Chances are that with a more open world, your summer bucket list just keeps getting longer. But if you're not quite ready to hit up a festival or start a cheer at a crowded sporting event, rest assured there are alternatives for a quieter, more intimate, yet no less planned season. Perhaps you're looking for activities that allow for more semi-social outings.Luckily, in New York City, you're never too far away from the abundant landscapes just a short drive north, and only a little ways away from the Garden State. Whether you're looking for a step up from the local farmer's market, in need of a weekend escape from the concrete jungle, or seeking a family-friendly Saturday treat, these beautiful farms offer city folks a chance to get their hands dirty, and reap some delicious rewards. Remember, though, that working farms such as those below are subject to schedule changes, so before you catch a train or call an Uber, it's a good idea to double-check the website or make a call to confirm your plans won't be squashed.
Patty's Berries and Bunches
This pick-your-own location opens for the season between the last week of May and the first week of June. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries are yours for the picking at $8 per basket. But you’ll find a lot more than just fruit at Patty’s, where there’s live music, educational classes, art installations, and a homemade ice cream shop (with vegan options). For $8, you can walk the flower fields and find that perfect Instagram photo opp. Farm tours are offered for large groups and families and are around 1 and a half to 2 hours long ($29). On your way out, stop by the store to pick up goods like produce, honey, flowers, and baked goods.
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
410 Sound Ave., Mattituck, NY, (631)-655-7996
Sussex County Strawberry Farm
Just shy of an hour and fifteen minutes’ drive from Manhattan, this northern New Jersey farm has been a family favorite for over 30 years. Pick your own strawberries beginning in early June, then return for raspberries and blackberries in August and September. Sussex County Strawberry Farm also features a greenhouse full of beautiful blooms, hanging baskets, plants, and gardening goods for sale. After bringing home your crop, head to their website for recipes like strawberries daiquiris and other berry treats.
Picking Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.;Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 12p.m.
Farm Hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free general admission.
565 Route 206, North Andover, New Jersey, (973)-579-5055
Bishop's Orchards
This 150-year-old, 52-acre orchard and farm focuses on stewardship and protecting the earth, in addition to providing delicious fruits and produce. Bishop’s encompasses multiple different businesses, including their Farm Market (an amped-up grocery store with a bakery and kitchen that’s open all year), a winery, and a creamery, which is open every day — their winery even has wine tastings every weekend from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Pick-your-own season generally runs from mid-June through the end of October, and offers peaches, and pears, and a variety of berries.
Farm Market Hours: Monday through Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Creamery Hours: Monday to Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Winery Hours: Monday through Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Bishop’s Orchards Guilford Farm Market & Winery: 1355 Boston Post Rd., Guilford, CT, (203)-452-2338
Check website for addresses of fruit-specific picking fields, (203)-458-PICK
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Alstede Farms
Set about an hour and a half outside of Manhattan, this New Jersey family farm uses sustainable and USDA certified organic farming methods to produce a plethora of fresh fruits, veggies, and flowers for picking. Their picking options run the gamut from spring strawberries to summer blueberries, blackberries, and peaches, all the way to autumn apples, making for a great family outing many months of the year. They also have a farm store with lots of fresh goodies like apple cider, butter, fresh baked goods, and local honey. In order to go picking you must purchase a ticket and pick a time slot, tickets are $11.99 a person.
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
1 Alstede Farms Ln, Chester, NJ, (908) 879-7189
More: Love Apple Picking? We Ranked the Best Places to Visit Near NYC
Lawrence Farms Orchards
For serious fruit pickers, Lawrence Farms Orchards offers a special deal—season passes that gain you entry to the farm from June-October. The family-run farm has been operating in the Hudson Valley since 1892 and offers a wide variety of fruit options, including berries (strawberries, currants, and raspberries are all on the menu), stonefruit (including cherries, plums, and peaches), and core fruit (like apples and pears) and even grapes.
Admission is $7 a person Monday through Thursday and $10.00 a person Friday through Sunday as well as Holidays. For more information about the season passes and its pricing, call the farm.
