What better way to celebrate fall than by checking out one of these great apple orchards?
Even the pickiest of eaters will dare to sample new flavors when along for a tractor ride through the apple orchards of Georgia. Whether you’re gearing up for a day of picking your own or you prefer to purchase your apples and sample apple goodies, these orchards will be sure to fill your tummy with the taste of fall.
North Georgia, specifically Ellijay, is home to some of the best apple orchards in Georgia, so Atlantans will want to plan for a short road trip to experience the best of the Georgia apple season. Round up the family, or let your babysitter or nanny take the kids out for a day of apple picking fun!
Mercier Orchards
Address: 8660 Blue Ridge Drive, Blue Ridge, GA 30513
Dates & Times: Weekends in September & October, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Phone: 706-632-3411
Fees: Peck of apples, $12 | Half-peck, $7 | Tractor ride, $4
Mercier Orchards is my personal favorite for farming fun. Due to its popularity, weekends can be very busy, so I recommend going early in the season and early in the day. Over the years and throughout the seasons, we’ve enjoyed walking along the rolling hills and picking just about every fruit imaginable. Our favorite by far is pick-your-own apple season! The kids love bumping along on the tractor ride to the field and sampling the wide variety of apples, and my husband and I love enjoying the beautiful fall weather and crisp tartness of the Jonagold and Pink Ladies.
While there, you must stop into their deli and grab a container of Jalapeno Pimento Cheese, homemade fudge, and some fried pies. Your waistline may hate you, but it’ll be worth a weekend of tight pants. After all, you only live once! If you’re interested in a lazy day, simply enjoy the tractor ride and head inside to purchase your apples.
B.J. Reece Apple House
Address: 9131 Highway 52 E., Ellijay, GA 30536
Dates & Times: Open daily September – October, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Phone: 706-276-3048
Fees:
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Orchard admission weekdays (ages 2+), $2
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Orchard admission weekends (ages 3+), $5 (includes pig races & cow milking)
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Half-bushel bag, $20 | Peck bag, $12 | Half-peck bag, $7
Rome Beauty, Pink Ladies, Fuji, and September Wonder are some of the local flavors you can pick at B.J. Reece Apple House. There’s a fee to enter the orchard, and then you purchase a bag to fill for picking.
Unlike Mercier’s, the weekends at B.J. Reece’s are set up for more than just apple picking fun. Your kids will enjoy a petting zoo, cow train, and apple shooting cannon — all available for an additional fee. Like all good orchards, there’s a top-notch bakery filled with apple treats like fresh cider, fried apple pies, apple bread, and cider doughnuts.
Hillcrest Orchards
Address: 9696 GA-52, Ellijay, GA 30536
Dates & Times: Weekends from Sept. 9 – Oct. 29, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Phone: 706-273-3838
Fees: Orchard admission, $12 | Peck bag, $12 | Half-peck bag, $7
Don’t be sad that Hillcrest is only open for weekend picking! With all the fun they have to offer, you’ll want to spend the whole day there. Are you looking for more than just an afternoon of apple picking? Spend the day in Ellijay and enjoy Hillcrest Orchards’ Apple Pickin’ Jubilee. If your children are anything like mine and embrace their newfound independence, they will especially enjoy picking apples from the dwarf trees that are just the right kid size.
Admission into Hillcrest Orchards is higher than most, but it includes enough events for a day of fun, including swimming pig races, an apple tree maze, mini golf, wagon rides, and cow milking. Two apple picking bags are available for purchase, and many apple varieties are available that you won’t find elsewhere, including Rome Beauty, Delicious, Mutsu, Granny Smith, Cameo, Arkansas Black, Yates.
The Red Apple Barn
Address: 3379 Tails Creek Road, Ellijay, GA 30540
Dates & Times: Open daily through October, Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Sunday, 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Phone: 706-635-5898
Fees: Admission (ages 3+), $7 (includes 1 apple only) | Peck bag, $12 | Half-peck, $7 | Quarter-peck, $4
If you visit in early October, spend the day picking both pumpkins and apples from the orchard. Open seven days a week, this is my favorite place to go mid-week to avoid the crowds.
Admission includes a tractor ride to and from the orchard, a tour of the farm, picking an apple from the orchard, a cup of cold cider, and an apple cider doughnut. It’s such a great experience for young kids to sample it all without carrying home a bushel of apples. Additional bags are available for purchase.
Hillside Orchard Farms
Address: 18 Sorghum Mill Drive, Lakemont, GA 30552
Dates & Times: Open through October, Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m – 6 p.m. | Sunday, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Phone: 706-782-2776
Fees: Call ahead for pick-your-own prices.
Hillside Orchard is conveniently located just north of Tallulah Falls and not too far off 441. Apple picking is available but more limited than other area orchards, so call ahead before making the drive.
In addition to apple picking, Hillside Orchard Farms offers daily gem mining, tractor rides, a corn maze, and a bakery and storefront with items all available for additional costs. There is plenty to excite your little ones, and while my kids loved all the activities offered, they were happiest on the Hillside playground. Save your money and start there. Follow Hillside Orchards on Facebook to keep up with the current picking schedule and special events.
Did we list all your favorite Atlanta area apple orchards? Let us know in the comments below!
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