Best Places To Go Apple Picking Near Detroit

Autumn in southeast Michigan is just about the prettiest time of year. And a Michigan fall means one thing above all else: apples! What's your apple preference: Macintosh? Gala? Maybe you crave Honey Crisp--a newer apple with a cult following? Are you ready for fall apple goodness? Check out these u-pick apple orchards and farms in Metro Detroit.

Hy's Cider Mill
6350 37 Mile Road
Romeo, MI 48065
(810) 798-3611
www.hyscidermill.com

Begin picking apples at Hy's Cider Mill on September 6 with Macintosh apples. Each week, different apples are ready up through October 25. Apple varieties are available for 2-3 weeks after their harvest date. Check the website for times to pick your favorites. Varieties include: Macintosh, Empire, Cortland, Spy, Fuji, Delicious (red and yellow), Russett, Jonagold, Ida Red and Gala.

Long Family Orchard, Farm And Cider Mill
1540 E. Commerce Road
Commerce, MI 48382
(248) 360-3774
www.longsorchard.com

Here's a fun u-pick orchard for the family! There's lots of  produce to pick and buy. Apple season kicks off sometime in September when the apples are mature. Bring the kids for apple-picking plus fall festival activities:  hayrides, a 5-acre corn maze (daytime only), play area, farm yard, goat farm, pumpkin bounce, corn bounce, pedal karts, swings and more.

Wiard's 
5565 Merritt Road
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
(734) 390-9211
wiards.com

Wiard's offers an apple-palooza of u-pick apples available seasonally: McIntosh, Jonathan, Empire, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Ida-Reds, Fuji, Honey Crisp, Cameo and Ruby Jon. Call ahead or visit the website to see what's available for picking each day. Stop by on a September or October weekend for fall festival activities. Wiard's has u-pick pumpkins, homemade donuts and cider and a cider mill too. Check the website for fall festival activities.

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Blake Farms
17985 Armada Center Road
Armada, MI 48005
(586) 784-5343
www.blakefarms.com

Blake's is the definitive Michigan apple experience. Blake's has three huge locations in Metro Detroit, including the main site, Blake's Big Apple at 71485 North Avenue in Armada and Blake Farms Almont at 5600 VanDyke in Almont. Blake Farms features u-pick apples and produce, cider mill, hard cider factory, garden center, cafe and all the harvest festival fun you expect. Come for Blake's Big Apple Fall Festival going on weekdays and weekends in September and October. Pick all your favorite seasonal apples daily from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 7 days a week.

Erwin Orchards U-Pick Apples And Cider Mill
61475 Silver Lake Road
South Lyon, Michigan 48178
(248) 437-0150
Related: erwinorchards.com

Erwin offers a variety of u-pick produce. U-Pick apples opens Friday, August 21, 2015 and runs through Saturday, October 31, 9:00 a.m to 6 p.m. Pick apples November 1 through 8, 9:00 am to 4:30 p.m., weather permitting. Methods of payment accepted are cash or check. U-Pick apples are $12.00 per peck, $17.00 per half bushel and $29.00 per bushel, except for Honey Crisp which are $20.00 per peck, $30.00 per half bushel and $55.00 per bushel.

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A veteran teacher and web journalist, Marilisa Sachteleben's career spans Montessori, special education, homeschool and ESL. She writes for Examiner.com, AXS.com and Yahoo! News, on parenting, education, Detroit and her native Grand Rapids. A self-proclaimed "manic blogger," Marilisa's 55 niche blogs cover everything from autism to zoology, and everything in-between!