Best places to go apple picking this fall

WASHINGTON 鈥� If apple picking is on your fall to-do list, now is the time to check it off.

鈥淒on鈥檛 wait until you are pumpkin-patching because you鈥檒l probably find a lot of rotten apples at that point,鈥� said Guiomar Ochoa, a parenting and travel writer for .

In the D.C. area, the season for many popular varieties runs from late August to mid-October. And at nearby farms and orchards, apple season comes with an excuse to cook festive foods and host lively activities for kids 鈥� and adults 鈥� of all ages.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just a nice way to get your family out in the country. A lot of these farms are not that far from the D.C. area, so even if you live in the city, you鈥檙e only going out about an hour or so, if that,鈥� Ochoa added.

Whether you鈥檙e planning a quick outing or a long day in the orchard, Ochoa shares some of her best picks on where to find fruit and fun this fall.

a half-gallon of apple cider beside a bag of donuts — *18780 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont, Virginia* Nestled among the rolling hills of Bluemont, Virginia, is Great Country Farms 鈥� a 400-acre family-run operation that takes apple season very seriously. 鈥淎pple picking is like a competitive sport at Great Country Farms,鈥� Ochoa said. Weekend admission to the orchard is $10/child and $12/adult (you can save a few bucks by going during the week), and pick-your-own apples are $1.99 a pound. Wagon rides take visitors to and from the fields, and the farm鈥檚 famous cider doughnuts are available Tuesday through Sunday. Ochoa said Great Country Farms also has apple cider pressing, apple wine tasting and areas for picnicking and playing 鈥� 鈥渟o you really get a big bang for your buck.鈥� 聽 (Thinkstock)

This Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, photo shows the apple barn at Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville, Va. Dotted by charming small towns from the mountains to the west and the ocean to the east, Virginia is renewing efforts to tap its natural resources to help drive tourism. While summer remains the peak for tourism, state officials are working to shoulder the busier months with increased tourism other times of the year, especially fall, when leaves change from green to orange, yellow and red. (AP Photo/Michael Felberbaum) — *1435 Carters Mountain Trail, Charlottesville, Virginia* If you鈥檙e up for a longer drive, or even a weekend getaway, Ochoa recommends Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville, Virginia. Visitors can pick their own apples or buy already-picked fruit. There鈥檚 fresh-pressed cider, homemade apple doughnuts, apple pies and apple caramel cookies. 鈥淵ou might find some pumpkins already. They have hayrides, there鈥檚 a winery and lots and lots of apples,鈥� Ochoa added. (AP/Heather Ainsworth)

With the apple harvest at its peak in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, red delicious and jonagolds are pressed for cider by Lynn West at Hartland Orchard near Markham , Va., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) — *1608 Russell Rd., Berryville, Virginia* Looking to save a few bucks? There鈥檚 no admission fee at Mackintosh Fruit Farm 鈥� visitors just pay for the apples they pick. 鈥淭hey really want the experience to be affordable for everybody,鈥� Ochoa said. There鈥檚 no need to pack a picnic (although visitors can bring their own food and snacks): A lunch counter at the farm serves everything from pulled pork sandwiches to zucchini crust pizza. 鈥淚f you have a sweet tooth, which many people do, they sell caramel apples, apple cider floats, apple caramel sundaes, baked apples, and they also have pies and doughnuts that are already made,鈥� Ochoa added. There鈥檚 even a way to work off all those goodies: On Oct. 6, Mackintosh Fruit Farm will host an Apple Butter Day 10K run, followed by a post-race party with food, music and awards. (ASSOCIATED PRESS/J. Scott Applewhite)

