Best Apple Orchards 2024, MN Fall Activities

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Hello, Apple Orchards and Minnesota Fall Activities!

Now that the fall season is officially here, it’s time to take in all the beautiful fall foliage, drink some warm coffee, and throw on our fall fashion. There are so many festive fall activities to look forward to in Minnesota and anywhere you might live –  including all the driving and finding the best spots to see the best fall foliage in Minnesota, going to apple orchards to pick your own apples, pumpkin carving, and finding those hidden gems to enjoy the sweet fall nights we could ever want.

Not to mention grabbing a warm apple cider, or mulled wine and hopping on a hayride, or walking through a corn maze. 

You might have heard before, that Minnesota is the best place to spend fall. There’s just something about the crisp air, the amazing and vibrant changing leaves, and all the fun activities that make Minnesota the perfect place to celebrate fall. 

During the winter, we tend to hibernate and don’t go outside very often, unless it’s to go to work, get groceries, or get our kids from school. The snow in Minnesota can pile up fast and high, which makes it hard to get out and drive. And those below-freezing temperatures quickly force you to realize you are not that tough to stay outside for more than five minutes. 

You guessed it right, us contemplating about power and inevitability of winter makes fall appear even more precious and sacred in Minnesota. It’s a time for all of us to enjoy being outdoors and savor cooler weather without yet feeling like our fingers are going numb. Not to mention the fall fashion! We love our fall fashion here at c2s and have been sharing some of our favorite fall fashion pieces and cocktails here on the blog!

We wanted to share a list of our favorite Minnesota fall staples and activities with you! We have no doubt that your family, friends, and kiddos will enjoy them to the fullest! 

So if you’re ready to make the most out of fall this year, grab your favorite fall drink, throw on your favorite outfit, and walk out into the crisp air to start your adventure. 

Our Favorite Minnesota Apple Orchards in 2024

The apple orchard is the perfect fall activity to get the whole family involved. Fall is THE time when apples are at their prime. There is just something about heading out to the apple field on the tractor and getting to pick those perfect apples to your liking. Also – it makes for GREAT photos. 

It’s a wonderful way to bring the whole family together and create some wonderful memories. It’s your chance to get the kids outside, breathe in that fall air and enjoy time away from the screens!  

Here are a few favorite Minnesota apple orchards to try out. Some will even offer adult cider and wine to sample, which we would highly recommend! So good and so fresh. 

• Aamodt’s Apple Farm—Stillwater, Minnesota: This is one of the most popular choices in the Twin Cities. Stillwater is such a gorgeous area and only 30 minutes from the Twin Cities. Make a day out of it and go explore the city on the River and head to the apple orchard to pick some apples, take some amazing pictures, and indulge in their wine and cider. 
• Afton Apple Orchard—Hastings, Minnesota: This one has 250 acres of apples, pumpkins, rasberries and other fruits, that you can pick from, but they also have a ton of activities. Admission is $ 7 this fall and you can spend hours at this apple orchard.
• Minnesota Harvest Craft Cider Bar & Orchard—Jordan, Minnesota. Forty-minute drive from the cities, but it is SO worth it!  They offer so many activities on top of picking your own apples. There are beautiful sunflower fields, a corn maze and so much more. It’s set in the middle of all these trees, so you’re fully surrounded by the fall foliage the entire time you’re there. They have the best pizza and cider that you can enjoy on the patio, not to mention their apple cider donuts and caramel apples. My family gets them every year. 

• Pine Tree Apple Orchard—White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Great for a date or some quality family time with the kiddos. You can pick your own apples, visit the homemade bakery, eat caramel apples, drink fresh cider, and pick pumpkins (which is a two-for-one!). We’ll get to pumpkin picking later on. They also host fun events and activities throughout the fall season. We definitely recommend checking them out. 
• Sweetland Orchard—Webster, Minnesota: This one is straight south from the twin cities, so if you live in Lakeville, Apple Valley or Farmington, you probably have been there a lot. One of the unique things they do is they offer you an opportunity to reserve a tasting kit! Tasting kits accommodate up to four people. You can have a fun double date and do a basic hard cider tasting and add on some extras to it: dessert, pastry, or cheese. That can quickly turn into a picnic, so bring a blanket or sit at their picnic tables and just enjoy! Do not forget to pick apples!  
• Fall Harvest Orchard – Montrose, Minnesota: This apple orchard is located only 4 miles west of Delano. Free parking and admission! Over 20 varieties of apples. It had a great amount of attractions and fun! Amazing animals, corn maze, wagon rides, classic red train, cow barrel train, pumpkin grain train, apple cannons, jump pillow, giant slide and many more! Apple cider mini donuts were to die for! It is already open for 2024 season and not overly busy! We picked Zestar and Sweet Tangos. 

