads of your tykes. Save your back and the heavy-lifting by finding an orchard with plenty of low-hanging fruit.

Though a tractor hayride to an outer orchard certainly is memorable (as the larger operations often have) it is not convenient at all if your own little pumpkin is starting to tucker out quickly and you need to hit the road but you're too far to walk back to your car on your own.

Looking for a guide to help you plan your apple picking this fall?

New England Fall Events offers easy to follow guides, features, maps, and contact info for your local or vacation-area New England PYO apple orchards. 

Here are your quick links to the apple picking guides:

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

Find interactive orchard and fall attraction maps for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

We've got the scoop on Hayrides, Corn Mazes, Food Festivals, and Fall Events guides for every New England State! Visit New England Fall Events for a complete list of wonderful events and family activities happening this fall.

Quick-and-Easy Guide to PYO Apple Orchards across New England

An abundance of apples - More varieties ripen every week!

Are you headed apple picking this weekend? 

Looking to break out of your stand-by and try a new place? 

Need an excuse for a road trip? 

Can't wait to get started now that apple picking season is in full swing?

New England Fall Events has you covered with our state-by-state guides, our individual farm pages, lists of farm features, maps, directions and more!

Your Quick and Easy Guide to Apple Picking in New England:
(click on the link below for your state's guide)

Pick-Your-Own Apple Orchards in Massachusetts

Pick-Your-Own Apple Orchards in Connecticut

Pick-Your-Own Apple Orchards in Rhode Island

Pick-Your-Own Apple Orchards in New Hampshire

Pick-Your-Own Apple Orchards in Vermont

Pick-Your-Own Apple Orchards in Maine

Remember, we have state guides for Hayrides, Corn Mazes, and Pumpkin Patches too if you’re looking to expand your farm visit beyond apples!

Expert Tip # 3 for Apple Picking in New England--With or Without Kids

Expert Tip #3: Apple Picking for Fabulous Family Photos

If capturing priceless moments of your little ones (or big ones!) on camera is top priority, try to coordinate a visit midweek or early in the season.  A super busy orchard dramatically increases your chance of capturing perfect strangers in the background of your family photos so plan accordingly!

Midweek visit not in the cards? Aim to visit a PYO orchard with fewer "extra" activities. You may have to forgo the hayride or the mini-maze but you might also find you have a whole row of apples all to yourself!

Tip for Capturing Beautiful Apple Picking Photos – Dressing in bright colors will stand out nicely against the glossy green leaves of the apple trees. Apple picking is a very favorable activity for capturing beautiful candid moments. 

Looking for a guide to help you plan your apple picking this fall?

New England Fall Events has done all the research for and compiled guide, features, maps, and contact info for your local or vacation-area New England PYO apple orchards. 

Here are your quick links to the apple picking guides:

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

Find interactive orchard and fall attraction maps for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

We've got you covered with Hayrides, Corn Mazes, Food Festivals, and Fall Events guides for every New England State! Visit New England Fall Events for a complete list of great fall events and family activities.

Expert Tip # 2 for Apple Picking in New England--With or Without Kids

Expert Tip #2: Make the Most of Time You Have

Peaceful row after row of apple trees
at Highland Farm, Holliston, MA

Sometimes it can seem like the weekend is already spoken for and it can be a challenge to work in your favorite fall activities. Don't stress about it and don't make yourself nuts trying to pack in a storybook day at the orchard if it's really not in the cards. 

Let's be honest, the more ambitious your apple picking plans are, the more time you will need--for travel, for the hot donuts, for the pumpkin patch, for the hayride--and that's all before you even pick your first apple!

If you’re short on time, seek out a local orchard so you can spend your time amongst the rows of fruit, not driving in your car. If you’re really only looking to pick apples—and only apples- select a straightforward orchard that is tailored just to fruit picking. In fact, consult one of our interactive state maps to identify an orchard set apart from the others--why? Less traffic! You won't find yourself bottlenecked with every other orchard-goer heading to the same apple region at the same time.

Find interactive orchard and fall attraction maps for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Tips for Apple Picking with Kids – Sometimes less is more. If your budget doesn’t allow for the pony rides, pumpkin picking, or an ice cream treat at the end, then stick to the still very fun, no- frills, apple-only orchards.

Looking for a guide to help you plan your apple picking this fall?

New England Fall Events has done all the research for and compiled guide, features, maps, and contact info for your local or vacation-area New England PYO apple orchards. 

Here are your quick links to the apple picking guides:

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

We've got you covered with Hayrides, Corn Mazes, Food Festivals, and Fall Events guides for every New England State! Visit New England Fall Events for a complete list of great fall events and family activities.

Expert Tip # 1 for Apple Picking in New England--With or Without Kids

Expert Tips for Apple Picking--With or Without Kids

Absolutely nothing outranks apple picking as the quintessential fall tradition in New England. New Englanders have strong opinions about our favorite orchard and why it’s the one we go to every year. Thankfully, there is no shortage of scenic, charming, and downright special orchards to choose from—truly something for every kind of apple lover. We’re not here to tell you where to go, but these surefire tips will help you savor the experience—with, or without kids in tow.

