Neighborhood Expert: Where to go apple picking this season

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

I would really love for these 85 degree humid days to subside already!

I’m so happy football has started, now I’m ready for sweatshirts, fire pits and more fall things, including apple picking! Make sure you’re checking their social media and/or websites to verify when they’re open.

Some orchards/farms close down if it’s raining, or if they’ve been over picked to allow more fruit to ripen. Many will also have fall festivals if you check websites to make a whole day of it.

• Marker-Miller Orchards: Apple picking plus lots of options to purchase in their farm market.
• Homestead Farm: Apples and pumpkins during the end of September.
• Hartland Farm and Orchard: Apples and pumpkins.
• Crooked Run Orchard: Apples and pears. Check their Facebook page for updates and hours.
• Stribling Orchard: Apples and pumpkins.
• Mackintosh Fruit Farm: Apples, Asian pears, yellow peaches, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, tomatoes and flowers.
• Rock Hill Orchard: Ice Cream, apples (require reservations), peaches and flowers.
• Hollin Farms: Apples, some veggies, dig your own potatoes.
• Valley View Farm: Apples, pears and pumpkins (October), they also have an extensive Locavore Farm Market with a lot of products to try.
• Great Country Farms: Apples, corn maze, farm play area, jumping pillow and more attractions. You can buy tickets to their Apple Fest until September 30. Starting on September 17 you can also pick your own pumpkin. BONUS: This is across from Dirt Farm Breweryand Bluemont Vineyard, so if you’re looking for an adult treat after the kids play, just cross the street!