Our family Favorite Fall tradition: Apple picking in California

Our family has been hitting up apple orchards since 2011, and it’s hands down one of our favorite fall things to do. We’ve checked out a bunch of spots around Southern California, and there’s always something new and fun to discover.

Usually, the first week of October is the sweet spot—cooler weather and great fruit. But we’ve also gone during opening week and were surprised by how much tasty fruit was already ready to pick!

This year, during opening week, we found not just apples but juicy peaches, berries, pears, and even loganberries.  Bonus!

Apple season in California runs from late August through early December, with the best picks in September and October. Whether you’re after cool heirloom apples, beautiful orchards, or a fun family day, these places have you covered. Just a heads up—some orchards can sell out early and close before the season officially ends, so it’s always a good idea to call ahead or check their websites for the latest updates and reservation info.

If you haven’t tried apple picking yet, now’s the perfect time—fresh air, fall vibes, and fruit straight off the tree. Can’t beat that!

Continue reading down below to find a location near you and tips on how to enjoy the day.

Sharing locations by region:

 Northern California

Sebastopol (Sonoma County)

• Apple-A-Day Ratzlaff Ranch
  13128 Occidental Rd, Sebastopol, CA 95472
  U-pick Gravenstein, Golden Delicious, and Rome Beauty apples (Sept–Dec). Famous for its fresh-pressed juice.
  
  

• Earthseed Farm
  An Afro-Indigenous, certified organic farm offering u-pick apples on Saturdays by appointment.
  
  

Petaluma

• Chileno Valley Ranch
  5105 Chileno Valley Rd, Petaluma, CA
  Organic u-pick apples (Orin, Pinova, Candy Crisp) on Sundays (Sept–Oct). Reservations required. Offers a farm tour and charges a small carload fee.
  
  

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🍏 Bay Area & Central Coast

Watsonville

• Gizdich Ranch
  55 Peckham Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076
  Popular u-pick farm with apples, berries, and a red-barn picnic area. Apple season begins mid-September.
  
  

• Clearview Organic Orchards
  Organic farm with various apple varieties, juice, and turnovers. Requires advance tickets.
  
  

San Luis Obispo County

• SLO Creek Farms
  A 14-acre organic orchard with u-pick apples, fresh cider, and apple brandy.
  
  

• Stone Pantry Orchard
  Smaller u-pick farm offering different apple varieties and a rustic farm stand.
  
  

• Swanton Pacific Ranch
  Run by Cal Poly, this farm features 16 apple varieties and a long season from September to November.
  
  

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🍂 Sierra Foothills (Apple Hill – Placerville/Camino)

One of California's most beloved fall destinations, with over 50 family-run farms.

• High Hill Ranch
  Large, family-friendly farm with u-pick apples, a bakery, craft fairs, and scenic views.
  
  

• Pine-O-Mine Ranch
  Offers u-pick apples and a peaceful picnic area.
  
  

• Boa Vista Orchards
  While not a u-pick, it features a huge selection of fresh apples, baked goods, and a full produce market.
  
  

• Apple Ridge Farms, Harris Family Farm, Smokey Ridge Farm
  Other great options in the area with pies, cider, and family fun.
  
  

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🌄 Southern California

Oak Glen (San Bernardino Mountains)

Located in a scenic 5-mile loop, Oak Glen is SoCal’s apple country.

• Los Rios Rancho
  39611 Oak Glen Rd, Yucaipa, CA 92399
  SoCal's largest and oldest apple orchard (est. 1906). U-pick apples (Aug–Nov), cider, pies, and educational tours.
  
  

• Willowbrook Apple Farm
  Small, organic farm offering apple picking by reservation and DIY cider pressing.
  
  

• Riley’s Farm
  Living history farm with u-pick apples and seasonal reenactments (e.g. Colonial or Civil War days).
  
  

• Stone Soup Farm & Heritage Orchard
  Heirloom, regenerative orchard offering curated u-pick experiences (October only; reservations required).
  
  

Julian (San Diego Mountains)

A historic mountain town with small-town charm and multiple orchards.

• Julian Farm & Orchard
  25-acre farm offering u-pick apples (mid-October), hayrides, petting zoo. Reservations required.
  
  

• Volcan Valley Apple Farm
  Large farm with 8,000 trellised apple trees for easy picking. Over 100 years of apple-growing history.
  
  

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🔍 Tips for a Great Apple Picking Trip

• Call Ahead / Check Online: Farms often change hours based on weather, ripeness, or crowd size.
  
  

• Bring Cash: Some small farms don’t accept cards.
  
