Fall Family Fun :: Local Cider Mill Reviews

Fall Fun 2014

I hope you had an enjoyable Monday, it was a PERFECT fall day for most of us in Metro-Detroit.  The kids and I spent the afternoon romping around in the leaves.  I grabbed the camera and captured some fun memories of the kids exploring this beautiful season in our Michigan backyard!

It was the FIRST time this season I snapped some photos of the fall colors.  Where does time go?!

Days like these are rare.  I had to take advantage of this warm day in Michigan.  I found that actually taking the afternoon and letting go of all the things I needed to do today was well worth the fun we had together.  The sun shined, we watched the leaves float down from the sky, and the temp was warm enough for flip-flops!

I started thinking today of all the things we hadn’t done yet this fall and I started to panic over this a little…  With two growing children I have to remind myself –we can’t do it all–!  Life is busy, life is full.  The focus should be on creating memories and enjoying time as a family.   Not how many items can we check off the bucket list.

 

I hope you too are finding those little opportunities to stop and spend time together as a family creating memories.

 

What there is to love about the fall :: cider + donuts, pumpkins, scarecrows, autumn, fall, fun, caramel apples, hot soup, sweaters, boots, scarves, hot apple cider, football, tail gait, crunchy leaves, red, yellow, orange, brown, purple, hay rides, halloween, candy corn, pumpkin spice, chili, gloves, crisp air, tractors, cider mills, apple picking, corn…

 

 Our DMB Contributors have shared some insight on some of Metro-Detroit’s finest local cider mills!  They have included some details to help you find the perfect cider mill for you and your family to enjoy.

 

Local Cider Mill Reviews by DMB Contributors

 

9.24.14 apple picking (6 of 8)

9.24.14 apple picking (5 of 8)

9.24.14 apple picking (1 of 8)

9.24.14 apple picking (3 of 8)

9.24.14 apple picking (2 of 8)

 

 

West View Orchards

65075 Van Dyke, Washington, MI 48095

(586) 752-3123

Kate Bell Bio Page

Review by Kate ::

I’m really starting to enjoy this Orchard! Pick your own!

Apple picking complete with a tractor ride to the orchard. Lots of activities for kiddos to do.

Hay bale climbing, petting farm, giant tractor tires to climb on, farm market (amazing honey), play area, cider, donuts, farm produce, and a whole host of seasonal activities.

So many things to see and do, be sure to visit the website before making the trip to a 200 year old Michigan farm:

This mom gives West View Orchards two thumbs up! Weekends naturally are packed, week days are wonderful if you can make that happen.

#detroitmomsblog #cidermill #puremichigan #pickyourown #westvieworchards

 

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Parmenter’s

714 Baseline Rd, Northville, MI 48167

10-8pm daily in October

Erin Bio Pic

Review by Erin ::

What makes Parmenter’s unique?
Parmenters, the oldest continuously operating business in Northville, and offers delicious cider, donuts, and even wine. Their winery is on the same grounds as the main barn, and hosts events and bands throughout the year. Though Parmenter’s is smaller than most cider mills, and may not keep kids busy quite as long as those with more bells and whistles, I don’t think the cider can be beat. In fact, it has ruined almost all cider for me, and we make the trek there several times a season because I have yet to find a tastier cider!

Any U-Pick Items? No

 

Hayrides/Cornmazes/Extra Activities? Nothing major. There are some cute wooden trains and buildings for kids to play in, and a photo cut out, but it’s not too elaborate. The cider is the real star here!

 

Signature Item/Must Do Experience: The mill is situated on a river, and it’s the perfect spot to enjoy your cider and fresh donuts, while watching (or feeding!) the ducks that waddle up and down the stream.

 

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oliver on tractor

 Plymouth Orchard

10685 Warren Rd, Plymouth Township, MI 48170

9-7pm daily in October
Erin Bio Pic

Review by Erin ::

What makes Plymouth Orchard unique? Voted Best Cider in Michigan twice in the last four years, Plymouth Orchard is a great balance of awesome cider and family fun. Kids will appreciate the animal farm, tractors, and fun photo cut outs, and adults and kids both will love the hayrides and delicious items available in the shop.

