The change of a season typically sparks a change in wardrobe, temperatures, and weekend activities. A classic fall pastime is going apple picking at a nearby orchard with family or friends. Luckily, the Charlotte area is close to countless farms that offer pick-your-own apples as well as mountainside venues with spectacular views. A late freeze in North Carolina has limited apple crops in some areas but we’ve compiled a list of the apple picking still available for you, your friends, and your family to enjoy this year.
Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill, York SC
Windy Hill Orchard is a family owned and operated boutique apple orchard and hard cider producer located in the upstate of South Carolina. Open every fall from mid-August until Christmas, Windy Hill offers award winning hard ciders, pick-your-own apples, fresh made apple cider and apple products, and more.
Sky Top Orchard, Flat Rock NC
Sky Top Orchard is a Carolina favorite in Flat Rock, NC. This orchard offers a bamboo forest to explore, orchard ponds with ducks and geese, a barnyard area with sheep and other farm animals, and, of course, a mountaintop of apple and fruit trees. Sky Top is also acclaimed for their apple donuts. Check online for the orchard’s picking schedule and plan your visit.
Perry Lowe Orchards, Moravian Falls NC
Perry Lowe Orchards is a family owned and operated apple orchard located in the beautiful foothills of North Carolina. The Lowe family has been growing apples for six generations, starting in the 1800s. The orchard presses their own apple ciders with special variety blends and dehydrates their own apples in 7 different varieties. The Perry Lowe Orchard Apple U-pick 2021 season will begin in September.
Knob Creek Orchards, Lawndale NC
Knob Creek Orchards has been family owned and operated since 1958, starting as a small apple and peach business on the Cleveland-Lincoln county line and has now grown to sell strawberries, blackberries, and homemade ice cream. They also serve apples, apple cider, apple bread, apple jelly, apple butter, and more!
Apple Hill Orchard Cider Mill, Morganton NC
Nestled in the South Mountains of Western North Carolina, Apple Hill Orchard is conveniently located just south of Morganton and has over 20 varieties of apples. U-pick begins in mid-August and continues until all the apples are harvested. Be sure to check out the bakery and market, too.
Grandad’s Apples n’ Such, Hendersonville NC
Visit Grandad’s for the day and enjoy a variety of family fun activities on a 100-acre family farm and apple orchard. At Grandad’s Barn and Country Store, you will find a great selection of fall harvest decorations, baked goods, and other apple gifts. Stop by the bakery to enjoy hot cider donuts, apple pies, cookies, hot cider, apple cider slushies, and much more.
NC Apple Festival 2021, Hendersonville NC
September 3-6
There are great activities planned for each day during the NC Apple Festival including the Street Fair, live entertainment, food vendors, and many community activities. Visit their website to see what’s happening at the North Carolina Apple Festival.