Fall is upon us and a fall traditional is to visit local apple orchards.

Couples at Kearsley enjoy going to pick a pumpkin and drink apple cider and eat doughnuts.

Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill

Senior Kaitlyn Alburtus and alumnus Noah Jankowski visited Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill on Oct. 22, 2016.

“Going to the apple orchard is my favorite fall activity,” Alburtus said with a smile. “I love picking pumpkins and drinking cider and eating doughnuts.”

Alburtus has been to many apple orchards over the years.

I was curious to know how Blake’s compared.

“Honestly, Blake’s had a lot to offer, from the variety of pumpkins to their hay ride,” Alburtus said. “Blake’s is definitely one of my favorite apple orchards I have been to.”

Blake’s is open seven days a week from 8 a.m – 5 p.m.

Blake’s offers many activities:

• Drive out to the orchard to pick your own fruits and vegetables.
• Watch fresh apple cider, old fashioned fudge, doughnuts, and caramel apples being made.
• Visit the 10-acre Barnyard Funland.
• Take a train ride tour through the orchard.
• Enjoy a lunch at the Orchard Café

Spicer Orchard

Junior Lia Silvas and alumnus Jalen Gallery visited Spicer Orchard on Saturday, Oct. 22.

“Spicer was very nice, but it was crazy busy,” Silvas said.

Silvas and Gallery enjoyed all the available activities there.

“I really enjoyed having a variety of things to do,” Silvas said. “The doughnuts and apple cider is by far my favorite part.”

Spicer’s offers a variety of things to do:

• Hayrides to pick fruit,
• Viewing the cider-making process
• Animal farm
• Train rides
• Pony rides
• Pumpkin picking

There is a store which sells goods produced by the orchard.

Spicer’s is open from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. every day.

Montrose Orchard

Juniors Kyle Palka and Sarah Walker visited Montrose Orchard on Saturday, Oct. 15.

“The apple orchard was nice. They had face painting, animals, horseback riding, hayrides, and other things,” Walker said.

Walker recommends going to Montrose Orchard for various reasons.

“I had so much fun,” she said. “I will be going back next year.”

Montrose is open Monday through Sunday form 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

“Make sure you go before four (o’clock) because they stop making fresh apple cider (after that),” Walker said.

Montrose offers school, public, and group tours.

There are also public hayrides that run every Friday from 3 p.m – 6 p.m and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m – 5 p.m. through the end of October.

With fall coming to an end, do not miss the chance to visit an orchard.

Whether you are craving warm apple cider and doughnuts or are looking for the perfect pumpkin, these are a few local orchards to satisfy your fall cravings.

Visiting an orchard is not only a festive fall activity to do with your significant other, it is a great way to spend time with family.

Porter’s Orchard Farm Market and Cider Mill

Porter’s Orchard is a third generation, family-owned apple orchard in Goodrich.

Porter’s is open seven days a week through Dec. 24.

Juniors Jonathon Conley and, yours truly, Makalia Jenkins went to Porter’s Orchard Farm Market and Cider Mill.

“We just go there for cider and doughnuts,” Conley said with a smile. “It is a small orchard, but we enjoy going there.”

Porter’s offers educational school field trips, farm tours for groups, and birthday parties.

Porter’s also offers a variety of seasonal foods like cider doughnuts, fresh pressed apple cider, apple cider slushies,  caramel apples, apples, raspberries, and pumpkins.

“Me and Makalia have been going to Porter’s for two years now,” Conley said. “We will be making a trip out to Porter’s again next year.”