Orchards & Patches

A Stillwater apple farm with pick-your-own rows, an Apple Barn bakery, free petting goats, and the Honeycrisp Express train. Free to visit; pay for what you pick.

One of the few pick-your-own orchards in Dakota County, out past the edge of Lakeville. Opens for the season in early September.

A Waconia orchard and vineyard — pick-your-own apples, a pumpkin patch, hayrides, and hard cider and wine for the grown-ups. Free to wander; pay for the picking.

The shop for the University's fruit-breeding program — Honeycrisp, SweeTango and Zestar were all bred a mile and a half up the road. Apples, pumpkins and cider donuts daily until 5 November, then it turns into a holiday shop. Free to enter and to park.

A White Bear Lake classic — pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, a corn maze, wagon rides, and a bakery famous for its pies. Free to enter; pay by the bag.

A Webster orchard with 100-plus apple varieties, pears, and tart cherries, plus a hard cidery and a barnyard of animals. Free to wander; pay for the picking.

A St. Croix Valley farm near Hastings, growing apples since 1972 — pick-your-own from 5,000 trees, plus a pumpkin patch and a farm kitchen. Free to visit.

190 sprawling acres near Afton — pick-your-own apples, pumpkins, and raspberries, a corn maze, tube slides, and a petting farm. Per-person admission on fall weekends.

A Delano fall farm built for kids — pick-your-own apples and pumpkins plus a Fun Farm of slides, animals, and hayrides. Admission to the Fun Farm ($10 weekdays / $20 weekends).

A big activity orchard in Minnetrista (formerly Minnetonka Orchards, now Everly Farms) — U-pick apples and pumpkins, hayrides, cider donuts, animals, and live music. Admission on fall weekends.

The old Minnesota Harvest in the Jordan river valley, under new owners. A wagon runs out to the blufftop trees; there's a corn maze, a corn pit, an apple cannon and a cider bar. Admission covers the orchard — the store and bakery are free to walk into.

A Wyoming fall-fun farm north of the metro — a corn maze, pumpkin patch, jumping pillows, and a barnyard. Admission for the activity farm.

Shakopee's big fall festival — a 14-acre corn maze, ten acres of pick-your-own pumpkins, jumping pillows, a corn pit, and a small wildlife park. Ticketed admission (about $19 and up).

A Lino Lakes garden center that throws a full fall festival each September and October — a corn maze, pumpkin patch, and hayrides. Admission for the fall activities.