It’s the season for pies and an apple one is always a crowd favorite! Not to mention autumn is the perfect time to get out of the house and experience the cool crisp air so why not kill three birds with one stone and take the family apple picking?! Below, we have compiled a top 5 list of local orchards on the Eastern Shore in Maryland and Delaware that not only have the best apples, but also incorporate the best fun-filled experience for their guests. Check out their websites to learn about events happening at their farms throughout the month of October!
Blades Orchard
4822 Preston Road
Federalsburg, MD 21632
410-829-0334
This orchard is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and every Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic, friends, family, dogs, and empty trunk for all of the apples and pumpkins they pick up! Tours of the orchard are also offered along with hard cider for adults!
Fifer Orchards
1919 Allabands Mill Road
Camden-Wyoming, DE 19934
302-697-2141
https://www.fiferorchards.com/
Fifer Orchards offers a U-Pick apples experience that includes a tractor and wagon ride to the orchard and back on Saturdays only now through to late October. It’s a great way to enjoy a day on their farm and experience fresh, Delaware Apples. They recommend the visitors bring their own folding wagon for easy transport during this busy time.
Millburn Orchard
1495 Appleton Road
Elkton, MD 21821
800-684-3000
http://www.milburnorchards.com/
This orchard offers a U-Pick Apple Adventure experience as well which is open to the public now through the end of October, Saturday and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The adventure begins with a free wagon ride into the orchards as each family is given as many bags needed. Their dwarf trees provide easy access to picking from the ground so that everyone can take part. They offer a variety of different apples which can be viewed on a chart via their website, so go check it out!
TS Smith & Sons
8887 Redden Road
Bridgeville, DE 19933
302-337-8271
http://www.tssmithandsons.com/
At this market you can pick apples every Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. They have eleven different types of apple variety to which the favorites include honey crisp, jonagold, fuji, and black twig. Pumpkins can also be picked on their property this time of year as well that can be used for scare crow making, carving, baking, or decoration purposes.
M&C Vessey Farm
31783 Vessey Orchard Road
Westover, MD
410-957-1644
This is yet another farm available for you to pick delicious apples from. Their normal hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. They have plenty of different size baskets to choose from no matter how big or small your apple needs are along with rolling carts for optimal transport around the farm.
We hope sincerely hope that you take the time to get out and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere that these orchards can provide for you and your family during this extraordinary time of year. Many of these locations are also hosting fall festival events so be sure to check them out as well. Remember an apple a day keeps the doctor away so why not pick them fresh?! Happy hunting!
