Last weekend, we had the appliest trip of our lives to Justus Orchard, an apple farm nestled in the charming Blue Ridge Mountains. Crisp juicy apples, fresh mountain air, and farm fun stole our hearts. Freshly-baked apple cider donuts warmed our bellies.
Harvest Season
- The apple season is from mid-July to mid-November.
- Different apple varieties ripen at different times. Well-known varieties such as Granny Smith or Late Fuji ripen from early to mid-October.
- Justus Orchard opens to the public in July and runs through early November. There's a wide variety of apples, peaches, and blackberries that you can buy pre-picked or pick your own throughout the season.
- The orchard has plenty of activities for the whole family and gorgeous mountain views, of course.
Apple Picking
Varieties such as Honey Crisp, Golden Supreme, Gala, Early Fuji, and Ginger Gold are ready to be picked in the early season, which is between August and early September. From September to early October, you find varieties such as Candy Crisp, Ambrosia, Mutsu, Cameo, and others. Winesap, Late Fuji, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Gold Rush, and Arkansas Black are late bloomers with the peak of ripeness in early to mid-October.
We kick off our apple Sunday by grabbing the bags and just heading into apple wonderland, without any intentions of which apples we want to pick. Kids just munched their way through the orchard, one bite at a time, letting their taste buds to decide. We mixed some Fuji with Winesap varieties.
Apple picking turned out to be a fun and easy activity even for my preschooler. She was able to easily reach and pick her favorites directly from a tree. There were plenty of apples on the bottom branches, right at her eye level. All she needed to do was just to set her eyes on the most delicious one. And a ripe apple would come off a branch with a little twist easily.
And how exciting it was to explore the orchard without a plan. When we saw a tree heavy with fruits, we just ran to it, discovering more and more apple varieties on the way.
After wandering, picking, and trying apples, the kids trusted their taste buds and decided that they liked all the apples. So we ended up with the mixed apple bags.
For those who like to plan and are looking for tried and true apple varieties, there's an updated apple ripening calendar available on the orchard's website and Facebook page. They also have little wagons to cart the produce around the farm and apple picker rakes to reach the top of the trees for the ripest and juiciest apples.
The Apple House
With hands full of apples and hearts full of joy, we trudged to the Apple and Bakery House. Piles of homemade goodies and pre-picked apples filled every pocket of the store. We opted for caramel apple pops and a few preserves.
The Bakery House
As much as we enjoyed the Apple House, the divine smell of a fried apple pie and donuts from the Bakery House beckoned us more. A first taste of apple cider donuts and hot cider had us smiling like the cat that ate the canary. Those sweet treats were definitely the highlight of that windy day in the mountains.
With plenty of homemade treats from old-fashioned apple fritters to apple cider slushies, you’ll find the ones to satisfy your palate. And be sure to throw in a cup of apple cider and some sugarly donuts to keep you going through the day of apple picking and wagon hauling.
Jumping Pillow
The orchard grounds burst with many kid-friendly activities. A jumping pillow, a petting zoo, and a playground are the ones my kids enjoyed to their heart content the most. The fee for a wristband that allows unlimited jumping is $5 a child. You are free to come and go as you wish throughout the day.
Playground
With plenty of climbing and sliding features, it's safe to say that this wooden play area is a kids' favorite corner of the grounds. What's more? There's a big sandbox that all kids can agree on. And thumbs up for the big construction cars that kept my little one entertained for hours.
You will also find a covered picnic area by a play area with some breathtaking views.
Cow Train
Whisking away the apples, we shuffled into the waiting cow train and set off on a little adventure around the orchard. It was a bumpy but blessed moment with all my little marathon runners contained, in one place and for once, just enjoying the ride.
As the train pulled to a stop, we scrambled out, looking for the next fun thing to do. The animal barn is a little further from the main attractions but is worth a visit. On the way to the animals, you also passed a pond with ducks to the endless delight of our kiddos.
Farm Animals
You can get up close and personal with many animals on the farm, including a donkey, pig, horse, and even a couple of peacocks. They are all friendly and super cuddly.
To check the apple ripening dates and learn more about the orchard, visit the Justus Orchard website and their Facebook page.
Justus Orchard Activities Include:
- Apple cannon
- Apple and berry picking
- Playground with a sandbox
- HUGE jumping pillow (in the open sun)
- Cow Train
- In-house, freshly made goodies
Note: Admission is free. You pay for individual activities or what you pick. Always call ahead or check out the farm's Fb page before your visit, as weather and crowds may impact open hours and fruit availability.
What's more?
If you are in the area, be sure to stop by Linda's Plants & Shrubs to visit their cutest pumpkin maze and a straw playground with a slide that goes straight into a corn pit for the little ones.Justus Orchard
Where: 187 Garren Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Monday through Sunday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
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