It’s that time of year—the leaves are changing colors and you’re grabbing that hoodie from the back of the closet on your way out the door. Your mindset is shifting from beaches and barbeques to cider and pumpkins. You’re remembering that this is the perfect time for Michigan to show off its unique autumn beauty and offer up great seasonal activities.
The following is a list of places where you can engage in some excellent fall fun. Please bear in mind that hours and activities will vary, so you should check to ensure you are not wasting a trip. Also note that several venues use Facebook as their online presence, and an account login may be required to view their pages.
Near Canton, check out Plymouth Orchards and Cider Mill, where you can pick pumpkins in the field, hear live music, and enjoy fresh cider and donuts. Open since 1977, this is a Michigan staple for fun fall excursions.
Also located within a short drive is Denny’s U-Pick Pumpkin Patch, with options for both pick-your-own and harvested pumpkins for selection, as well as a corn maze.
In neighboring Belleville, The Pumpkin Factory offers—you guessed it—pumpkins, both ready for picking and already gathered from the field, as well as a corn maze, petting farm and hayrides, with additional activities during the Halloween season.
DeBuck’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch has “acres and acres of family fun and activities,” including wagon rides to the pumpkin patches, a tire play area and a super slide.
Wiard’s in Ypsilanti has pumpkin and apple picking, a nature center and petting zoo, as well as a winery, cidery and brewery. There are fall fun activities including a corn maze, Halloween events and haunted attractions. They even host birthday parties.
Head further into Washtenaw County and you’ll find The Blast Corn Maze at Nixon Farms in Dexter, and three different corn mazes at Coleman’s Farm and Corn Maze in Saline.
The Alber Orchard and Cider Mill in Manchester features over 100 varieties of apples, including both traditional and heirloom varieties.
At Slow Farm in Ann Arbor, you can pick a variety of fruits, vegetables and flowers, while Donahee Farms in Salem offers a straw maze, pumpkin picking and a variety of farm-fresh products.
Head south to try Bird’s Big Pumpkins (a.k.a. “Bird’s Big Punk’ns”) in Romulus, with pumpkins in a variety of sizes and colors, as well as pick-your-own red raspberries, or visit Apple Charlies in New Boston to pick apples, take a tractor-pulled hayride, see farm animals and taste fresh apple cider.
Wander around the rest of southeast Michigan, and there are a number of other places to visit.
Spicer Orchards in Fenton has adult fun with wine tasting and hard cider sampling, plus a corn maze, games and a cider mill for all-ages enjoyment.
Diehl’s Orchard and Cider Mill in Holly offers a pumpkin patch and wagon rides, as does Cook’s Farm Dairy in Ortonville (plus cows!).
In Northville, you might check out Obstbaum Orchards, with its 40-year-old apple orchard and cider mill.
For more cider, donuts, and lots of fun, continue on to Three Cedars Farm. With a corn maze, hayrides, play area and cider mill treats, it's a great place for the whole family to visit. Remember to bring your cash or checkbook as no credit cards are accepted.
Finally, Farmer J’s World Record Corn Maze in Dundee provides a family-friendly corn maze experience, and Kackleberry Farm in Monroe is home to three corn mazes spread over 12 acres. They also have pig races and live animal attractions featuring lambs, goats and chickens. Experience an old-timey tractor ride and don’t forget to visit the pumpkin patch where you can fire off the Chick-A-Bunga pumpkin cannon!
The destinations above are just a sampling of the fall attractions that Michigan has to offer. Check out the My Michigan Beach website for their list of the best Michigan pumpkin patches and corn mazes for additional locations in southeastern Michigan and elsewhere around the state.
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