McIntosh apples hang on a tree, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015 at Carlson Orchards, in Harvard, Mass. As summer winds down in New England, apple-picking season is gearing up with growers forecasting a bumper crop. According to the U.S. Apple Association, the six-state harvest is expected to be about 14 percent higher than last year. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) — *3035 Cedar Creek Grade, Winchester, Virginia* With 325 acres of trees, Ochoa said Marker-Miller is the place to go if apples are 鈥測our thing.鈥� Don鈥檛 worry, the kids can tag along, too. There鈥檚 a cow train, wagon rides and a playground filled with wooden climbing structures. 鈥淏ecause realistically, they鈥檙e going to pick apples for 10 minutes and then be done with it,鈥� Ochoa said. (AP/Steven Senne)

Hilary Graham, of Arlington, Mass., center, picks apples while holding her two-year-old son Christopher at Carlson Orchards, in Harvard, Mass., Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012. Many orchards across New England are facing shortages after a warm spring and late April freeze killed early blossoms. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) — *1495 Appleton Rd., Elkton, Maryland* If you鈥檙e taking toddlers on an apple-picking adventure, Milburn Orchards makes the experience a little easier on your arms (and nerves). The Elkton, Maryland, farm has dwarf trees, meaning there鈥檚 no need for ladders since the fruit is reachable from the ground. 聽鈥淭his is perfect for toddlers. They鈥檝e got the little trees they can pick the apples, they feel like they鈥檙e really part of the experience,鈥� Ochoa said. Now through the end of October, Milburn is hosting its fall festival on the weekends. Activities include hayrides, a corn maze, an obstacle bounce, a farmyard playground and more. (AP/Steven Senne)

In this photo taken Wednesday June 1, 2011, Sophia Santos, 4, smiles after getting an ice cream cone at the Bi-Rite Creamery in San Francisco, Calif. At Bi-Rite Creamery, both their scooped and soft serve ice cream offerings are made from Straus Family Organic Dairy products. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) — *28600 Ridge Rd., Mt. Airy, Maryland* Rock Hill Orchard gives ice cream lovers an excuse to go apple picking. Yes, there are apples 鈥� 鈥渆verything from blondees to macouns,鈥� Ochoa said 鈥� but there is also an on-site creamery that makes delicious ice cream. There are also cut-your-own herbs and pick-your-own vegetables. (AP/Eric Risberg)

This Sept. 21, 2015 photo shows deep dish apple pie in Concord, NH. Apple pie ingredients are few and elemental: apples, of course, along with sugar, flavoring and pie crust. But choosing the right apples is a serious business. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead) — *15036 N Franklinville Rd., Thurmont, Maryland* 鈥淵ou can actually smell the apples as you鈥檙e driving into the orchard,鈥� Ochoa said about the wide variety available at Catoctin Mountain. However, the highlight at this Maryland orchard is its bakery. There, visitors will find homemade pies, cakes, cookies, breads, jams and more. 鈥淭hey just make it easy for you if you鈥檙e not the culinary expert to say, 鈥榊eah! I went apple picking and I got this great pie!鈥欌€� Ochoa said. (AP/Matthew Mead)

With the apple harvest at its peak in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, red delicious and jonagolds are pressed for cider by Lynn West, right, at Hartland Orchard near Markham , Va., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) — *2415 Woodbine Rd., Woodbine, Maryland* Larriland Farm grows more than 15 different types of pick-your-own apples, plus there鈥檚 a barn store that sells fresh fruits and vegetables. 鈥淲hat I love about this farm is that it鈥檚 nearly organic. They don鈥檛 spray any pesticides on their apples unless it鈥檚 absolutely necessary,鈥� Ochoa said. 鈥淔or our eco-friendly fans, this is where you鈥檒l want to go.鈥� (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)

In this Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014 photo, apples begin to ripen at Carter Hill Orchard in Concord, N.H. Northern New England apple growers are expecting a decent crop but not as good as last year聮s bumper yield. (AP Photo/Jim Cole) — *15604 Sugarland Rd., Poolesville, Maryland* Just past Potomac, Maryland, is Homestead Farm, which is home to apple orchards, a petting zoo and a fresh fruit and vegetable stand. Ochoa said this is a great option for those who don鈥檛 have a ton of time, since it鈥檚 just about 30 minutes outside the city. (AP/Jim Cole)

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