Where to go apple picking around Boston this fall

Just a short trip north of the city in Peabody, you’ll find Brooksby Farm and all of its festive fall offerings. Peruse the orchards and pick your own apples before heading to the bakery and indulging in some doughnuts and other local treats. If you’re making it a family outing, there are tons of activities that’ll keep your little tykes entertained, like a play area, barn animals, hayrides and a fall fairytale trail. Select weekends throughout the season, the farm also offers roaring campfires and supplies to make s’mores.  

Located in South Natick, Lookout Farm is one of the closest options for city-dwellers looking to get their fix of fall. Hop on one of the farm trains, which circle the orchards and bring you to whichever types of juicy apples you wish to pick, including varieties like Gala, Golden Supreme, Shizuka and Macintosh. Grab a bite to eat from its outdoor restaurant, The Lookout, stop by its onsite cidery for a craft beverage. You can also take homemade baked goods (including cider doughnuts) home from the farm stand—if you can resist digging into them right away. Take a look at Lookout Farm's event calendar before hand to plan your visit around live music, trivia nights and other activities.

Located in the quaint North Shore town of Ipswich, Russell Orchards is well worth an autumn pilgrimage. Stroll rows upon rows of trees brimming with New England’s most beloved apple varieties, including McIntosh, Empire, Cortland and Crispin. Hunker down at a picnic table to snack on some fresh cider donuts (they also sell ice cream flavored with this seasonal specialty) and sip house-pressed cider. Children can swing by the barn to see the farm animals, while 21+ visitors might be more tempted to hit up the onsite winery, where they can purchase a whole slew of hard ciders and fruit wines. 

Twelve generations have kept this family-owned and operated farm going strong in North Andover. Enjoy a quintessentially New England fall day at Boston Hill Farm as you help yourself to local apple varieties like Ginger Golds and Paula Reds. Afterward, sit down with a homemade apple cider doughnut or any of the other delicious baked goods fresh from its farm stand. Major plus: This place is dog-friendly, so you can take your pooch apple-picking, too! 

Escape to the countryside and visit this family-run farm in Stow, about an hour west of Boston. The orchard is open daily for pick-your-own fruit. Stop by the country store for fresh produce (that you don't have to harvest yourself), cider doughnuts, eggs, jams, jellies and other homemade treats. Picnicking is welcome, so you can make the most out of your fall day at the farm.

Shelburne Farm in Stow is the perfect place to pick popular apple varieties—plus heirloom options that are harder to come by, such as Opalescent, Pink Pearl, Esopus Spitzenburg and Sheepnose. There’s a farm kitchen onsite serving hot cider doughnuts, sweet treats and items from the grill, in addition to food truck fare. Check out the upcoming schedule of live music and don’t forget to say hello to the barnyard menagerie before you leave.

There are endless opportunities for autumn fun at Smolak Farms in North Andover. The apple tours are extremely popular, thanks to the wagon ride through the stunning fall foliage that leads you to the orchard. Even better, a tour guide will explain the apple-growing process, the different varieties and the proper way to pick them. Every weekend in September and October, Smolak hosts a fall festival for kids, where they can enjoy cow train rides, a playground, face painting, carnival games and an animal petting area. For adults, live music and local beer and wine offerings are a popular draw.

Wander the rows of trees at your leisure at the Orchard at Connemara House, named to reflect an Irish farming heritage. Located in Topsfield, the picturesque 13-acre orchard offers 10 varieties of apples, from classics like Cortlands all the way to Baldwins, which were first grown in Massachusetts in the 1700s. Peaches and pears are also ripe for the picking in the fall. If you’re looking to skip the crowded activities of larger farms, Connemara is the perfect setting. 

For 103 years, Westward Orchards have been growing apples at their Harvard home. You can pick your own apples daily in the fall, but the real reward might be their beloved cider donuts you inhale after. You’ll also find a diverse selection of Westward-grown vegetables in their store, along with local meats, cheeses, eggs, baked goods. On Sunday afternoons, you can often find a group of bluegrass musicians jamming on the covered porch. Bring your own instrument and join in. 

Carlson has been growing produce in Central Mass. since the 1930s. Head to this Harvard farm to explore its orchards and pick your own apples, with varieties including Braeburn, Honeycrisp and Jonagold. Finish your perfect autumn outing with fresh apple crisp, or stop into The Cider Barn, their onsite taproom, for a pull of refreshing hard cider. Just an FYI: Dogs are not allowed at Carlson.

A tractor-drawn hayride takes you out to the orchards at this 186-acre farm in Stow. Once in the fields, you'll find all of your favorite types of apples—your Macs, Paula Reds, Spartans, Winesaps and more—all ripe for the picking. After you've filled your bags with fruit, be sure to stop by the farm store to grab still-warm cider donuts, homemade jams and other baked goods, and take them to the picnic area for some quaint snacking. Other attractions include: farm animals, a hedge maze, a mini-maze for the kiddos and, on the weekends, a hard cider tent.

A legacy farm with over 200 years of growing fruit and vegetables, Dowse is located in MetroWest Boston on Route 27 in Sherborn. Come September, head to their rolling acres to pick your own apples in varieties like Macouns, Cortlands and Macs. If you really want to get in the autumn spirit, check out their pumpkins, hay bales, corn stalks and hardy mums. Dowse is particularly known for their onsite cider mill, so don’t skip taking a sip at their farm stand.

This Tyngsboro farm has over 20 acres filled with juicy apples, featuring more than 20 varieties like Honeycrisp, Macoun, Gala, Morning Mist Fuji, Snowsweet and more. After you've gathered your fall stockpile of fruit, venture over to the farmstand and watch as dozens upon dozens of apple cider doughnuts are made—before devouring a few for yourself. Other seasonal specialties from Mary’s Country Kitchen include warm apple crisp, hot apple cider and lunch items like grilled cheese and hot dogs. On fall weekends, The Lunch Box is also open with a larger selection of offerings including burgers, chicken fingers and mac and cheese.