Do you like apple pie, apple crumb, apple tarts, apple cider, baked apples, apple bread or just some sliced up apples for snack time!?
If you nodded yes, then dive into this guide! It’s never easy to find a quiet stretch of green in NYC, so you can forget about an apple tree or two. That’s okay though! If you’ve never gone apple picking before, here’s your chance. Here’s a guide to the orchards close to the city and accessible via public transportation.
Apple Ridge Orchards (101 Jessup Rd., Warwick, NY)
Apple Ridge Orchards almost 20 varieties of apples available for purchase which means you can grab something on either the sweet or the tangy side. Aside from their apple orchard, you can also pick pumpkins from their open pumpkin patch!
It is an easy drive from the city, but for those who don’t have access to a car, you can take the #196-7 bus from Port Authority.
Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard (130 Hardscrabble Rd, North Salem, NY)
Just an hour from Midtown Manhattan via car or cab from Metro-North’s Croton Falls Station awaits bountiful acres of apples! You can stock up on some while getting to know the family who runs it and soaking in the serene landscape.
If you visit on the weekend, you’ll be able to enjoy their fall festivals, featuring face painting, an open pumpkin patch, pony rides, a bouncy house, and other carnival festivities.
Masker Orchards (45 Ball Rd, Warwick, NY)
Eat as you pick! This orchard has 14 varieties of apples to choose from and doesn’t mind if you munch as you go. You can stuff your bag full of your favorite kinds of apple and when you’re done, head to the shop to purchase locally-made honey, apple pies, and apple cider.
Taking the #196 bus from Port Authority will leave you less than a mile away from the orchard.
Outhouse Orchards (139 Hardscrabble Rd., North Salem, NY)
Get your bag ready for picking some Macintosh or Granny Smith apples. In addition to their apple orchard, the orchard is welcoming guests to their first corn maze!
Leave with some fresh candies, apple cider, and apple cider doughnuts. This is another location accessible by using the Metro-North and taking it to the Croton Falls Station.
Pennings Farm Market (161 State Route 94 S, Warwick, NY)
How many pies can you make out of 10 pounds of apples? You can find out for yourself by visiting Pennings grand orchard! Pennings Farm Market is home to fresh harvests but also hosts the products of a vibrant array of neighboring vendors that make fresh ice cream, apple cider, pizza, beer, and baked goods.
Another way is separates itself from the competition is by partnering with the Adventure Cafe and Sourced Adventures company! Use CODE: Spoiled10 to book the Apple Picking Day Trip, which includes transportation to and from Pennings.
The best time for apple picking is from September to October so don’t wait too long! Buy a ticket to one of these great locations, just far enough to escape the city and be submerged in orchards of crisp, sweet apples.
Make a day of apple picking by bringing along friends and family, and remember that there is an endless amount of recipes that contain apples. Tag #SpoiledNYC in your apple harvests and let us know which location you decided to visit! Happy picking!
[Feature Image Courtesy by Jeff Kubina]