School is back in session, which means Fall is just around the bend. The Fall season is perfect for apple picking, apple cider and more things apple. Here are five orchards within two hours of Charlotte where you can pick-your-own apples and enjoy a nice apple cider.
Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill, located in York, SC is a family owned and operated boutique apple orchard and Hard Cider producer. They are known for their Stayman Winesap apples. The Stayman Winesap is an heirloom southern variety that has a variety of uses from cooking, baking or just eating. The Stayman Winesap is a sweet aromatic apple that has a slight hint of tartness perfect for hard or sweet cider. The season will begin September 4. Reservations are required.
Sky Top Orchard, is located in Flat Rock, NC in the mountains of Western Carolina. Sky Top offers panoramic views, orchard ponds with ducks and geese, a barnyard area with sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, peacocks and more, a bamboo forest to explore, lots of picnic areas and, of course, a mountaintop of fragrant apple and fruit trees. You can enjoy hot apple cider, hot apple donuts, take a tractor ride, pick out pumpkins, or just enjoy a nice picnic with the family. Open 7 days a week, 9AM-5PM until November 28th (excluding Thanksgiving day).
Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard is located in Hendersonville, NC in the crest of the Blueridge Mountains. The Stepp family has been inviting guests to pick their own apples on a 70-acre working farm and apple orchard. They are known for their fuji apples, apple cider and apple cider slushy. Guests can enjoy apple cider donuts in their fresh bakery. Open 7 days a week (see link for specific hours).
Altapass Orchard is the most visit locations on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Spruce Pine, NC. The orchard is a non-profit that works very hard to preserve the regional traditions, culture and the land in which the orchards were built. Guests can enjoy hot apple pie, pick your own apples from a variety of apples to choose from. There is fun activities for all ages. Open Wednesday – Sunday, 10AM-5PM through October 31st.
Millstone Creek Orchards is located in Ramseur, NC, about 1.5 hours from Charlotte. Millstone is known for their fresh apple cider. Millstone is one of the few licensed non-pasteurized cider mills left in the state of North Carolina. Millstone also offers a variety of activities such as picking apples, picking peaches, picking Zinnias and Sunflowers, outdoor activities, or checking out the delicious deserts in Granny’s Kitchen. Reservations are required.
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