“A is for Apple” is one of the first phrases we encounter when learning the alphabet, so it’s fitting that as children settle into their classroom routines this fall, they join their families or school field trips for an apple picking outing to remember. Apple-picking season tends to run through October, so whether you’re planning on eating an apple plucked right from the branch or making that all-American staple, apple pie, check out our top picks for pecks in, around, and close to the metro:
Ditmars Orchard & Vineyard
19475 225th St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503 | ditmarsorchard.com
In addition to picking your own juicy apples, this beloved orchard, founded in 1994, includes a vineyard, wine, pumpkin patch, and specialty food items, ranging from spicy corn fritters and tater ribbons to apple cider donuts and four kinds of apple pies. Also on offer are apple cider, hard cider. and wine. Ditmars has been an annual tradition for families and classrooms alike, and there’s nothing like walking the rows between sun-dappled apple trees heavy with ripe apples.
Wostrel Family’s Union Orchard
2405 South Hwy 75, Union, Nebraska 68455 | unionorchard.com
Dating to 1875, this orchard has been producing apples for almost a century and a half. With a “Ripening Calendar” to check apple availability on Facebook, you’re certain to visit during peak picking season. October also offers the opportunity to transition from apples to pumpkins for even more “pick-your-own” fun. If picking isn’t your thing, you can stop by the Central Apple Market for the convenience of fresh apples without the effort or visit the Country Store & Farm Market, which also features an outdoor grill that serves hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and brats, plus bacon-wrapped pulled pork skewers.
Super Bee Orchard
4571 US-75, Fort Calhoun, NE 68023 | facebook.com/p/Super-Bee-Orchard-100064841312243/
This family-owned and operated orchard in Fort Calhoun provides tons of fun for families and includes trees that are easily accessible for small children and strollers. Open seven days a week, the atmosphere is small-town and family friendly. Don’t leave without a gallon of their “Delicious and Sweet” Super Bee Orchard Apple Cider or, in a nod to their name, a container of bee pollen or honey, which comes in multiple flavors. Super Bee also carries a wide selection of preserves, jams, and fruit butters.
Martin’s Hillside Orchard
2024 Ashland Rd, Ceresco, NE 68017 | hillside-orchard.com
Billed as “The Best Little Orchard Around,” Martin’s has a bumper crop of apples this year. The usual apple favorites, including the popular Honey Crisp variety, are all on offer to fill your bushel. The orchard has plenty of kid-friendly actives, including a child-sized corn maze, wagon rides, and samplings of cider slush. The website features several recipes like apple fitters, apple dumplings, and apple tarts so you have plans for when you arrive home with your hand-picked harvest.
Arbor Day Farm
2611 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410 | arbordayfarm.org
Boasting 260 acres of natural beauty and outdoor exploration , Arbor Day Farm— a national historic treasure known as the birthplace of Arbor Day, has plenty on offer for family fun. From a cider-maker tasting experience to the “Sunset & S’Mores Discovery Ride,” there’s nothing quite like fall at the farm, which encourages people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. Also home to the Lied Lodge and Tree Adventure, you can take a mini family vacation to this special Nebraska treasure.
Vala’s Pumpkin Patch
12102 S 180th St, Gretna, NE 68028 | valaspumpkinpatch.com
They might be best-known for their pumpkin patch and Halloween theme park, but Vala’s also boasts one of Nebraska’s largest apple orchards. With over 45 varieties of apples, you’ll have plenty for salads (Cortlands!), caramel apples (Empires!), and much more. Planted on a modern trellis system, it’s easy for all ages to pick, pluck, and gather. Throughout their growing season, Vala’s offers classic apple varieties such as Honeycrisp and Jonathan, as well as new, unique varieties like Ludacrisp and Sweet Zinger.
This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Omaha Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
