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Location: 244 Werimus Rd, Hillsdale, NJ
Distance from NYC: About 1 hour by car; 1 hour and 30 minutes by train
This farm puts its vast-spanning orchards to use as a canvas for one of the best light shows in the tristate area. In the daytime throughout the summer and fall months, peaches and apples are the main attraction, but when the sun sets during the Halloween season, new life is breathed into the orchards as they host a ghoulish light extravaganza peppered with skeletons, jack-o’-lanterns, and a gallery of classic monsters. During the winter months, the Orchard of Lights features giant snowflakes, reindeer, and even Dr. Seuss’s Grinch.
Where to stay nearby: If fall doesn’t feel complete to you without a little side of spookiness, get right in the middle of the action at the Sleepy Hollow Hotel. The property features weeknight fall specials, reduced rates for locals interested in a staycation, and a restaurant that’s open all day.
Location: 91 Wemrock Rd, Freehold, NJ
Distance from NYC: About 2 hours by car
Owned and operated by the Applegate family for the past 118 years, Battleview is the oldest pick-your-own farm in New Jersey. This year, the orchard is offering 19 varieties of apples throughout the fall, and it also has year-round opportunities to pick sour cherries, strawberries, peaches, and pumpkins. As kids explore some of the 130-acre grounds on the seasonal hayride, parents can walk the aisles of the on-site country store stocked with favorites like house-made cider and fresh-baked pies, and speciality items such as the customizable fruit baskets. Its website has Applegate family recipes for every variety of fruit the orchard cultivates.
Where to stay nearby: Did someone call for a Hallmark movie set? Look no further than this quiet and cozy Airbnb in Monroe Township that boasts plenty of space, perfect for a multigenerational outing. The wraparound porch was practically made for fall evenings spent watching the wind rustle through the tree line.
Location: 139 Hardscrabble Rd, North Salem, NY
Distance from NYC: About 1 hour and 30 minutes by car
These orchards don’t just offer some of the best apple picking near New York City—they’re a celebration of all things autumnal. The best time to visit is throughout September and October, when Outhouse puts on its Fall Festival. Every corner of the grounds offers something built to entertain, whether it’s racing rubber ducks or blowing bubbles for the little ones, hayrides for the whole family, or snacking on wood-fired pizza and washing it down with homemade hard cider for food lovers. With 12 apple varieties that ripen during the pick-your-own season, there’s enough diversity to satisfy fans of tangy McIntoshes and honey-sweet Jonamacs alike.
Where to stay nearby: When it comes to a weekend escape near North Salem, you don’t have to choose between woodsy or luxurious. Instead, ask yourself, “por qué no los dos?” with stays like the Martha Stewart–approved Bedford Post Inn waiting to welcome you in.
Courtesy Apple Dave’s Orchards & Distillery
