Crunch & Munch, Sip & Savor: 10 Amazing Mid-Michigan Apple Orchards & Cider Mills to Visit This Fall
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Are you looking for an apple orchard or “cider mill near me” in mid-Michigan this fall? We’ve curated a list of the best mid-Michigan apple orchards and cider mills to help you make the most of this traditional fall favorite!
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While mid-Michigan is famous for its rolling hills, dairy farms, and many parks and recreation areas, it’s also a hidden gem of sorts. This central Michigan region offers a host of fun things to do, especially during fall.
Mid-Michigan is home to a large selection of farm stands, hayrides, pumpkin patches, and other attractions to enjoy, as well as plenty of apple farms and cider mills with fresh-pressed cider, fresh apples, and just-out-of-the-oven donuts.
Here are the best Mid-Michigan apple orchards and cider mills to visit this fall:
Apple Barrel Cider Mill | Ithaca
Open for cider and donuts Monday through Saturday from September through November
The Apple Barrel Cider Mill in Ithaca, Michigan claims they have the best cider donuts in the state, and that might very well be true. They are certainly very good. They feature 23 different varieties of apples, including Gala, Zestar!, Pink Lady, Paula Red, and Honeycrisp.
You can see on their website when each variety will likely become available and how to best use that variety. They also sell a premium apple cider.
In the bakery, they sell delicious crunchy apple and apple caramel donuts, homemade apple pies, and other tasty treats. There’s also a selection of apple jams and preserves as well as other Michigan-made food products and gift items.
At the cider mill, you can watch cider making as it happens through the viewing window, and enjoy a glass of fresh apple cider.
Phillips Orchard and Cider Mill | St Johns
Open daily for Cider and Donuts from August through November
Located midway between Lansing and Ithaca, Phillips Orchard and Cider Mill offers 12 different varieties of apples, including Gala, Cortland, Fuji, and Red and Golden Delicious. Founded in 1852, they have managed to keep that small, family-run farm atmosphere.
Other products available during the fall include cider made traditionally using a rack and cloth press; crunchy cider donuts; house-made pies; and cider slush. There’s also a hard cider tasting room.
Phillips Orchard and Cider Mill aims to be a complete fall farm destination, with horse-drawn wagon hayrides, a pumpkin patch, and a picnic area.
Uncle John’s Cider Mill | St Johns
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., September and October
Uncle John’s Cider Mill in St. Johns, Michigan offers a variety of fall amenities and activities. Visitors can enjoy fresh cider and donuts, pick pumpkins, watch cider being made, and sip on hard cider. Additional fall activities include hayrides, corn mazes, and live music.
Uncle John’s Cider Mill is a great destination for families and friends looking for a fun fall outing.
Almar Orchards and Cidery | Flushing
Open for cider, apples, and donuts daily during September, October, and November
Located west of Lansing, the 300-acre Almar Orchards and Cidery has been in business since 1948. The family-run farm not only grows more than 50 varieties of apples but only sells the top quality varieties in their store. The store stocks farm-made apple cider, award-winning hard cider, and unique drinking vinegars.
Almar Orchards is one of the largest organic farms east of the Rocky Mountains. In addition to the apples, the farm raises pigs, sells pork products, and has a small herd of reindeer.
You can sample the various hard ciders and drinking vinegars in the Almar Orchards tasting room.
Felzke Farm | DeWitt
Open daily in September and October
Located in DeWitt, north of Lansing, Felzke Farm offers a good selection of farm-fresh products, including more than a dozen varieties of apples during the fall season. They also make their own donuts each weekend in the fall, including the ever-popular cider donuts.
Although maple syrup season is in the spring, they usually have a stock of the current year’s farm-made syrup for sale during apple season.
In addition to stocking up on apples and apple products, you can get your pumpkins here. The pumpkin patch offers traditional, white, and knotty pumpkins. This is a working farm and kids love having a chance to see the many farm animals.
Clearview Orchards | Haslett
Open from Labor Day through late October
This combination apple farm and pumpkin patch is located about 20 miles northeast of Lansing. They offer 15 different types of apples, both as pick-your-own and fresh-picked on the farm stand. They also sell home-grown honey and offer horse-drawn wagon rides through the orchard.
Clearview Orchards is family-run and will supply half-bushel and bushel bags for those wishing to pick their own apples.
The farm has a bucolic ambiance with farm animals who frequently peek over at the apple trees and pumpkin patches. The semi-dwarf apple trees in the orchard make it easy for even little ones to pick apples.
Wyrick’s Orchards | St Johns
Open daily from mid-September through early November
This family-run orchard, located just east of St Johns, has been in business for more than 50 years, but they have maintained the farm’s quiet, peaceful setting in spite of welcoming the public for apples, pumpkins, and homemade baked goods.
The annual apple harvest at Wyrick’s Orchards in St Johns features 18 different types of apples, including Empire, Cortlands, McIntosh, Red & Yellow Delicious, and Northern Spy.
Andy T’s Farm Market | St Johns
Open daily through the fall growing season
Andy T’s Farm Market started as a roadside stand 50 years ago and has grown to become a Mid-Michigan institution. They offer a variety of apples and other fresh produce, including corn grown on the farm, as well as home-baked pies, pumpkin rolls, breads, and donuts.
The 200-acre farm also has a pumpkin patch and grows award-winning vegetables, plants, fruits, and flowers. The farm’s Entertainment Farm offers a chance for classes of students and other groups to get a first-hand look at how a working farm operates.
Apple Valley Orchard | Saginaw
Open Friday – Sunday for apples, donuts, and cider in September and October
Apple Valley Orchard, located just north of Saginaw is a small, family-run orchard with a variety of apples, cider, donuts, and even hot cider. They also press their own cider and make blueberry, pumpkin, and cider doughnuts fresh every morning they’re open.
What started out as a hobby 15 years ago, with just a few apple trees in the backyard, has turned into a lucrative business for the Sprunger family.
The orchard sits on 18 acres and has approximately 550 trees. In 2019, the family invested in a $23,000 cider press that can produce 60 to 100 gallons of cider at one time. They use primarily Gala and Golden Delicious apples for the cider.
Koan’s Orchard | Flushing
Open daily for donuts, apples, and cider, until the apples and cider run out (usually in late January or February).
Located about 15 miles northwest of Flint, Koan’s Orchard is a small, family-run orchard with a “general store” type of feel that’s been in business for more than 50 years.
The specialty here is apples, and they offer a variety, including Winesap, Cortland, Fuji, Gala, McIntosh, and more, as well as cider donuts, apple jelly, and caramel apples.
Koan’s Orchard also has a pumpkin patch and sells locally-made food products like honey, jams, preserves, and pickles. The orchard holds an Applefest on the first Sunday in October each year.
More Michigan Fall Things to Explore in Mid-Michigan and Beyond
Did we miss your favorite mid-Michigan apple orchard or cider mill? Make sure to tell us about it in the comments!
In addition to apple orchards and cider mills, mid-Michigan is known for its pumpkin patches, corn mazes, fall color drives and so many more things to do in fall! Make sure to add a few to your fall must-see list.