Two dozen spots for NJ apple picking in New Jersey this fall

In the Garden State, pick-your-own apples generally are available from the end of August through Columbus Day.

Here's an ultimate round-up of Jersey's best apple picking destinations, with a few key tips to keep in mind.

When planning an 'apple outing' — Call ahead, as activity times may vary.

Sites are open, weather permitting.

It's also good to have cash on-hand, instead of hoping they take cards.

NJ apple picking (courtesy Terhune's Orchard)

Terhune Orchards (Mercer County)

330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton
Call ahead: 609-924-2310
Terhune Orchards in Princeton keeps adding seasonal goodness to its offerings.
Aside from the farm store, vineyard, winery and pick-your-own, weekend fun includes live music, pony and tractor rides, face painting and a corn maze. Terhune's orchard is on Van Kirk Road, just around the block from its farm store and tasting room.

Apple picking in NJ (courtesy Johnson's Corner Farm)

Johnson’s Corner Farm (Burlington County)

133 Church Road, Medford
Call ahead: 609-654-8643
Johnson’s Farm is one of the largest pick-your-own farms in South Jersey. The fall season means hayrides into their fields for up to 10 varieties of apples. There's also weekend fun including a corn maze, moon bounce, live music, animal farm and Discovery Barnyard.

Alstede Farms (Morris County)

1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester
Call ahead: 908-879-7189
Alstede Farms really is a year-round destination for seasonal fun. Aside from pick-your-own, there's a store, petting zoo area, corn maze and cider mill tours.

(courtesy Melick's Town Farm via Facebook)

Melick's Town Farm (Hunterdon County)

472 County Road 513, Califon
Call ahead: (908)832-2905
19 King Street, Oldwick
Call ahead: 908-439-388
Fall is big business for Melick's, which has two pick-your-own orchards, one with a cider mill in Oldwick and the other in Califon. There's also a farm market in Oldwick a couple minutes off Route 78.

Battleview Orchards (Monmouth County)

91 Wemrock Rd, Freehold
Call ahead: 732-462-0756
Battleview Orchards in Freehold is another Jersey favorite for fall festivities. Pick-your-own apples have begun. The country store is open year-round for produce, home baked goodies and (seasonally) fresh apple cider. It's just down the road from the actual orchard.

(VonThun Farms)

VonThun Farms (Middlesex County)
VonThun Farms (Middlesex and Warren Counties)
South Brunswick (519 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction)
Washington (438 Route 57 West, Washington)

Call ahead: 973-329-8656
Both farm locations have apple picking starting Sept. 18 Tuesdays - Sundays.
Corn maze and pumpkin picking also start then and will be available Saturdays and Sundays in September and daily in October.

More central Jersey apple picking:

Giamarese Farm and Orchards (Middlesex County)
1555 Fresh Ponds Road, East Brunswick
Call ahead: 732-821-9494
Both farm locations (Washington and Monmouth Junction in South Brunswick) have apple picking starting Sept. 18, Tuesdays - Sundays. Corn maze and pumpkin picking also start then and will be available on Saturdays and Sundays in September; daily in October.

Stults Farm(Middlesex County)
146 Cranbury Neck Road, Plainsboro
Call ahead: 609-799-2523

Eastmont Orchards (Monmouth County)
321 County Road 537, Colts Neck
Call ahead: 732-542-5404

Lee Turkey Farm(Mercer County)
201 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor
Call ahead: 609-448-0629

More North Jersey apple picking:

apple picking at Stony Hill Farms (courtesy Stony Hill Farms via Facebook)

Stony Hill Farm Market (Morris County)
8 State Route 24 (Rt 513), Chester
Call ahead: 908-879-2908
Stony Hill also has a nearby Corn Maze & Fun Park with a 2021 theme of "Orchid Adventure".

Donaldson Farms (Warren County)
358 Allen Road, Hackettstown
Call ahead: 908-852-9122
Donaldson Farms also features sunflower fields and tours, a corn maze

Phillips Farms (Hunterdon County)
290 Church Road, Milford
Call ahead: 908-995-0022

Bonacorsi Family Farms(Hunterdon County)
1137 Croton Road, Flemington

Demarest Farms (Bergen County)
244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale
Call ahead: (201) 666-0472

Riamede Farm (Morris County)
122 Oakdale Road, Chester
Call ahead: 908-879-5353

Sun High Orchards (Morris County)
19 Canfield Avenue, Randolph
Call ahead: 973-584-4734

Wightmans Farm (Morris County)
1111 Mt. Kemble Avenue, Morristown
Call ahead: 973-425-9819

Ort Farms (Morris County)
25 Bartley Road, Long Valley (section of Washington Township)
Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Call ahead: 908-876-3351
Aside from apple picking, there's also pumpkins, a corn maze, hayrides, train rides, pony ride,
apple cannon, farm animals and monster truck rides

Tree-Licious Orchards (Warren County)
135 Karrville Rd, Port Murray
Call ahead: 908-689-2906

Longmeadow Farm (Warren County)
561 Blairstown Rd (County Rd. 521), Hope
Call ahead: 908-459-5351

Mackey's Orchard (Warren County)
284B County Route 519, Belvidere
Call ahead: 908-475-1507
Pick-your-own is on weekends

Ripple Hill Farm (Somerset County)
181 Mountain Road, Basking Ridge
Call ahead:908-647-1300
Open Sundays for pick-your-own apples, subject to change.

More South Jersey apple picking:

Mood’s Farm Market (Gloucester County)
901 Bridgeton Pike, Mullica Hill
Call ahead: 856-478-2500

Russo’s Orchard Lane Farm (Burlington County)
310 Extonville Rd., Chesterfield
Call ahead: 609-259-3684
There's also scenic hayrides, a 7-acre corn maze, "Big Pumpkin Patch" and more.

Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm (Burlington County)
2691 Monmouth Road, Jobstown
Call ahead: 609-353-9000
There's also a corn maze, animal farm, pony rides and free play area.

Fall apple picking in New Jersey (Erin Vogt, Townsquare Media)

The best outdoor beer gardens at NJ breweries

There are more options than ever for enjoying a Garden State crafted beer in an outdoor setting.

New Jersey tied for first place (with Kentucky) with 43% growth in the craft beer scene from 2015 to 2019, according to C+R Research.

The following is a roundup of breweries around the state with scenic, dedicated outdoor seating as weather allows.

NJ words that should be added to the dictionary

13 words submitted by Steve Trevelise's followers for inclusion in the Dictionary — because somebody's got to explain New Jersey to the rest of the country.

LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state

Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.

Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.