Your Guide to Apple-Picking in Southwest Michigan

Updated for 2026

Each fall, Southwest Michigan’s hillsides turn gold and red, while cider and cinnamon drift through the countryside. That’s when we know apple-picking season has arrived. Around Allegan, the orchards practically invite you to take your favorite person’s hand and spend the day exploring together.

Still dreaming about your perfect fall weekend together? Take a look at available dates, and we'll help you turn that picture into a getaway worth anticipating all year.

Michigan regularly ranks among the country’s top apple-producing states, with more than 850 family-run farms spread across the state. That’s a lot of orchards to explore, and several make an easy outing from your suite here at the Castle.

These aren’t big corporate operations. Many are multi-generation farms where families put real care into every tree, basket, and bushel. Lake Michigan lends a hand, too, softening winters and cooling summers just enough to help those apples thrive.

Sparta may be known as the Apple Capital of Michigan, but our own corner of Allegan County deserves plenty of attention. You won’t have to travel far before you’re strolling between the trees and filling a basket together.

These U-pick apple orchards sit within a short drive, and each is perfect for an afternoon of apple picking. We're always happy to point you toward the one that fits your day.

This 25-acre family farm grows 23 apple varieties, plus pumpkins, plums, and peaches. Pick up fresh-pressed, unpasteurized cider in half-gallon or gallon containers. Their low-spray approach also uses 40% less chemical treatment than typical store-bought fruit.

More than a dozen apple varieties grow across this family-owned farm’s 340 acres, including Empire and Ruby Mac. Tart cherries join the harvest, while the wide-open orchard views make the visit especially lovely.

Overhiser has welcomed visitors since 1863 and grows nearly two dozen apple varieties, including Honeycrisp and Golden Supreme. You’ll also find pumpkins, plums, pears, farm animals, a corn maze, and cornhole.

Vern VerHage opened the farm in 1960, and Nancy added the cider mill two years later. Their original family recipe is still used today. Come for U-pick apples, then save room for caramel apples, homemade pies, and fudge.

Prefer to skip the picking and head straight for the tasting? Dutch Farm Market makes it easy with home-grown apples, including McIntosh and Rome, already picked for you.

Around Labor Day weekend, more than a dozen apple varieties begin ripening here, from Blondee to Red Delicious. After picking, enjoy a tractor hayride or tackle the 20-acre corn maze together.

This 112-acre farm has grown fruit since 1894 and now produces 13 apple varieties. Once known as Margot Farms, its current name honors fruit locals described as pure gold.

Tell us your pace, and we'll map the route.

An afternoon at the orchard pairs beautifully with a slower evening together. Fenn Valley Vineyards offers wine tasting year-round and remains a guest favorite. Bring a bottle back to the Castle, then settle in and enjoy the peaceful country views from your suite.

Southwest Michigan wineries and vineyards dot the countryside beyond Fenn Valley, too, each with its own tasting room and personality.

Beer lovers have plenty to explore, too. Several local breweries throughout the surrounding countryside pour seasonal releases worth seeking out. Our region has also become a favorite for hard cider, with local cideries turning fresh-pressed apples into something special to savor together.

Some of our favorite guest days start at an orchard and wander somewhere completely unexpected. Fall foliage along the Lake Michigan shoreline puts on one of its best shows this time of year. And we know the drives and overlooks locals actually use.

Many guests also head to one of the best beaches in the area. They love watching the sun set over Lake Michigan together before heading back to the Castle for the evening.

Ready to trade apple baskets for a little horsepower? The Gilmore Car Museum sits about an hour away and features more than 400 vintage automobiles. We’ll gladly help you plan a day that suits the two of you, whether that means orchards, cider, classic cars, or all three.

A little planning helps you catch the orchards at their best. Mid-September through late October usually brings the strongest apple-picking season, with new varieties ripening each week.

Check in with us before you head out. We’ll help you choose the right farm for that day, so you can spend more time picking together.

A few things worth knowing before you go:

• The sweetest apples in Michigan are the Honeycrisp — crisp, juicy, and easy to eat straight off the branch

• Gala and SweeTango have their own devoted fans, if you're looking to branch out

• Call ahead when you can — availability shifts fast as the season progresses

• Bring your own containers if you have them, since baskets and bushels go quicker at the smaller family farms

Then again, some guests discover they don’t want to leave our 65 peaceful acres. A couples massage, cornhole on the lawn, or a gazebo picnic can fill your afternoon beautifully.

We plan your itinerary around what the two of you actually enjoy, never a one-size-fits-all checklist. We’ll even text the details, so all you need to do is show up and enjoy each other.

Apple picking in autumn has a way of turning a quiet weekend together into something unforgettable. We’ve watched guests fall in love with the season, then return each year to relive it.

You may be celebrating an anniversary, planning a proposal, or simply craving private time with someone you love. Whatever brings you here, we’re ready to help with every thoughtful detail.

Your suite will be waiting, along with a chef-made breakfast and a gazebo glowing beneath the evening sky. Book your stay at Castle in the Country today, and let us make this your most romantic fall yet.

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