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What could be better than spending a crisp Berkshire day picking apples, exploring a farm, and sharing warm cider donuts with the kids? The best kids' activities at Berkshire Apple Orchards to explore combine fresh air, scenic countryside, and plenty of hands-on fun. For families searching for things to do with kids at apple orchards in the Berkshires, local farms and orchards turn a simple fall outing into a full day of picking, playing, tasting, and exploring together.
Pick Your Own Apples
Apple picking gives children a chance to experience where their food comes from while enjoying time outdoors. Kids can walk between rows of trees, search for ripe fruit, and fill a bag with apples to enjoy during the trip or bring home.
Hilltop Orchards in Richmond is a particularly scenic place for families. The 200-acre property grows 27 varieties of apples and features rolling orchard landscapes and woodland trails. Families can combine their orchard visit with a walk or hike, and children are welcome on trails designed for different ability levels. Reaching the higher areas also rewards visitors with views stretching across three states.
Apple varieties and picking conditions change throughout the season, so check the orchard’s current offerings before heading out.
Get Lost in Corn Mazes
Turn the Farm Visit Into an Adventure
Corn mazes add a little problem-solving and adventure to a family farm day. At Ioka Valley Farm, fall visitors can wander through a mini-corn maze at no additional charge. It is an easy activity to pair with the farm’s other seasonal attractions and gives kids a fun challenge without requiring a long hike.
Families can also explore the giant pumpkin house and dress-me scarecrows, making it easy to keep younger visitors entertained between activities.
Visit Farm Animals
Meeting farm animals can be one of the most memorable parts of the day, especially for younger children. During summer, Ioka Valley Farm’s Uncle Don’s Barnyard lets kids see, pet, and feed baby farm animals. Other activities include pedal-powered tractors, giant sandboxes, a hay tunnel, a mechanical cow, a farm-themed playground, and a quiet farm book library.
The farm also features an animal petting area during the fall season, giving families another reason to visit as the leaves begin to change.
Pick Pumpkins and Enjoy Fall Harvest Fun
Apple season pairs perfectly with another New England favorite: pumpkin picking. Ioka Valley Farm hosts fall activities on select weekends from late September through October. Families can head to the pumpkin patch, choose colorful corn, and explore seasonal attractions.
Some attractions are free, while experiences such as the Family Fun Play Area, Wagon Train Ride, and Pumpkin Slingshot have additional charges. Pumpkins picked from the patch are priced by weight.
Wear comfortable shoes and bring layers, since Berkshire fall temperatures can change throughout the day.
Eat Apple Cider Donuts and Orchard Treats
No orchard adventure feels complete without something sweet. Hilltop Orchards makes apple cider donuts fresh daily and also sells orchard-made cider, baked fruit pies, scones, and other locally produced foods at its farm store.
Ioka Valley Farm adds even more seasonal favorites, including homemade cider donuts, pies, cookies, pumpkin whoopie pies, cider, apples, and maple products. Sharing a warm donut after exploring the farm is an easy way to end an active afternoon.
Plan a Memorable Berkshire Family Day
Make the orchard part of your getaway. The best things to do with kids at apple orchards in the Berkshires are often the simplest: picking fruit together, meeting animals, navigating a maze, choosing a pumpkin, and enjoying a fresh cider donut. Add an orchard visit to your plans for family travel in the Berkshires and give everyone a chance to slow down, explore the countryside, and make memories together.
