Apple Picking in North Carolina
The Fall Season brings apple picking, pumpkin patch, hayrides, hiking in the mountains, and beautiful fall foliage!
Our family’s tradition is to start the fall season with apple picking! My girl’s look forward to this every season!
I’ve enjoyed apple picking since I was a child growing up in Ohio. You wouldn’t know fall was upon us here in Charlotte with temperatures reaching 89 degree today, but it didn’t stop us from having fun.
Apple season is short in Charlotte and only a handful of farms in the Charlotte area have apple orchards due to the climate and difficulty of growing apple trees. We’ve enjoyed Carrigan Farms in the past, but were disappointed to return to the steep prices of $10 per person ages 2 and up regardless if you pick apples. Not to mention cash or check only. The wagon ride to the small petting farm is a fun addition but certainly not worth $40 for a family of four.
We enjoy Sky Top Orchard, 90 miles from Charlotte, and making it a weekend fall trip to the mountains! However, you certainly can make is day trip.
Apple Picking in the NC mountains at Sky Top Orchard is definitively the most beautiful apple farm we’ve been to with picturesque mountain view and fresh hot apple cider cinnamon donuts and apple cider! You’ll also find a big farm stand and play area for younger children.
Windy Hill Orchard and Cider Mill in York, SC is another favorite and close to Charlotte. However, be prepared for it to be crowded and apples to be picked over if you go later in the season, which is after September. They have live music on the weekends and the big draw for adults is their delicious hard cider!
For more Fall Family Fun check out our posts here, here, and here.
Happy Fall Y’all!
Credits
Photography – Sarah Sofia Productions
I have never been apple picking, but I am determined to go- this year. For us, it may require a bit of a drive, but I think it would be really fun to do it one weekend this fall! Your kids looked like they enjoyed it!
Hey Logan, it’s totally worth the drive to go apple picking! We all really do enjoy it and you can make a entire day out of it if you go somewhere with a petting farm and place to hike! Happy Fall!
I need to find an apple picking place here in Florida! This looks like so so much fun!
Sounds like we have a lot in common–I grew up in Ohio (and taught there and took students to local apple orchard each fall) and just moved to Charlotte. I am looking for great orchards, but I like you, don’t want to break the bank!
What a wonderful family tradition! Thank you for sharing!
Janae Smith
http://www.hiyallblog.blogspot.com
I need to find somewhere to go apple picking in Texas, it seems like such a fun family thing to do!
Old World New
We went apple picking a couple of weeks ago! It was so much fun! We look forward to it every year!
What a fun memory and tradition! Great pictures too!!!