  

• Reservations: Required at many popular orchards (e.g., Willowbrook, Chileno Valley Ranch).
  
  

• Avoid Peak Crowds: Try visiting on weekdays or early mornings.
  
  

• BYO Bags: Some orchards ask visitors to bring their own containers for picking.
  
  

Dress for Fall Weather: Layers and sturdy shoes are recommended for farm visits.

Orange Picking at La Verne Heritage Foundation

Nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley, you will find a little slice of the past.  A historical place host to the Weber House and the last acre and a half of working orange groves.  Every January since our boys were small, we have been been picking oranges fresh from the tree.  The oranges are the best kept secret in Southern California and we are sharing our love for the La Verne Heritage Foundation's events with our readers.

Each year, the La Verne Heritage Foundation offers tours and events for the entire family.  From orange picking in January, to Spring Squeeze field trips in March, Hands on History in April and May, Summer Concerts in Heritage Park and don't forget the pumpkin patch field trips in October.

The oranges are always sun kissed sweet and making this outing a family and friends event creates memories that will be remembered a lifetime.  As you walk through the iron gates at the entrance, the kind volunteers great you with 5 lb. mesh net bags for sale.  This year, bags are $8 each (subject to change without notice).  We always buy 3 or 4 bags and strategically stuff them full.  It is very easy to get more than 5 lb of oranges in each bag with easily 15-20 pieces of delicious citrus.

Our family grab picking sticks the foundation provides and walk into the orchard.  Pro Tip, pick oranges higher in the trees where the sun lights the tree tops for the largest and sweetest citrus.  The La Verne Foundation also has a few grapefruit trees you can pick from.  After filling our bags, we pull up a chair at the picnic table and enjoy an orange in the orchard.

On certain weekends, the foundation has extra volunteers available to provide tours of the Weber House.  This is a beautiful maintained, 2-story farm house with all the nostalgia and history of the late 1800's.  While you are there, the foundation has a a general store with lots of gifts for you or your family and friends.  The store sells jams and jellies, olives, local honey Pyrex and much more.  It is a little county store in the middle of the bustling Los Angeles metro.

Orange Picking occurs every Saturday in January for 3 to 4 weekends only or while supplies last.  Hours are 9 AM to 3 PM and we recommend you arrive early as they get very busy.  Last weekend, the foundation had over 700 families confirm their attendance.

La Verne Heritage Foundation is located at 5001 Via De Mansion La Verne, CA.  Follow them on Instagram for the latest information and upcoming events.  If you want an amazing family outing, some of the best oranges you will ever taste and some of the greatest eateries in La Verne, this is for you.

Thomas Dambo "Trail of a 1000 Trolls" at the South Coast Botanic Garden through Jan 14th

Thomas Dambo is a Danish artist and storyteller who creates beautiful and fun sculptures and installations out of recycled materials. His vision is to create art that inspires people to explore nature, have adventures, and demonstrate that trash can be turned into something beautiful.  Thomas's project is called “Trail of a 1000 Trolls”. 

Thomas began by creating a series of six massive wooden sculptures called “Northwest Trolls: Way of the Bird King” in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The sculptures are made from recycled materials and are all different types of trolls. The project was years in the making and the trolls were installed at various points. The project became like a scavenger hunt to find them, experience them, and share photos of the giant installations on social media. The trolls have delighted adults and children alike and have become popular attractions.

The project is part of his ongoing, whimsical folklore project that’s sprouted more than 100 unique trolls across 17 different countries. He has placed his troll artwork on display in various locations around the world, including Denmark, Florida’s Pinecrest Gardens, South Korea, Puerto Rico, China, and Australia.

Now through Jan 14th, you can see Thomas's Troll artwork at the South Coast Botanic Garden located at 26300 Crenshaw Boulevard in Palos Verdes, CA 90274.  We took a field trip to this amazing exhibit for a stroll through the beautiful Botanical Garden where Thomas has his masterful artwork on display for all of Southern California to enjoy.

Dambo has been building and creating with wood since the age of five. He uses reclaimed materials such as wooden pallets, fragments of demolished wooden buildings, broken branches, and fallen trees to create his trolls. For each one, he weaves themes of honoring the land and protecting nature into its story.  He pre-makes the heads for his giant trolls and later adds them to sculptures he erects in outdoor locations around the world.  The trolls are designed to be interactive and engaging, and they encourage people to explore the natural world around them.

It takes Thomas and his team of volunteers several months to create one troll art piece. The number of volunteers needed to make one art piece varies depending on the size and complexity of the sculpture. For example, he worked with 22 troll builders to create 10 sculptures that stretch from the East Coast to the West Coast of the United States.

