Apple Picking Near in Los Angeles

Volcan Valley Apple Farm is a scenic apple orchard just 2.4 miles north of downtown Julian, with beautiful views of Volcan Mountain across the valley. Spend a fall date picking apples together, then find a shaded picnic table to enjoy the scenery and a refreshing cup of cold apple cider. Opening dates depend on the apple harvest, so check the farm's website or newsletter before planning your visit.

Julian Farm & Orchard is a 25-acre farm in the Wynola area of Julian with an animal sanctuary, hayrides and axe throwing, so you can spend an afternoon outdoors with a hayride and a round of axe throwing. The farm is open Fridays through Sundays until Nov. 15.

Along Wynola Road in Julian, Peacefield Orchard is a compact farm where an apple tree ranks among the oldest in town. Picking this year opened Aug. 22 and run Saturdays from 9am to 2pm by reservation. Sharing a bag of apples and visiting one of Julian's oldest trees gives the two of you a small-farm Saturday morning.

Riley's at Los Rios Rancho in Oak Glen is the closest big orchard to Los Angeles, with 32 apple varieties to pick from. Between rows, share a tractor ride, find your way through the corn maze together, or stop for fresh cider. Apple picking usually runs through early November, and the season normally runs from Labor Day weekend to Thanksgiving weekend. The drive from Los Angeles is one to two hours.

Snow-Line Orchard in Oak Glen, Yucaipa has made wine and grown apples for about a century, and its mini apple cider doughnuts are the headline treat. We'd start with the doughnuts, then eat them at one of the picnic areas. The orchard also sells farm-made wines, jams and honey, and it is open Fridays through Sundays.