Once it turns fall, a fun way to celebrate the autumnal change of the season for any age is to go apple picking! Whether for a date or with family, many Bay Area farms exceptionally cater to this interactive activity, providing not only endless apple orchards, but also deliciously exclusive handmade treats and other activities. See where to partake in this joyous fall specialty around the Bay, so that you can plan the sweetest and juiciest day trip.
See also: Best Bay Area Cafes With Fall-Themed Drinks
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681 Main St, Placerville / (530) 644-7692 / Website
Apple Hill is a collection of different farms and apple growers who have all generously come together to create an extravagant autumn experience! Here you will come across their U-Pick farm, as well as their seasonal pumpkin patches, Christmas tree farms, and wineries with special events. There are even delightful B&Bs here to ensure you feel comfortable and that you make the most of your fall excursion out here, which is undoubtedly worth it seeing all the participating locals.
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5105 Chileno Valley Rd / (707) 765-6664 / Website
This ranch in Petaluma is an ideal affordable choice, with only $10 for entry with a reservation, and $12 without. Such irresistable prices definitely go a long way, as there is also a farm here that you can tour and shop their locally made natural products.
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13128 Occidental Rd, Sebastopol / (707) 823-0538 / Website
Vibrant Golden Delicious, Gravenstein, and Roman Beauty apples are a few of the marvelous selections here at this family-run hotspot, along with their impeccably crafted cold-pressed cider and fresh baked apple breads. Their apples are also wonderfully priced at $2.50 a pound.
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3175 Sullivan Rd, Sebastopol / (707) 829-0617 / Website
This farm spans a glorious 14 acres and boasts both solar power and genuine Afro-Indigenous roots. Such legacy and culture is upheld in their precise permaculture practices, which you can truly taste in their crisp apples of Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gala, and more. This impressive site is only a little over an hour away from Oakland and costs $25 for a group of 6, with each pound at $3.
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55 Peckham Rd, Watsonville / (831) 722-1056 / Website
Watsonville's Gizdich Ranch powerfully has it all, from Pik-Yor-Self Fuji, Pippin, and Golden Delicious apples, to fresh made pies, Apple and Olallie popsicles, ice cream, and more! This is a fabulous place to get a workout picking, and following it up with a refreshing treat for your sweet tooth.
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646 Trabing Rd, Watsonville / (831) 245-3854 / Website
Clearview Orchards offers a $5 ticket for an hour of reserved apple picking, but we guarantee you'll be indulging in a lot more than just that, as you'll want to peruse their other delicately made fresh apple products. Juice, butter, and popsicles are just a few of the variations they impressively create with their many lush offerings Gala, Honeycrisp, and Mutsu.
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2620 Carson Rd, Placerville / Website
For the best apple cider shakes, we promise this Apple Hill destination engineers them unlike anywhere else. Set at $3 a pound, they also boasts local beer and even Smokehouse style BBQ! Their expansive outdoor picnic area makes for the perfect place to just relax and feel at home while being totally nourished.
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21611 Carrolton Ave., Ripon / (209) 404-6078 / Website
Run by a family for over four generations, Lucky You Orchards is a Bay Area staple. One taste of their exclusive Fuji delicacy from the Ferry Building and other SF farmers markets, and you'll desire to immediately make the journey to their nearby Ripon home to gather some of your own. Definitely do not miss out on their exhilarating tractor rides as well!
Apples are essential to fall as the humble orchards that grow them are to the Bay Area, and it is their devoted kindess that makes them so enjoyable and heartwarming to visit!
See also: Best Bay Area Spots To See Fall Colors
Photography by: Zen Chung/Pexels
