atlanta weekend travel tagged interest

2024 Best Orchards for Apple Picking in Georgia

It’s apple season! Pick your own crisp, juicy apples and enjoy family-friendly extras at one of these orchards. Expect to pay around $10 per half-peck of apples. Be sure to check with the apple orchard on availability before you go.

Red Apple Barn

The orchard’s $11.25 admission fee includes picking one apple, a tractor ride to the orchard, farm tour, games, cider, flowers and a doughnut. Enjoy the kids’ playground, and stop in the farm market, which sells everything from fried pies to peanut brittle. The pumpkin patch is expected to open in late September. Additional apples cost $6-$34. Through Oct. 30. Sat. 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sun. 1-4 p.m.

RandA Orchards

This farm planted its first apple trees more than 70 years ago and today has more than 60 acres of trees, including Winesap, Ginger Golden and Jona Gold. U-pick apples, u-pick flowers and farm tours are available on weekends in September and October. The market is open daily from 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Through Oct. 27.

B.J. Reece Orchard

Crimson Crisp, Rome Beauty and Gala are just a few of the apple varieties available to pick; apple picking bags are $10-$40. Farm fun includes the slide, petting farm, wagon ride, pig races, rubber duck races and more, with the pricing from $8-$26. Grab an apple cider donut or fried pie at the Market andamp; Bakery before heading home. Through Oct. 31. Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun. 1-6 p.m.

Hillcrest Orchards

The orchard’s farm market and bakery opens on Aug. 31, along with the petting farm, jumping pillows, wagon ride and playgrounds. Their Apple Pickin’ Jubilees occur on weekends through Oct. and cost $22; visitors can pick from several tasty varieties, including Granny Smith and Goldrush. Attractions include the apple tree maze, wagon rides, farm activities and games. Through Nov. 30. Aug. 31-Oct. 31, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Nov. 1-30, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Hillside Orchard

Visit during the fall seasons for the corn maze, picking pumpkins and taking a train ride or hayride. This year, they won’t offer pick your own apples, and but you can pick muscadines, and shop their market for pumpkins, sweet potato fried pies and more. Opening in Sept. Mon., Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sun. 1-5 p.m. Closed Tues.

Mercier Orchards

Take a tractor ride through this 300+ acre orchard of seasonal fruits and veggies. Check their website to see what u-pick varieties of apples are available. Pick up pecan chicken salad, pimento cheese, loaded potato salad, jams, jellies, preserves, apple butter, fried pies and more in the market. Admission is $10 and includes a bag. Through Oct.

Aaron Family Orchards

Shop for a variety of apples, including Gala, Detroit Red, Red Delicious, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith and more, along with apple cider vinegar, pumpkin butter, muscadine jelly, salsas and ciders. This fall, they’ll have their first ever pumpkin patch, and families will love the petting zoo, tractor rides and u-pick sunflowers and zinnias. Through Dec.

Events:

Big Red Apple Festival in Downtown Cornelia

Celebrate the 36th anniversary of this festival with hayrides, fresh apples, train rides, axe throwing, cornhole, live entertainment and more. Sept. 21.

Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay

Ellijay is known for being apple country and this fall festival celebrates their prize fruit with a parade and apple-themed activities. Oct. 12-13 and 19-20.