 

Any U-Pick items?  Pumpkins

 

Hayrides/Cornmazes/Extras Activities?  The orchard offers wagon rides and the chance to see many different farm animals.

 

Signature Item/Must Do Experience: Bring your camera!  The Orchard is really cute, and has plenty of funny face photo sets, and of course you’ll want to capture the more spontaneous moments of fun you’re bound to have with the animals or on a wagon ride.

 

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3 Cedars Farm

7897 Six Mile Rd, Northville Charter Township, MI 48168
10-8 Sunday-Thursday
10-10 Friday and Saturday
Erin Bio Pic

Review by Erin ::

What makes 3 Cedars Farm unique? 3 Cedars is situated on a huge area of land for hours of family fun. There’s something for just about everyone here. Toddlers through school age kids could spend the whole day in the Barn Yard Play Land which includes several different farm animals, a wooden train area, corn box (yes, it’s a thing!), and more. Everyone enjoys a good hayride out to the pumpkin patch, where you can pick your own pumpkins or get lost in the corn maze. You can even stay late and rent a bonfire for large groups who just can’t bear to leave!

 

Any U-Pick Items? Pumpkins

Hayrides/Cornmazes/Extra Activities: Hayrides, 7 acre corn maze, Bonfire reservations available, Barn Yard Play Land

Signature Items/Must Do Experience: The bonfire is a really cool option for larger groups (must pay for at least 30 people). $8.00 per person includes a hayride, a trip through the cornmaze and one bonfire site.

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Longs Family Orchard

long family

1540 East Commerce Road, Commerce, MI  48382

Cider mill open daily from 9 am to 6 pm until Thanksgiving Eve

Patty Bio Pic

Review by Patty ::

Farm & Cider Mill is as beautiful as it is family friendly! Located in Commerce Township, the Cider Mill offers a variety of activities during the Fall including: Pick Your Own Apples, Hay Rides, Donut Kitchen, Night Time Corn Maze, Goat Farm, Giant Jumping Pumpkin Bounce, Corn Bounce, Photo Opportunities and more! Daily Admission to The Play Area and Corn Maze, open weekends until Halloween, is $8.00 and free for children under 30 inches! There are loads of pumpkins in front of the barn and inside the mill you can enjoy fresh donuts and cider. The donuts at Longs are, by far, the best Cider Mill Donuts in all of Oakland County!  Kids can actually watch as the donuts are being rolled in cinnamon sugar! YUMMMM!

Longs Family Orchard, Farm & Cider Mill has a beautiful and spacious picnic area, ideal for birthday parties and family-get-togethers! For those of you who have children with fall birthdays, it is perfect for children to play, pick a pumpkin to paint and enjoy their birthday cake! …Talk about easy clean up! The giant rocking chair is the ultimate backdrop for photos of the birthday boy/girl with their buddies!

I strongly recommend making a trip to Longs Family Orchard a Fall Family Tradition!

corn maze

Long Family Orchard Corn Maze

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Annette
Hi Detroit Mommas!!! I'm Annette Rioux, co-founder of Detroit Moms Blog. I'm a work-at-home momma raising my family in Novi. I am passionate about creating a healthy + happy life for the ones I love most in this world, my husband Joel and our 2 boys JB + JJ. I am working on getting my small creative business off the ground {annette's creation's}, I homeschool our 2 boys {age 5 + age 3}, and help run this wonderful blog {DMB}! I was given this opportunity to stay home with my family when I was laid off from my Interior Design career mid-January 20-13. I was a stressed, unhappy mom wanting more freedom in my life at the time. We made many sacrifices to do this, we work everyday to keep me home raising our family. I love design, DIY, creating a healthy lifestyle, entertaining, reading, learning, coffee and just being a MOM. I'm learning how acceptance, letting go, and choosing happiness can lead me to where I need to be.

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