Fall is the best season (this is a fact). Aside from the red and orange leaves, the cinnamon-enhanced foods, and the best fashion, there’s the joy that comes with pumpkin and apple picking. Sure, it’s a dream of (cool) moms to take pictures of their young, flannel-covered children sitting next to a pumpkin, but it’s an equal dream for college students to do the same with their roommates. So, below is your guide to the top pumpkin patches and apple orchards here in Baltimore.

Apple Orchards

Milburn Orchards

Aside from state of the art apple picking, Millburn Orchards has a farm market with fresh cider donuts, caramel apples, apple butter and apple jams. Another signature product of this orchard is their fresh apple cider, available until December. A free wagon ride takes you and your friends into the orchards, where you are provided with as many picking bags as needed.

Weber’s Cider Mill Farm

Weber’s Cider Mill has a wide array of activities, including mini-tractor rides, and fresh pressed apple cider, which has been a fall family tradition at Weber’s for over 60 years. The cider mill at Weber’s is in continuous use in Maryland, and the cider is available through December.

Larriland Farm

Located in Woodbine, about 40 minutes outside of Baltimore, this farm has an incredible selection of apples. Check out the pick-your-own harvest calendar online for a guide of when you can expect the perfect picking time for your favorite types of apples. Their website also provides recipes for post-apple picking, including apple pie, apple crisp, apple cake, and apple bars, to name a few.

Pumpkin Patches

Butler’s Orchard

Butler’s Orchard celebrates harvest season with a pumpkin festival, beginning in September, and continuing each weekend in October from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Along with the festival are hayrides, a corn maze, and of course, a ton of pumpkins to choose from.

Homestead Farms

Located in Poolesville, MD, Homestead Farms is open Saturdays and Sundays throughout October, with hayrides running from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Put on some sneakers for this adventure, because the pumpkin patch is a looong walk due to the insane selection available.

Jumbos Pumpkin Patch

On Mondays through Thursdays at this farm in Middletown, friends and family can enjoy a zoo, baked goods, and a huge pumpkin patch. During the weekend, there are free hayrides and a Craft Attic, featuring handmade items from nearly 50 local artisans.