Thomas' trolls art project is a beautiful and inspiring example of how art can be created from recycled materials. His work encourages people to explore nature, have adventures, and foster a greater sense of environmental responsibility.

In addition to this amazing artistry, you can take your family on a nature walk abound by thousands of plant, flower and tree species.  The South Coast Botanic Garden is an 87-acre botanical garden located in the Palos Verdes Hills, in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, California, United States, about 10 miles south of Los Angeles. The garden has more than 2,500 different species of plants from as far away as Australia, the Mediterranean, and southern Africa. The garden is situated in Sunset’s Zone 23, one of the most favored growing areas in the world. The wide variety of plant life provides food and shelter to an abundant wildlife and bird population, and over 200 species of birds are sighted annually.

The garden has several exhibits that showcase different types of plants. Some of the current exhibits include:

• The Living Wall: A vertical garden that features a variety of plants, including ferns, succulents, and flowering plants.
• The Garden for the Senses: A garden designed to stimulate all five senses, with plants that have different textures, colors, and fragrances.
• The Japanese Garden: A garden that features a traditional Japanese landscape, with a koi pond, a tea house, and a bonsai collection.
• The Fuchsia Garden: A garden that features a collection of fuchsia plants, including some rare and unusual varieties.

The admission prices for the garden are as follows:

• Garden Members: FREE
• Adults: $15
• Seniors (62 and over): $11
• Students (with ID): $11
• Children (5 – 12): $5
• Children (4 and under): FREE
• Third Tuesday of each month: FREE

The garden is open every day from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last entrance allowed at 4:30 PM).

Dia de Los Muertos at UC Irvine with Grammy Award Winning Mariachi Divas!

 

Family Fun Activities for the Holidays

The holidays are rapidly approaching and many families are looking for fun activities to entertain their house guests.  Keeping the little ones entertained and Grandpa out of the kitchen while the food prep and cooking ensues can be the difference between a burnt bird and a delicious meal that has Emeril Lagasse blushing with pride.

**Image from Pexel.com

Here are our Top 10 family traditions that you can try with your family during the upcoming holidays.

1. Family Game Night: This is a great way to bond with your family and have fun together. You can play board games, card games, or even video games.  We recommend Monopoly, Uno, Sorry, Mario Cart and Madden 24
2. Family Movie Night: Pick a movie that everyone will enjoy and watch it together. Don’t forget the popcorn!  We recommend The Nightmare Before Christmas, Holidate, Love Hard , Trains Planes and Automobiles and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.  For a G Rated evening, try A Charlie Brown Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Free Birds
3. Family Outings: Go on a hike, visit a museum, or go to the beach. Spending time together outside of the house is a great way to bond.
4. Silly Games: Play games like charades, Pictionary, or even Twister. These games are sure to bring laughter and joy to your family.
5. Cooking Activities: Cook a meal together or bake some cookies. This is a great way to teach your kids how to cook and spend quality time together.
6. Family Crafts: Make some crafts together like painting, drawing, or even scrapbooking. This is a great way to get creative and make memories.
7. Local Orange County, CA Upcoming Events: Check out local events like the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade or the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts. These events are sure to be fun for the whole family.  In Los Angeles, walk along the cannels of Naples Island in Long Beach to see an elaborate display of Christmas Lights or the iconic LA Zoo lights in Griffith Park.
8. Family Sports Day: Play some sports together like basketball, soccer, or even frisbee. This is a great way to get some exercise and have fun together.
9. Family Talent Show: Have everyone in the family show off their talents like singing, dancing, or even telling jokes. This is a great way to showcase everyone’s unique skills.
10. Family Volunteer Day: Volunteer at a local charity or organization together as a family. This is a great way to give back to your community and teach your kids about the importance of helping others.

For Thanksgiving-specific traditions:

• Turkey Trot: Participate in a local turkey trot race on Thanksgiving morning.
• Thanksgiving Dinner: Host a potluck-style Thanksgiving dinner where everyone brings their favorite dish.
• Thanksgiving Crafts: Make some Thanksgiving-themed crafts like handprint turkeys or paper pumpkins.  Here is one of our family favorites from our past, Turkey Craft

For Christmas-specific traditions:

• Christmas Lights Tour: Drive around town and look at Christmas lights.
• Christmas Caroling: Go caroling in your neighborhood.
• Christmas Tree Decorating: Decorate your Christmas tree as a family.

Building family traditions creates a lifetime of memories that get passed down for generations to come.  Set your family legacy by using these ideas to help you create some fun family traditions!

Written by FTM Partner and Contributor

**Image from Pexel.com