It’s the season to escape from the city life, and make your way out East or Upstate for some cider, apple picking and hay rides! Before I had Hudson, I would still visit farms, but the amount of times throughout the season has admittedly increased since having Hudson. Many of these locations will require a car to reach, and because I mostly head out east, I am going to keep this list focused on long island farms VS upstate NY, because I haven’t made my way upstate this season just yet! But I finally feel like I’ve done enough “Fall Activities” to share a little guide with you all! I hope this inspires you to make the trek!
1 – Harbes Family Farm in Mattituck (1 hr and 54 mins from Penn Station)
$20 per person to enter barnyard – I think we spent about $70 for the day, so definitely not inexpensive
I am not going to sugarcoat it, this spot it the most expensive, hands-down. BUT if you are making your way out east just for one day, I’d say go here. They have everything you could ever want for an adult & for a kid – We were able to feed animals, play in the sand pit with trucks, go on a hay-ride hosted by a woman who sung songs throughout the entire ride, and then at the end of it all Matt and I were able to drink some cider, because they also have a tap room on the property! It was one of our all-time favorite Fall days as a family, and we’re definitely going to make it a yearly tradition.
2 – Seven Ponds Orchard ( 2 hr from Penn Station)
Free to enter, charge by amount of apples you will be picking
This is my favorite apple picking spot on the island. The apples are so well organized, they offer wagons for use on younger kids, and there’s occasionally some sunflowers in bloom if you catch it at the right time. I wouldn’t travel here to pumpkin pick, or for a grand Fall day, but if you’re looking to find a stupendous and reasonably priced apple picking spot, this is definitely it!
3 – Schmitt’s Family Farm in Melville ( 1 hr & 6mins from Penn Station)
Free to enter, $6 for petting zoo, free hay ride
If you’re looking for a super affordable and amazing day with your kids, this is the spot. Even without kids, it’s an extremely picturesque location to pick up pumpkins, grab some donuts and cider, and hangout. We got there at 10AM which was great for beating the crowds on the weekends, and were able to pick pumpkins, enjoy the free hay ride, pet rabbits, chickens, goats and geese in the petting zoo, and walk around. It’s an awesome family spot!
4 – Woodside Orchards (1 hr & 50 mins from Penn Station)
Pay by amount of apples you pick + beer order
This is a smaller spot compared to the rest, but they offer U-pick apples, fresh cider donuts, and they have a tap room. They grow, pick and press their apples to produce a hard-cider that you can drink in their adorable courtyard. It’s kid friendly, but also a great spot to come on a date or for a day with your partner.
5 – White Post Farms in Meliville ( 1 hr & 9 mins from Penn Station)
$12 admission + $18 during Fall Festival
This is the last spot on my list of places to visit this Fall, so I actually don’t have any personal feedback (yet!) but I’ve heard that while a bit pricier, it has the best animals, pony rides, hay rides, pumpkins, and is all around an incredible place to spend a Fall day!
Please let me know if you enjoyed this post, and I can definitely create another one for upstate NY in the next few weeks!