As summer comes to an end and fall is in the air, thoughts turn to things like pumpkins and corn mazes…but let’s not forget about apple picking and apple cider, especially with Johnny Appleseed’s birthday on September 26th! This enjoyable weather is a perfect time to experience the great outdoors with a family adventure.  Below are the links for a few orchards worth the trip!

Apples on Oak is a small orchard just a few miles down the road in Homer Township if you’re looking just to pick some great local varieties.

County Line Orchard is located about an hour east of New Lenox in Hobart, Indiana. Even though this is a little farther away, there are plenty of family fun activities to enjoy.

To the northwest, a little over an hour’s drive in Maple Park, is Kuiper’s Family Farm. This orchard also offers many family friendly activities to make it worth the trip, and I hear they have fantastic apple cider donuts!

 

What to do with all those apples when you get home?  Parents Magazine has some fun as well as tasty ideas in this article:

The blog Little Bins for Little Hands has ideas for science and STEM activities to try:

Here are a few of our many apple books in the library, some with recipes!

   Apples to Oregon by Deborah Hopkinson                          E HOP

  The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree                      by Gail Gibbons  E GIB

 How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World       by Marjorie Priceman  E PRI

  Apples  by Shawndra Shofner                                      J 634.11 SHO

Stop in and see our many other books and resources we have to learn more about apples, fall, and the changing seasons.  And if you’re looking for other outdoor fall experiences, visit the Will County Forest Preserve website for more ways to enjoy the outdoors.

Happy Fall!