Fall it's here and there is nothing like fresh picked up crispy apple. Apple orchards are now welcoming public on their farms and share the taste of fresh baked apple ciders, pies and fresh apples.

Before you hit the road, there are few steps to do:

• choose the orchard you want to go to
• call in for hours they are open
• ask what kind of apples they have
• the cost of of apples per pound
• what kind of payment they accept
• if you need your own basket
• if there is a fee to enter (most times you pay for picked up fruits only)
• some families like to have their pet to come along, so make sure if they allowed on the orchard

Next you can pack the bag of necessities, like sunscreen, bug repellent, and camera is a good idea too, extra jacket (just in case) and if you bring your family snacks for kids.

Best for trips that are not far is plenty of drinks, couple sandwiches per person, a bag of fruit snack for each ( best are grapes or small bites of any other fruit, no sugar snack, you don't want them to go crazy in the car).

There are many places that you can choose from, depends where you live and how far you want to travel.

Most of orchard's are open from mid August to mid or late October.

Here are some orchards worth a try:

ILLINOIS:

1. Jonomac Orchar

19412 Shabbona Road

Malta, IL

(815)825-2158

www.jonamanorchard.com

2. Homested Orchard

11802 Charles Rd.

Woodstock, IL

(815) 338-7443

www.homesteadorchard.com

3. Apple on Oak

16146 Oak Avenue

Joliet, IL

(815) 726-0386

 

4. Garden Patch Farms

14154 W. 159 th Street

Homer Glen, IL

(708) 301-7720

www.gardenpatchfarms.com

5. Honey Hills Orchard

11747 Waterman Road

Waterman, IL

(815) 864-3337

www.honeyhillsorchard.com

6. Curtis Orchard

3902 S. Duncun Road

Champaign, IL

(217) 359-5565

www.curtisorchard.com

7. Apple Holler

20 minutes north of Gurnee Mills & Grat America on 94. Exit#337

(you can see it from highway)

(800) 238-3629

www.appleholler.com

MICHIGAN:

1. Tree-Mendus Fruit

9351 E. Eureka Road

Eau Claire, MI

(269) 782-7101

www.treemendus-fruit.com

2. Calderwood Farms

2993 E. Lemon Creek Rd.,

Berrien Springs, MI

(269) 471–2102

3. A.W. Overhiser Orchards

6317 107th Ave., South Haven

(269) 236-6312

www.southheven.org

4. Barden's Orchards

427 71st St.

South Haven, MI

(269) 836–2296

www.southheven.org

INDIANA:

1. Bender's Nursery and Orchard

3133W 300S
Albion, IN 46701
(219) 464-4936

2. Countryside Orchard

370 N 500 W
Rochester, IN 46975

(574) 223-3213

3. County Line Orchard

200 County Line Rd
Hobart, IN 46342
(219) 947-4477

www.countylineorchard.com

WISCONSIN:

1. Apple Holler

5006 South Sylvana Ave
Sturtevant, WI

(262) 886-8500

2. Bohl Orchard

N 2721 Wilson Rd
Poynette, WI