Visiting an apple orchard or a pumpkin patch are quintessential fall activities, and the countryside around Hamilton, in the heart of the Niagara Greenbelt, is ripe with pick-your-own farms where you can spend a day on the farm and head home with a home-baked apple or pumpkin pie or fresh apples for weeks to come. Plus, many of these farms have extra attractions for kids, including wagon rides, corn mazes, train rides, and farmyard animals.
Check the Ontario Apple Growers calendar to find out what’s growing at this point in the season, whether Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Northern Spy, Russet, Golden Delicious, Creston, Jonagold, or the tried-and-true Gala.
Frootogo
Frootogo in Waterdown is a favourite simply because of the extensive play yard they have for the kids along with the delicious food options for the adults. Be sure to pick out a pie, eat some delicious soup and biscuits for lunch, pick your own apples and pumpkin! Cost for the play yard is $3.50 per person.
573 Parkside Dr., WaterdownDaily 9 am–5 pm
Carluke Orchards
Come and pick from a variety of 13 apples and find your favourite pumpkin at this orchard in Ancaster. Enjoy the bakery to take home a delicious treat as well!
2194 Shaver Rd. S., AncasterTuesday–Saturday 8 am–6 pm, Sunday 11 am–5 pm
Myers Apples
This rural orchard and pumpkin farm in Copetown is a perfect country getaway for all of us city folk.
37 Highway 52, CopetownDaily 9 am–6 pm
Bennetts Apples
Famous for its apples, cider and baked goods, this is a market that guarantees the freshest produce. Located in Ancaster.
944 Garner Rd. E., AncasterWeekdays 8–8, Saturday 8 am–6 pm
Puddicombe Farms
This beautiful farm in Winona, near Stoney Creek, not only has a market and country store to enjoy but has a number of activities to explore including a train ride, estate tours, and educational tours.
1468 Highway 8, WinonaDaily 9 am–5 pm
Dyments Family Farm
This farm is full of family fun activities including a barnyard play area, a machinery shed, straw fort, animal farm, 9-hole mini putt, and the classic wagon ride and corn maze.
416 Fallsview Rd. E., DundasWeekends 10 am–5 pm
Lindley’s Farm
Lindley’s Farm in Ancaster includes pumpkin hayrides and a corn maze among the delicious produce in their market.
900 Fiddler’s Green Rd., AncasterWeekends 10 am–4 pm