Apple Picking


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	Apple Picking


The comments below are unedited opinions of the colleagues who submitted them. A date (month and year) indicates that the comments following that date are from the given month and year. The most recent comments appear at the bottom.

10/99 *One of the most famous (and therefore crowded) places around here is Honey Pot Hill Orchard, Stow. Rt. 2 to 62W (978) 5625666. Large, set up for crowds, popular and good. They have ladders, hay rides, organized parking, staff helpers in the orchards the whole nine yards. For something slightly more intimate, try Shelburne Farm, Acton. Rt. 2 111W, 2nd left, Willow, bear R on Willow, 2.5 miles. A little quieter, wider variety of apples and pears, smaller trees (no climbing allowed). It's still a big operation and has a long season, but it's definitely not a cozy family orchard. 9/00 Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis NH-just over the mass border. Call to get directions because you can either go on main highways or backroads. Tougas' Family Farm in Northboro/Marlboro. Very clean, hay rides, big operation - wonderful for kids. Get there early in the day. Fabulous farm kitchen too, and good cider made on the premises. Tougas Farms is off of Church Street from Route 290 in Northboro, MA. Follow signs near Davidian Fruit & Vegi Stand. On saturday, we went to Berlin orchards in Berlin, Ma to pick apples. It was really fun as they take you up to the orchards in a hay wagon pulled by a tractor. The wagon is filled with soft hay not prickley bales and the apples are terrific (we picked macs and cortlands). Also, you don't need to climb- there are excellent pickings at kid level. Also, FYI before we went apple picking we went to the mega-maze at David Farmland in sterling (just up the road). The megamaze is a corn field planted in a maze. We had a blast getting lost for and hour and a half. They also have a farm with animals across the street but we did not go there this year. you can find them on the web: www.davisfarmland.com We went to Marino Lookout Farm last weekend for apple picking. It is located in South Natick. You can visit its web site at http://www.lookoutfarm.com. Some favorites-- Hamilton Orchards on the North Shore (Ipswich) Take 128 to 1a North, and take a right on 133. There will be signs on a road to the left for the orchard. They have a petting barn, and the best homemade cider donuts anywhere, as well as pick your own. It is on the road to Crane's beach so makes a very nice day trip. If you are into the touristy thing continue on 133 into Essex--Woodman's clam shack and a few other seafood places are close by. Take Rt 2 to 495 and take the exit off 495 for Rt 117. Go west on 117 and there will be a couple pick your own orchards in Bolton. One has a stand with nice apple turnovers, the other is a winery (Nashoba Valley) with tours. Both are fun. All of these are about an hour away from Boston. Honey Pot Hill Orchard in Stow; Red Apple Farm in Phillipston **Londonderry Farms, Londonderry NH has a variety of apples. They also have pumpkins to pick and a general store with awesome baked goods.