• 1
• 2
• 3

If school has started, plan a daytrip to apple orchards and pumpkin patches that celebrate the fall season. Visit our picks around Stow, Phillipston and South Natick, all neighbors of Boston, Massachusetts.

As the days begin to shorten and the leaves begin to change, apple-picking season moves into full swing across America, particularly in the Northeast. In late August, September and early October, there's no better way to take in the beautiful time of year than an afternoon spent in the orchards, away from the hustle and bustle of the produce aisle in the supermarket. Here is some advice on apple-picking around the Boston metropolitan area.

Many orchards also have home-made apple cider and cinnamon donuts, as well as pick-your-own pumpkin patches that will be fully ripe and ready for Halloween. Others offer hayrides, live music, petting farms, and special weekend activities geared toward families.

Before you head out, consider what you'll do with the apples that you pick. Different varieties are better suited for different purposes. Apples certainly make for great healthy snacks all by themselves and some of the most popular varieties for eating include the Macintosh, the Empire, Idared, The Red Delicious, and the Jonathon. If sauces or pies are in the plan, try the Cortland, the Golden Delicious, the Russet, and the Mutsu.

At some orchards, you can dive in early with late Spring berry picking. But if you're an apple hold-out, note that each variety ripens at a different time of the harvest season (late August to mid-November), so call ahead to be sure your destination hasn't been picked clean of your favorite apples.

Apple Picking in the Boston Metro Area

From the Boston Metropolitan area, a few choices for apple picking and farm stand browsing offer excellent day trips for those looking for a pleasant autumn afternoon in Eastern Massachusetts.

Just 20 minutes out of Boston is Belkin Family Lookout Farms, in South Natick. The farm offers pear and raspberry picking, as well as apple picking from specially dwarfed trees that allow younger visitors easier reach to the fruit. They also have a petting farm for the kids, and plenty of picnic space for the whole family.

The Red Apple Farm, in Phillipston is just 60 miles from Boston. They feature a wide selection of pick-your-own berries, pumpkins, apples, and plan special weekend activities for the family. Kids love the Red Apple's Black
Forest maze and activity barn.

The oldest pick-your-own orchard in eastern Massachusetts, Shelburne Farm, in Stow offers a field full of peaches, pumpkins, and over fifteen varieties of apples. Their apple shop is stocked with sweet cider, hot apple pies, fresh cider doughnuts, and "almost famous" caramel apples.

Belkin Family Lookout Farm, 508/653-0653, 89 Pleasant St. South, South Natick, MA 01760

Red Apple Farm, 800/628-4851 , 455 Highland Ave., Phillipston, MA 01331- 9594

Shelburne Farm, 978/897-9287, 106 West Acton Road, Stow, MA 01775