It may have never crossed your mind before, but did you know U-Pick fruit farms and orchards make a fantastic family-friendly vacation? It’s true, and the popularity of these family trips and romantic getaways is fuelled by the fact that the US has some of the best U-pick fruit farms in the world.
Furthermore, given that fruits are grown seasonally, fruit-picking farms provide year-round opportunities to pick your own fruit. As the seasons shift from winter through spring and summer, before the traditional harvest season is surrounded by the fall foliage in autumn, there are countless orchards to visit that provide an immersive and fun vacation for all ages.
If the idea of a rewarding, delicious, and nutritious wellness vacation away with your friends, family, and loved ones appeals then grab a fruit basket and join us as we travel to the five best U-pick fruit farms in the US.
Flat Rock, North Carolina
Where better to start our shortlist of America’s best U-pick fruit farms than the impressive Sky Top Orchard in North Carolina? This pet-friendly U-Pick apple orchard is located just outside Hendersonville, North Carolina, on Mount McAlpine in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and has been a family-owned farm since 1967.
Visitors to Sky Top Orchard can witness apple growers in action from the regular hayride and bee train tours at this top apple-picking farm in North Carolina. Afterward, you can head to the onsite animal barnyard or try your hand at firing their apple cannon across the lake before taking the kids to harvest some of the 25 varieties of apples here. Pick all the Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith apples you can, then savor a delicious slice of apple pie and their famous apple cider donuts in-store.
Enhance your visit to the best apple orchard in North Carolina by staying at the Best Western Hendersonville Inn in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Blue Ridge, Georgia
Our next stop is Georgia, where the best apple-picking orchard in the state is at Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge. Located just north of East Ellijay, Georgia, once you’ve visited, you’ll see why it’s become one of the most scenic places to go apple picking in the country and is a place where you and your friends can pick and enjoy their stunning Gala and Empire apples.
First opened in 1943, Mercier Orchards is a 4th generation veteran and family-owned fruit-picking farm renowned for its tasty blueberry and blackberry harvests. Along with its fresh baked goods, seasonal fruits, and the chance to pick your own apples. It’s not surprising that Mercier Orchards makes our list of the best U-pick fruit farms in the country.
Make the most of your fruit-picking adventure by getting a great night’s sleep every night at the Best Western Mountain View Inn in East Ellijay, Georgia.
Medford, New Jersey
Next, on our tour of the best U-pick fruit farms in America, we head north towards the East Coast to visit the apple farmers at Johnson’s Corner Farm just outside Philadelphia in Medford, New Jersey. However, Johnson’s Corner Farm is more than just a U-pick fruit orchard, as they provide guests with fantastic live music, festive food tents, classic car rallies, and the best BBQs.
As a top favorite with the locals, Johnson’s Corner Farm is a U-pick farm that has a vast assortment of fruit harvests from springtime through to fall, with a summer sunflower celebration in between. You and the family can enjoy picking your own fruits when you visit this incredible farm, including their delectable strawberries, blueberries, and peaches.
Relax after a full day’s U-Pick activities when you stay at the Best Western Plus Philadelphia-Pennsauken Hotel in Pennsauken, New Jersey.
Northborough, Massachusetts
Our next stop is one of the best U-pick fruit orchards on the eastern seaboard at the Tougas Family Farm, located west of Boston, Massachusetts. Operating from early summer to late fall, the Tougas Family Farm is an impressive orchard to visit throughout its multiple harvesting seasons, welcoming visitors with its strawberry and cherry harvests in June to its raspberries and pumpkin picking seasons in October.
With over 80 acres of fruit crops, Tougas Family Farm comes highly recommended on our list of the best U-pick fruit farms in the US Not just for its bountiful harvests, but also for its tasty local honey, cider donuts, and a huge range of jams and preserves.
After a day of picking-your-own fruit, unwind and enjoy some time in Boston at the Best Western Plus North Shore Hotel in Danvers, Massachusetts.
Jefferson, Iowa
Our final fruit and apple orchard also happens to be the oldest on our shortlist of the best U-pick fruit farms. With over a century of apple farming expertise, we now head inland to Deal’s Orchard just outside Jefferson to the west of Ames, Iowa.
With over 25+ apple varieties growing onsite, Deal’s Orchard also packs in the adventure for visitors with hayride tours and an adventure park for the kids, which includes giant slides and pedal tractors. We also highly recommend visiting their onsite bakery for a slice of sublime apple pie, and if you happen to be visiting during the fall try tackling the corn maze or taking some family photos in the colorful pumpkin patch.
Make the most of your trip to the best U-pick fruit farm in Iowa with a stay at the Best Western Plus University Park Inn & Suites in Ames.