Patch Picks: Four Places to Go Apple Picking

1. Honey Pot Hill Orchards

144 Sudbury Road, Stow, MA
978-562-5666

THE BUZZ: Now picking Macouns, MacIntosh, Cortand, Empire, Red Delicious and Bosc Pears. Cash and check only at pick your own and much of the orchard, ATM in the farm store. Visit the Farm store, hedgemaze, tunnelmaze and farm animals open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cider donuts, caramel apples, apple & pumpkin pie and soft serve ice cream also available. Weekend hayrides from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekday hayrides from noon to 5 p.m.

2. Shelburne Farm

106 West Acton Road, Stow, MA 
978-897-9287‎

THE BUZZ: Orchard and apple shop are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Types of apples in the orchard are: Macoun, McIntosh, Cortland, Empire and Fuji. Other attractions include: hay rides, moon bounce, pedal tractors, hay maze and hay mountain from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are also pony rides from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

3. Bolton Orchards

125 Still River Road, Bolton, MA 
978-779-2733

THE BUZZ: Varieties available include: Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Empire, Granny Smith, Macoun and Matsu. You can also plan ahead. Bolton Orchards offers a select line of premium products for your online shopping convenience. There are also daily lunch specials, sandwiches, home-made soups and entrees, pizza, and heavenly desserts.

4. Belkin Family Lookout Farm

89 Pleasant St. South, South Natick, MA
508-651-1539

THE BUZZ: The Farm is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pick your own fruit, enjoy train rides, moon bounce, caterpillar rides, burlap maze and hay pyramid. Weekends also include live kids' entertainment face painting & more! Check Farm Festivities above for details. Apples available for picking include: Ginger Gold, Gala, Honey Crisp, Red Delicious, Macoun, Macintosh, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Fuji, Cortland and Shizuka.