 

Some of the activities include a 15-acre corn maze, a petting farm, different forms of entertainment for the kids, and various hayrides. We fed and petted every goat, watched some magician’s tricks, ate apple donuts, and remembered to pick some juicy apples to take home!   

Pumpkin Patches in the Twin Cities

Finding your perfect pumpkin is another Minnesota fall staple. We love going pumpkin picking because similar to the apple orchards, they usually offer more activities that can turn the pumpkin picking into a full fall day of fun! 

Here are some pumpkin-picking spots to check out in Minnesota during this fall season.

• Barten Pumpkins—New Prague, Minnesota: About forty-five minutes from the twin cities, this is a fun pumpkin patch if you want a day away from the city. You can shop for your pumpkins as well as your fall decor for your front porch. They have straw bales, corn stalks, and custom displays. Not only do they have pumpkin picking, they also have a pumpkin walk, a fun play area for the kiddos.
• Klingelhutz Pumpkins—Chanhassen, Minnesota: When you get there, grab a bite to eat or walk around downtown Chanhassen first. It is so charming! Klingelhutz Pumpkin Patch is so fun to go to! Grab a wagon and find your perfect pumpkin. They have other goodies for you to buy to decorate your home, inside and out for the beautiful season of fall. 
• Peter’s Pumpkins & Carmen’s Corn—Shakopee, Minnesota: Close to the cities and you can pick your own pumpkins and apples! Free hayrides and a corn maze. Grab some homemade salsa, pickles, or jams! 
• Waldoch Farms—Lino Lakes, Minnesota:  This pumpkin patch opens on September 21st, 2024, and has so much to offer. Buy pumpkins, squash, gourds, mums, kale, corn stalks, hay bales, ornamental corn, and much more in the Garden Center! You will need tickets! 

Fall Festivals & Events in the Twin Cities

Pumpkin patches and apple orchards are your traditional fall activities, but we wanted to share a few more fun things to do in the Twin Cities. Some of these are for the whole family, and some may be just for the adults. 

• Minnesota Zoo Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular—Brooklyn Park, Minnesota:  Take your kiddos to see some amazing hand-carved pumpkins all lit up in the night. You can also carve your own pumpkins and eat and drink here while you stroll and admire the pumpkins. September 28- November 2, 2024. 
• Sever’s Fall Festival—Shakopee, Minnesota: This might be one of the most popular fall festivals in the twin cities and is an absolute blast. They have a giant corn pit, food trucks, and live music. You will have TONS of Fall Fun at Sever’s. You can also pick your own pumpkins, go through the corn maze, or go down a giant slide. Head to their website to see the full list of activities. September 14 – October 27, 2024. 
• Parley Lake Winery Events – Waconia, Minnesota: Live Music, Wine Tastings, and Photoshoots.
• Trail of Terror—Shakopee, Minnesota: If you’re into scary movies or that side of Halloween, then this is the activity for you. No kids, only adults! They have a haunted house and a haunted hayride! 
• Twin Cities Harvest Festival—Brooklyn Park, Minnesota: This is a great activity for the whole family! This festival houses Minnesota’s Largest Corn Maze. They also offer fair foods, drinks, live music, a petting zoo, wagon rides, and a corn pit similar to Sever’s corn maze. They are only open on weekends – September 21 through October 27, 2024.
• ValleySCARE at Valleyfair—Shakopee, Minnesota: If you’re into amusement parks and live in Minnesota, chances are you have been to Valleyfair. What you might not know about Valleyfair is during the fall, they turn into ValleyScare. They have the Halloween Haunt on Fridays and Saturdays. Go on rides, go through haunted houses and mazes, and scare zones. For the kids, they have the Great Pumpkin Fest on Saturdays and Sundays. This is definitely a fun activity that you can partake in multiple times throughout the fall. A fun date night, a night out with friends, and with the kids! September 21 – October 26, 2024. 

Scenic Drives in the Twin Cities

There’s nothing better than hopping in your car when the air is just getting crisp. Throw on a cozy sweater, go to your favorite coffee shop and throw on your favorite music, drive around, and admire those fall colors and the views of Minnesota. Here are a few favorites we love to take a drive and see.

• St. Croix River Valley—Stillwater, Minnesota: Before you head to Aamodt’s apple orchard, drive around the river to see those fall colors.
• Summit Avenue—St. Paul, Minnesota: Summit Avenue hosts some beautiful homes and fall foliage. 
• The North Shore – Minnesota: If you’re looking for a weekend getaway, head on up to the North Shore which hosts some of the most beautiful views you can see in Minnesota. This is the perfect weekend getaway or day trip. Drive to Duluth and walk around, then continue up to Split Rock Lighthouse and enjoy those views. 

We have been partaking in these activities here at c2s and we can’t wait to continue to do more. Let us know what you like to do in the fall in your city. If you’re local to Minnesota, let us know some of your favorite fall activities that we haven’t listed! 

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