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
39 Colandrea Rd, Newburgh, NY, (845) 562-4268
Lewin Farms
From late spring into the fall, this fourth generation Long Island farm gives New Yorkers a chance to get in on the fun of picking their own fruit. Open 9am - 4:30pm, look for fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, and blackberries during the summer, while the autumn brings apples and pumpkins.
812 Sound Avenue, Calverton, NY, (631) 929-4327
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Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm
An hour north of New York City, this century-old farm is a haven for peach and apple lovers. Pick-your-own season begins in August when the peaches and nectarines ripen and continue into the fall with apple picking and a pumpkin patch. Bonus: You can keep your self-selection streak going into the winter by choosing your own fresh Christmas tree with the farm's nursery. The Pick-your-own hours are from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. everyday except for Tuesdays.
1335 White Hill Rd, Yorktown Heights, NY, (914) 245-5111
Rose Hill Farm
Located in the Hudson Valley, this sustainability-minded 100 acre farm features holistic farming practices that help ensure that all of the cherries, blueberries, apples, peaches, nectarines, plums, and apricots you pluck from the land are showing their best, most delicious sides.
19 Rose Hill Farm, Red Hook, NY, (845) 758-4215
Ochs Orchard
This picturesque, fourth-generation farm is perfect not only for fruit picking but picnicking. Take the family for a day upstate, about an hour and a half's drive from Manhattan, and enjoy the literal fruits of your labor throughout the season with strawberries, blueberries, peaches, apples, and more. The pick-your-own offering is open from 9am-5pm, Wednesday-Sunday, but the farm recommends calling ahead to confirm that the fields and weather are ripe for the picking.
$5 per person ages 4 and up, produce is sold by the pound
4 Ochs Lane, Warwick, NY, (845) 986-1591
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Fishkill Farms
An hour and a half north of NYC in East Fishkill lies the 270 acre Fishkill Farms, which has been operated by the Morgenthau family for more than a century. Fishkillis open for picking daily from 9am to 5pm,however reservations are required. The farm offers lots of fruit-finding opportunities throughout the year, including peaches, plums, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, strawberries and apples—the farm's website even has a handy daily update letting you know what's ripe on any given day so you can plan your trip accordingly.
9 Fishkill Farm Rd, Hopewell Junction, NY, (845) 897-4377
Greig Farm
If you're looking to do more than pick fruit, Greig Farm also has walking trails through the 3.5 miles of orchard and pasture. The farm, open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m, currently offers strawberry and blueberry picking and has a community garden, shop, and a two bedroom farmhouse which visitors can book through AirBnB.
Free entrance.
227 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook, NY, (845) 758-8007
Wightman Farms
Since 1922, Wightman Farms has been a family owned business that provides fresh fruits and vegetables to all who crave locally grown produce. Located an hour away from the city in Morris County, New Jersey — this gorgeous rural farm offers space to picnic, a pick-your-own of their seasonal fruits, and a store that sells Wightman’s very own Jersey fresh produce as well as baked goods, sandwiches, salads, cider, and ice cream. The farm currently offers strawberry picking for a seasonal entree fee of just $10 a person, the strawberries are sold at $6.99 a pound.
Pick-your-own is open weekends only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1111 Mt. Kemble Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960
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Snyders Farm
Snyders Farm is perfect for a family friendly day trip. In addition to blueberry picking that’s offered this time of year, they also provide guests with market and concession stands that carry produce, pre-picked berries,eggs, and homemade ice cream made from Synder’s berries. Their on-site store also offers jarred goods such as jams, sauces, honey as well as farm grown flowers. There’s also an activity area that provides guests with games, entertainment, and events.
Pick-your-own is $3 a person in addition to the cost of the picked berries. As per the website, the farm is cash only.
586 South Middlebush Road, Somerset, NJ 08873
Lauren Hubbard
Writer
Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and co*cktails.
Meg Donohue
Associate Fashion Commerce Editor
Meg is the Associate Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com where she researches trends, tests products, and looks for answers to all your burning questions. She also co-writes a monthly column, Same Same But Different. Meg has previously written for Cosmopolitan and . Her passions include travel, buffalo sauce, and sustainability. She will never stop hoping for a One Direction reunion tour.
