As autumn arrives, a visit to a nearby apple orchard or pumpkin patch is a perfect way to enjoy the changing weather. These outings offer the chance to hand-pick fruits for baking, select pumpkins for carving, and capture picturesque moments amidst the orchards and fields. Many farms also feature family-friendly activities like corn mazes, petting zoos, and wagon rides, making them ideal destinations for all ages.
Apple season typically spans from late August to October, while pumpkins are usually ripe for picking by mid-September. It’s advisable to check the local farm’s websites and social media for the most current availability information, especially for specific varieties.
Here are ten scenic locations across Canada worth exploring this fall:
1. **Ferme Genest (Lévis, Que.)**: This farm, located just 20 kilometers west of Quebec City, offers vast fields of over 100,000 pumpkins and a dozen apple varieties. Visitors can also enjoy farm animals, a playground, and purchase artisanal snacks and preserves.
2. **Dixie Orchards (Inglewood, Ont.)**: Situated approximately 42 kilometers from Toronto, this charming farm provides access to a variety of family-friendly attractions, including a corn maze and tractor rides. The main attractions in the fall are apple, pumpkin, and hazelnut picking, with an extensive selection of pumpkins, squash, and 18 different apple types available.
3. **Prairie Gardens (Bon Accord, Alta.)**: Located 35 kilometers north of Edmonton, this 14-hectare farm offers the opportunity to hand-pick potatoes, apples, and pumpkins. Visitors can choose from a wide range of specialty pumpkins and culinary varieties, including Grey Ghost, Sugar Pie, and Jarrahdale.
4. **Davison Orchards (Vernon, B.C.)**: A family-owned farm in Vernon, B.C., offering U-pick crops of apples, pumpkins, and spaghetti squash during September and October. The farm is dog-friendly and features tractor train tours of the apple orchard, a barn with farm animals, and a children’s play area.
5. **RiverBreeze Farm (Upper Onslow, N.S.)**: This entertainment farm near Halifax hosts various ticketed events in autumn, including a fall festival running from Sept. 27 to Nov. 1. Activities include pumpkin picking, a corn maze mystery game, and the opportunity to meet kangaroos.
6. **Verger Belliveau Orchard (Memramcook, N.B.)**: With over 110,000 apple trees, this orchard offers 20 apple varieties for visitors to pick, along with cider and wine sampling. Live music, food trucks, and other events are also hosted at the orchard on select dates.
7. **Lester’s Farm Market (St. John’s)**: This farm in St. John’s grows over a hundred fruit and vegetable varieties, including a diverse selection of traditional and specialty pumpkins. Special events like Pumpkinfest and a pumpkin drop are highlights of the fall season.
8. **Belvedere Orchard (Brookfield, P.E.I.)**: Just 17 kilometers outside Charlottetown, this orchard features scenic views, more than 10,000 fruit trees, and over a dozen apple varieties for picking, including Gala, Honeycrisp, Cox’s Orange Pippin, and Wild Pink.
9. **Albion Orchards (Caledon, Ont.)**: Situated about 42 kilometers north of Toronto, this farm offers both apple and pumpkin picking, along with a country store selling freshly baked pies, honey, and apple cider. The farm’s proximity to leaf-peeping spots like Forks of the Credit Provincial Park adds to the seasonal charm.
10. **Robertson Valley Farm (Saskatoon)**: This small farm in Saskatoon offers a variety of pre-picked and pick-your-own pumpkins, including decorative squash in unique colors and shapes. With around 50 types of pumpkins available, visitors can receive assistance from staff in selecting the perfect pumpkins for their needs.
These destinations provide a perfect blend of autumn activities, natural beauty, and farm-fresh produce for visitors to enjoy.
