With the heat of summer abating and the trees of Michigan turning to gold, crimson, and yellow, it’s the perfect time to get out into West Michigan with the family for a short road trip or a bit of weekend fun.
Here are some of our own favorite places to visit this fall in Michigan for spending a whole day at, bonding with your nearest and dearest, breathing in the crisp, healthy air of the Michigan fall.
Harvest Moon Acres Corn Maze and Fun Park
18725 M-40, Gobles, MI 49055
Tel: (269) 628-5401
Harvest Moon Acres Corn Maze and Fun Park is only open until October 27, so get down there as soon as you can! It’s open Saturdays from 10 am to 10 pm and Sundays from 1 pm to 6 pm. On weekdays, it’s open for large groups and school groups by appointment only.
The corn maze is a manageable size at 5 acres so you won’t get lost in there all day. For a more challenging corn maze, see Crane Orchards below. Harvest Moon Acres has so many more other activities for all the family though – a fun zone with Saloon Shootout, zip lines, Cattle Castle, an indoor fun barn with farm animals, hayrides, duck races, corn box, barnyard board game…it’s really fantastic fun for young and old kids alike.
For a truly unforgettable experience, you can book a campfire for the evening that includes use of a firepit and s’mores for everyone.
Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery
3142 4 Mile Rd NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Tel: (800) 400-8100
Robinette’s has some of the best apples in the country and has been operating since 1971. It’s open all year round, but in fall a number of fun family activities make Robinette’s farm a must-visit.
There’s a corn maze, a petting zoo, hayrides, and jumping pillow at weekends. While supplies last, you can pick the apples yourself at weekends.
A five-mile outdoor trail makes a good track for mountain bikers (it’s quite difficult, though!), and perhaps the best experience is wine tasting and lunch at the Apple Haus bakery. Lunch is served between 11 am and 3 pm.
VerHage’s Fruit Farms & Cider Mill
8619 W Ml Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
Tel: (269) 375-0153
Since 1960, Verhage’s Fruit Market and Bakery at the Mill has been inviting Michiganians to partake in the family tradition of the apple pick. The staff at the orchard are some of the most knowledgeable in the business and can help you buy or pick the perfect apples for your tastes. Looking for apples perfect for a pie, or how about apples for cider? You’ll find VerHage’s Fruit Farms & Cider Mill a great resource to tap for upping your kitchen game.
It’s not just about the apples at Verhage’s Fruit Market and Bakery at the Mill; there are also rides for the kids, a jump pad, zip line, hayrides, tractor driving lessons, pony rides, and an animal barn! Most rides only operate at the weekend, so we suggest heading down to Verhage’s Mill between 9 am and 6 pm on a Saturday or Sunday to have the most fun.
Crane Orchards
6054 124th Ave, Fennville, MI 49408
Tel: (269) 561-8651
Throughout the year at Crane Orchards, you can pick your own fresh fruit and veg, and in October it’s pumpkin time! Head down with your family any day between 10 am and 6 pm and choose your own pumpkins for soup or for Halloween. Pumpkins cost 0.45 cents per pound.
Crane Orchards also has a 20-acre corn maze that’s redesigned every year. The owners try hard to make it devilishly tricky and full of outstanding fun for all the family.
You’ll also find hayrides on the back on a tractor and a fun cow train. Note that rides are dependent on good weather and dogs are not allowed in the orchard.
Vander Mill Brewery
505 Ball Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Tel: (616) 259-8828
What could be nicer than a hard-pressed locally-grown cider on a crisp Sunday afternoon in Michigan?
Drop in at Vander Mill Brewery to sample from a huge selection of delicious ciders with distinct flavors, all created from high-quality Michigan apples.
There’s quality food prepared to go perfectly alongside your ciders, and we particularly like the Sunday brunch where you can choose from house-made corned beef, house-made vegetarian black bean cakes, grilled rib-eye with cooked-to-order eggs, and a whole host of other delicious options.
The brewery is open between 4 pm and 10 pm Monday to Thursday, 11 am to 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9 am to 3 pm on Sundays for brunch.
Get out in the Michigan fall this October!
