Crisp, chill air is replacing those humid summer mornings so that can only mean one thing: autumn is in full effect! While most people jump straight into Halloween mode, it’s important to remember that pumpkins aren’t the only fruit being harvested this season. Pennsylvania is actually one of the top apple-producing states in the country.
Here is a list of apple orchards near Philadelphia to get you in gear for cooler days and evenings!
1. Strawberry Acres
Don’t let the name of this cozy 100-acre farm fool you, apples hang from rows of easy-to-reach dwarf trees. The family-owned farm is home to eleven different types of apples, including Royal Galas, Honey Crisp, and Idareds—which are ideal for pies, pastries, and other baked goods! With a marketplace vending everything from pre-picked fruit to fruit butter, Strawberry Acres also provides games, pony rides, a treasure hunt, a Noah’s Ark Animal Workshop—where kids can make their own stuffed animal on September and October Saturdays—and a life-sized carving of Johnny Appleseed. Located just 90 minutes from Philadelphia, Strawberry Acres is sure to be a fun retreat on any weekend until November!
Strawberry Acres
1767 Clearview Road
Coplay, PA 18037
(610) 261-2323
www.strawberryacres.com
2. Highland Orchards
With a reputation for having the best apple cider donuts in Chester County, Highland Orchards pulls out all the stops to ensure one of the best experiences for your family during their harvest season. Their sprawling multi-acre farm is home to nearly 2 dozen varieties of apples ripe for your choosing alongside tasty BBQ from Lancaster’s very own award-winning, Tiny’s BBQ. With tours featuring an opportunity to press your own cider and fall festivals every weekend, Highland Orchards is an exceptional choice for an apple-picking experience.
Highland Orchards
1000 Marshalltown-Thorndale Road,
West Chester, PA 19380
610-269-3494
www.Highlandorchards.net
3. Linvilla Orchards
Drawing crowds in the hundreds each year for their famous “Pumpkinland†carnival, Linvilla Orchards offers excitement all season long! Enjoy the very best Halloween-themed festival of the season as you go on hayrides surrounded by giant burlap scarecrows and figures visualizing harvest legends and local history. Complete with live music, pony rides, face painting, cornfield mazes, a Jack-o-lantern exhibit, the annual Costume Parade, and an apple slingshot, Linvilla Orchards is the Delaware Valley’s premier Halloween experience. This year, the festival operates until November 6, so get ready to gather friends and family for a day-long autumn adventure!
Linvilla Orchards
137 West Knowlton Road
Media, PA 19063
610-876-7116
www.linvilla.com
So from pumpkins to apples, to ponies and music, Philadelphia has an excellent assortment of orchard options to visit near in the fall season. Plan ahead though, these places can get very busy because they have a bit of something for absolutely everyone in the family to enjoy.
