A Guide to Pumpkin and Apple Picking In and Around Boston

Experience New England’s natural autumn beauty

by Amanda Brucculeri

Photo by Haley Krawczyk

Living in a city as urban as Boston, it can be easy to assume there aren’t many places where you can experience the beauty and fun of nature during the fall. But that’s simply not the case—if you’re willing to make the journey outside of Boston’s city limits, you’ll find that there are plenty of orchards, farms, and patches to enjoy this autumn season. Whether you’re interested in picking apples or pumpkins, or simply just want to escape the urbanism of the city, there are countless spots you can visit. 

Hanson’s Farm 

Located about 20 miles outside of Boston in Framingham, Hanson’s Farm offers a plethora of fall activities. Guests are able to pick out their own pumpkins from the historic farm, as well as enjoy a scenic hayride, and wander around the corn maze. Guests can also grab a bite at the family-owned farm, such as apple cider doughnuts, loaded baked potatoes, and hot cocoa. 

Boston Hill Farm

30 miles north of Boston in North Andover sits Boston Hill Farm, a small yet festive 12-generation farm brimming with pumpkins and animals galore. Grab a red wagon and fill it up with the best pumpkins of the patch, and don’t forget to stop by the farm’s petting zoo. Plus, snack on some delicious apple cider doughnuts. 

Brooksby Farm

Brooksby Farm lies in the city of Peabody and offers all kinds of fall festivities. Not only can guests pick out pumpkins from their patch, but they can also visit the farm’s orchards to hand-pick apples! Guests can also enjoy the Brooksby Farm farm stand, where they can purchase warm apple cider and apple cider doughnuts to go with it. 

Russell Orchards 

If you’re an avid apple picker, Russell Orchards is the spot to go to. Located in the North Shore town of Ipswich, Russell Orchards boasts a variety of trees with different apple varieties, such as Empire, Cortland, Crispin, and McIntosh. Once you’re done picking out apples, sit down at a picnic table and enjoy the fall foliage while enjoying apple cider doughnuts and ice cream. 

Belkin Family Lookout Farm 

Belkin Family Lookout Farm is a mere 15 miles away from campus, making it one of the easier to get to farms. Sitting in South Natick, Lookout Farm offers both apple and pumpkin picking. Choose from a variety of apples, including Golden Supreme, Gala, McIntosh, and Shizuka. Guests don’t even have to walk from tree to tree: Lookout Farm has a farm train that circles the orchard! You can also visit the farm’s restaurant, The Lookout, for a sit-down meal, or stop by the farm stand to take some doughnuts and cider to go.