Photo by Fiona Naughton
Let’s go climb a tree! Apple picking season is here, and we’re here for it. But where are the best spots to score a bag full of apples on Long Island? Read on for five places we highly recommend.
The Milk Pail Farm Stand
No one knows apples like the Halsey family; they’ve been farming in Water Mill since the mid-1600s, after all. This orchard is home to over 20 varieties of apple, and the picking season runs from September through mid-November. If you don’t feel like doing the legwork, though, you can always stop in for a bag of fresh apples at the Milk Pail Fresh Market.
Wickham’s Fruit Farm
Take a wagon ride out to the apple orchards at Cutchogue’s Wickham’s Fruit Farm, which has a spectacular 300 acres of land, and which dates back to the late 1600s. Their antique cider press yields terrific juice. And definitely don’t ignore the hot-from-the-fryer apple cider donuts, sold by the bag.
Harbes Orchard
In Riverhead, you can roam this 70-acre orchard and sift through 27 different varieties of apple. The apple trees are dwarves, meaning that shorter people (like kids) can easily snatch their apples right from the branches. Harbes also provides hayrides, music, wine tasting, and a corn maze.
Woodside Orchards
This is the place to go for apple wine, made from the orchard’s stellar apples. In Jamesport, Woodside Orchards has operated their orchard since 1982, and grows over 20 varieties of apple. Pick your apples and stick around to enjoy fresh pies and cider, which are all part of the ultimate fall experience.
Windy Acres Farm
Apple picking isn’t the only game in town at Calverton’s Windy Acres, where visitors can also pick berries and vegetables, depending on the season. But apples are definitely a main attraction. Check out the other fall activities offered, like the corn maze and horse-drawn hayride. This farm will not disappoint.
Read more: 5 Places to Eat After Apple Picking on the East End
This story was originally published in 2019.
