Who doesn’t love a hot cup of homemade cider or a slice of flakey apple pie on a chilly fall day? These apple picking orchards just outside DC will surely satisfy visitors' autumn cravings. 
Macintosh Fruit Farm
For those looking for a tasty treat after apple picking, The Macintosh Fruit Farm is a must. Not only does the orchard have plentiful pick-your-own apples, but also serves delectable dishes cooked with their fresh fruits and vegetables. Guests can munch on apple paninis and garden salads while sipping on an apple cider float or green smoothie. 1608 Russell Road, Berryville, Va., 540.955.6225, mackintoshfruitfarm.com
Rinker Orchards
Rinker Orchards specializes in 10 varieties of apples, including Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Fuji, which customers can harvest themselves in the orchards. Their apple cider recipe is also a must-try. This seasonal sip has been a Rinker family secret since 1986, and is 100% juice with no added sugar or preservatives. Apple butter sales and hard cider tastings are also available every weekend through Oct. 11. 1156 Marlboro Road, Stephens City, Va., 540.869.1499, rinkerorchards.com
Butler’s Orchard
With over 300 acres of sprawling fields filled with pick-your-own fruits and vegetables, Butler’s Orchard offers an abundance of apple picking options. The orchard's market is filled with seasonal produce favorites, such as tomatoes, apples and peaches, while the bakery serves up pies, bread, brownies and cookies. Butler’s Orchard also houses a shop full of decor and giftware, ranging from handspun yarn to inventive cookbooks. After filling up a bag of crisp apples, join in the Pumpkin Festival fun for a hayride, pumpkin picking or walk through the corn mazes. 22222 Davis Mill Road, Germantown, Md., 301.428.0444, butlersorchard.com
Stribling Orchard
This spot has been a family owned and operated farm for nearly 6 decades since its opening in the 1930s. Not only does the orchard welcome apple pickers rain or shine, but also has a bakery, the Harvest House, filled with freshly baked bread, local eggs, jams and pies. Besides apples, the farm sells grass-fed beef, on-site and online, from cattle who roam the northern Fauquier County fields adjoining the apple orchard. 11587 Poverty Hollow Lane, Markham, Va., 540.364.3040, striblingorchard.com
Rock Hill Orchard
Just an hour outside of DC, Rock Hill Orchard has over 30 varieties of apples, including Winecrisp, Pink Lady and Mutsu. With carefully pruned trees, visitors can leisurely pick apples without the hassle of climbing ladders. The orchard also features a small herd of Guernsey cows that produce dairy for their ice cream shop, Woodbourne Creamery. The creamery is the last remaining “Cow to Cone '' shop in Montgomery County, so swing by for some hand scooped or prepackaged pints of their luscious ice cream. 28600 Ridge Road, Mount Airy, Md., 301.831.7427, rockhillorchard.com
Hartland Orchard
Located in the scenic countryside of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hartland Orchard provides an ample supply of Fuji and Granny Smith apples for picking. With their own cider press running on weekends, Hartland Orchard is the perfect location for a quiet picnic and relaxing cup of homemade apple cider. The market stand also sells festive treats such as honey, apple donuts and apple butter. 3064 Hartland Lane, Markham, Va., 540.364.2316, hartlandorchard.com
Homestead Farm
Only a short 45 minute drive from the city, Homestead Farm is an apple picking oasis. The farm is surrounded with scenic views of green pastures and creeks where guests are welcome to meet barnyard animals and picnic. With complimentary bags and wagons, customers can pick Cameo, Suncrisp and Daybreak Fuji apples. After loading up on Fujis, drop by the market to shop local veggies like fall squash, tomatoes, peppers and flat beans, or for something sweeter, buy a bottle of apple cider and a jar of fruit preserves. 15604 Sugarland Road, Poolesville, Md., 301.977.3761, homestead-farm.net
Hollin Farm
Situated on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains and next to Sky Meadows State Park, Hollin Farm has stunning rolling hills and an apple orchard with Empire, Golden Delicious, Gala and Cameo apples. The snack shack, Little Red Barn, and ice cream shed, Scoops, prepare tasty treats such as donuts, hot dogs and cider to satiate visitors’ hunger after a long afternoon of scouring trees for the best apples. The Farm is also home to a group of cattle, so customers can bring home natural, antibiotic-free angus beef. 1524 Snowden Road, Delaplane, Va., 540.623.8854, hollinfarms.com
Larriland Farm
Since 1973, the Moore family has been welcoming guests to pick-their-own at Larriland Farm. Every fall, over 25 varieties of apples are ripe for the picking, along with other fall vegetables such as kale, cabbage, turnips and broccoli. Before planning a trip, explore their daily picking options on the website’s harvest guide. Customers can also take a hayride or shop at the farm’s market, The Red Barn. The market sells an array of fall produce, along with homemade granola, artisan bread and local meat. 2415 Woodbine Road, Woodbine, Md., 301.854.6110, pickyourown.com
Catoctin Mountain Orchard
Celebrating 60 years of business, the Catoctin Mountain Orchard sits on the eastern slope of the Appalachian Mountain Range, so visitors can pick with a view. Following a day of apple harvesting, check out their website for a variety of recipes like cajun apple sausage skewers, peanut butter apple s’mores, apple raisin bread and caramel apple tarte. The orchard also has a pick-your-own flower garden with numerous different types of botanicals, including sunflowers, zinnias and lisianthus. 15036 North Franklinville Road, Thurmont, Md., 301.271.2737, catoctinmountainorchard.com
Photography by: Ryan Arnst/Unsplash