Expert Tip # 1: 

Find Your Motivation

Whether your plan is to stock up on ripe local fruit for baking pies or simply to have an outdoorsy family outing, if you know what you're looking to get out of the experience you won’t feel overwhelmed by the multitude of fabulous New England orchards and their abundance of offerings and activities. 

Apple picking is fun at every age!

Larger orchards have picnic tables, kitchens, farm stands, ice cream, petting zoos, playgrounds, pumpkin patches, and more. In turn, the larger orchards also tend to be abuzz on the weekends with kids, families, strollers, general noise, lines, and yep, traffic. Still, you can certainly have a blast at this special kind of all-day adventure but be prepared for added stimulation.

If you are seeking to make a full day out of your trip to the orchard, find a farm that has more than one activity to enjoy.

Remember, smaller or moderate-sized farms, particularly those just outside of “apple country” can also provide you with very sweet experience, even without the “extras.” Look for a farm that features apples....and pretty much just apples...and you will be treated to a distraction-free visit to pick a peck of juicy, crunchy apples. It's a different kind of experience and you will need to be willing to forgo the hayrides and the maybe even the cider donuts.

Tips for Avoiding the Apple Picking Crowds – If you can, go on a weekday afternoon after the school field trips and buses have departed.

Remember, always call ahead before heading out to PYO as some farms will adjust their hours for weather or they close to allow more time for fruit to ripen.

Looking for a guide to help you plan your apple picking this fall?

New England Fall Events has done all the research for and compiled guide, features, maps, and contact info for your local or vacation-area New England PYO apple orchards. 

Here are your quick links to the apple picking guides:

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

New England Fall Events allows you to scroll and spot farm locations on the interactive state maps to help you plot out and plan your trip! 

Find orchard and fall attraction maps for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

We've got you covered with Hayrides, Corn Mazes, Food Festivals, and Fall Events guides for every New England State! Visit New England Fall Events for a complete list of great fall events and family activities.

Early Apples, Wizard of Oz Maze, Frozen Fun, and Foliage: New England Fall Events for August 22-24

Carlson Orchard, Harvard, MA

Hello New Englanders!

It's the middle of August and apple picking has finally kicked off as well! We know that peaches and raspberries are mostly stealing the PYO show right now but in no time at all it will feel like fall has arrived!

If Paula Reds, Ginger Golds, and Zestar are the apples of your eye then you are in luck because a handful of New England farms are already offering pick-your-own-apples. These crispy, juicy, sometimes tart early season apples are great for eating fresh.

Check out:
Shelburne Orchards and Chapin Orchards in VT both start up next weekend but Easy Pickins in CT, DeMerritt Hill Farm in NH, and Tougas Farm in MA are already serving up some early-season PYO.

Interactive state maps to help you plan

Remember, New England Fall Events has apple picking guides for every state in our region to help you make your plans this fall. You can track farm locations on the interactive state maps too!

Here are your quick links to the apple picking guides for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

And while we're at it, here are your shortcuts to the maps for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

It's the 75th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz and we can't wait to get down to Portsmouth, RI's own Escobar Farm Corn Maze which has designed their maze this year to celebrate everyone's most treasured movie. Escobar's Corn Maze opens this weekend and they'll be open daily until Labor Day (at which point they shift to a weekend schedule). Find maze details, prices, hours, special events, and links to directions here. Even better, save $2 when you print the coupon from their page on New England Fall Events!

The Sunflower Maze is still going on at Lyman Orchards in CT--they've extended through Aug 28th so swing by soon!

Frozen Movie Weekend in Acushnet, MA

We know how many of you have pint-sized Frozen fanatics living with you so we know you'll never forgive us if we didn't let you know about the Frozen Movie Weekend at The Silverbrook Farm in Acushnet, MA. It's more of a night than a "weekend" so be sure to show up this Saturday, August 23rd. The event begins with the Elsa and Anna meet & greet and the famous Silverbrook Twilight Hayrides which lead up to a movie screening of Frozen at 8:15pm. It's hard to beat the super-affordable admission price of $5 per person! Read up on the Frozen Weekend event details  and visit The Silverbrook Farm page for directions, contact info and more.


Lastly, we're thrilled to announce that New England Fall Events will be working with New England's foremost foliage tracker, prolific blogger, and exceptionally talented photographer Jeff-Foliage to bring you leaf-peeping updates all season long. Jeff's devotion and passion for photography, foliage, and love of New England shines through in his work and we're very happy to connect our autumn-loving readers to his great work all season long. Read up on his latest post with tips on how he plans his fall foliage vacation.

Remember, always call ahead before heading out to PYO as some farms will adjust their hours for weather or they close to allow more time for fruit to ripen.