South Sound Apple Picking and Cider Making

 

If finally feels like fall! If the cool air has you thinking about apple picking and cider making, you’re not along! Sadly, there just aren’t many places for u pick apples in the South Sound, and Terry’s Berries, which offered organic u pick apples, isn’t open for public picking this year. The good news is there are several local apple festivals and cider events where you can get something that tastes fresh picked, even if you can’t do it yourself! If you don’t mind a road trip, I also have links for the closest u pick apple orchards to the greater Seattle area at the bottom.

Tacoma/Puyallup-The only place in the South Sound for u-pick apples is Terry’s Berries organic farm on River Road between Puyallup and Tacoma, and sadly, due to a poor crop they will not have u pick apple picking open to the public. I know-I’m super sad. You will be able to go make cider on weekends in October and enjoy other farm fun. To make the cider you purchase apples in the store and then use their old-fashioned presses.

My family and I have been going here for years, and we just love it. I will warn you it’s not an outing for everyone. It’s a real working farm, and a mom and pop operation, which means you can expect mud, long lines for the one register, and the occasional stray chicken. Last year, I heard from several readers who had a great time, but I also got a couple notes from folks who found their visit really spoiled by the Grumpy Gus who comes along with the cider press. It also ends up being Really expensive cider (But, Oh, so delicious)!

Puyallup–Meeker Mansion Cider Squeeze   Saturday, October 11th from 10-4  No apple picking here, but you can make fresh cider and get all kinds of apple treats-plus a pumpkin!

University Place–The Curran Apple Orchard has already hosted their cider event. In the past, readers have told us that there are plenty of extra apples on the trees that drop off and can be picked.  I honestly don’t know the rules on this, but I’ll work on finding out for you. You might want to consider, “Adopting a tree,” or otherwise volunteering to get lots of apples for next year!

Steilacoom–The Steilaccom Apple Squeeze Sunday, October 5th  Make fresh squeezed cider, purchase apple treats  No u-pick apples, but there will be apple trees for sale and an apple expert on hand to answer questions, along with children’s activities, pony rides, and more. If you’re new to the area, this is a lovely town, with an old-fashioned charm.

Olympia Lattin’s Country Cider Mill in Olympia hosts a month long apple festival, beginning the last weekend of September. You can’t pick your own apples or make your own cider, but there will be plenty of apples for sampling and purchase. There are also photo ops, animals to check out, and a year round corn maze, plus pumpkins in October. There will also be a variety of apple treats for sale-I’m now Craving a fritter. Blogging hazard!

Tumwater Apple Sunday at Tumwater Falls Sunday, October 5th  Bring your own apples and watch the Homesteaders press them into cider.  10-4

Beyond: If what you really want to do is watch the kiddos pick apples right off the tree, you’re going to have to find a generous neighbor, or take a road trip. The closest options from the Puget Sound area are north  in Skagit County. To really multiply your options, you can head over the mountains.. Lauren of NWTripFinder has a few spots for you to consider. Btw, if you’re via NWTripFinder, welcome! We stick strictly to South Sound adventures around here, and we’d love to have you come back agaijn!

If you know of a South Sound apple picking spot, I missed- or even just a great place to buy fresh and local, do  let me know!  In the coming days and weeks I’ll have lots more posts on fall fun-including harvest festivals, pumpkin patches, and much more.