Labor Day weekend kicks off the apple picking season in New Jersey.  Labor Day was a beautiful sunny day so we decided to go apple picking at Demarest Farms in Hillsdale, NJ.  It was a perfect day for spending the afternoon outdoors.  I like to research new places before I try them so I wanted to share the 10 reasons we like apple picking at Demarest Farms.  I hope you find this information helpful and decide to take your little ones apple picking before the season ends.

1 – Location:  Demarest Farms is located 40 minutes from Midtown, NY and 15 minutes from Paramus, NJ.  For my city friends, it’s close enough that you can Uber it if you don’t have a car.

2 – Apple picking is available every day:  You can pick apples 9AM-4:30PM on the weekends and 3PM-4:30PM on weekdays.  Each apple picking bag is $10.  They offer 17 apple varieties, including Fuji, Gala, Empire, Red Delicious, and Jersey Reds.

3 – Hay rides:  The hay ride takes you from the farm store to the top of the hill where the apple orchard is located.  The hay rides run pretty frequently on the weekends.  They do a pretty good job of making sure the lines stay manageable.  It’s a fun bumpy ride up the hill for the kids.  The hay rides are $7 per person.

4 – Multiple play areas for the kids:  The first play area is next to the farm store.  Kids can play while parents purchase hay ride tickets and apple picking bags.  The second play area is at the top of the hill near the apple orchard.  There are slides, wooden trains, a pirate ship, and a corn kernel pit.

5 – Shaded seating areas for babies and picnicking:  On a hot day, you can stay cool by sitting under the large trees near the apple orchard.  You can pack a lunch or purchase food from the farm store.  There is also a small stand with cold drinks and donuts at the top of the hill.

6 – Petting zoo:  The kids enjoy feeding and watching the animals.  There are rabbits, sheep, goats, and alpacas.  The animal food is sold in solid wafers at the farm store, which makes feeding the animals less messy.

7 – Halloween photo props:  They have large hay bales painted with jack-o-latern and frankenstein faces.  Keep an eye out for the Minion hay bale stack on your way up the hill.  There are also several fun wooden Halloween-themed photo props.

8 – Tasty and healthy food options:  You never know when the kids will need a snack.  In the farm store, there is a salad bar, delicatessen with cold and hot sandwiches, whole rotisserie chickens, and soups.  You can have lunch at the farm or purchase take out for dinner.

9 – Dessert:  I never leave Demarest Farms without buying a dozen apple cider donuts.  They are my favorite donut and a perfect treat to end the day.  If you like pie, take home one of their fresh baked fruit pies.  There is also an ice cream shoppe for the kids.

10 – Seasonal fruits and vegetables:  In addition to the produce grown on their farm, they offer a selection of locally grown fruits and vegetables.  I usually pick up items for that evening’s dinner.

This year, we came home with two bags of apples.  I need to start looking up some apple recipes for this weekend.  I’ll share my favorite apple recipes with you once I narrow down the options.  If you visit Demarest Farms, please share and tag your pictures #latinamominnyc

Happy Picking!

Try This Recipe:  Slow Cooker Applesauce