It is apple picking season! Where will you go to pick them? There are many places near Lincoln that you can choose from, make it a morning trip or an all day-affair. Most places charge admission to enter the orchard. Some orchards will apply your entrance fee to your total at the end of the trip.
Many of the orchards offer not only u-pick but also hayrack rides, educational opportunities, playgrounds and more. You really can make an entire day of it!
Picnic Hill Orchard-Opened in 2021, we visited Picnic Hill and just loved it. Why? It is a 15 minute drive from our house. They are just East of Menard's on 84th St (yes, there is an apple orchard there-I didn't believe it either). Picnic Hill is for the apple picking purist. You won't find agri-tourism but you'll find lots of apples, a beautiful landscape and great owners. It is good for little kids because many of their apple trees are of the dwarf variety; kids can easily pick them! There is no admission fee to enter. This is a great 30 minute-1 hour activity. Dates: Sunday, Sept. 3rd & Monday, Sept. 4th and Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Website
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Martin's Hillside Orchard-Martin's opens the weekend after Labor Day to kick off the start of their fall. They have a cornbox, swing set, a children's corn maze, hay bales to climb on and more. It is a farm with a lot of additional activities. This is a 2-4 hour activity. Opening on Saturday, September 9th.
- Entry fee $6/person
- Kiddos under 2 are free
Martin's is located in Ceresco, NE. Website
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Kimmell Orchard & Vineyard began in 1925, almost a century ago! They offer pears, apples and peaches. They offer two very fun playgrounds on their grounds that my kids could spend hours playing on. This is a 2-4 hour activity.
U-Pick will open on September 16th & 16th. U-Pick/Tree Dome Nature Trail. (Possibly another date on September 9th-check their website)
- Adults (13 & over): $6
- Kids (4–12): $3
- Kids (3 & under): Free
- Seniors (62 & over): $4
- Military (active or retired): $3
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Arbor Day Farm is one of our favorite places to visit. We love Treehouse Adventure and usually end our visit at the orchards. Arbor Day Farm also has a preservation orchard where they grow heirloom variety apples that are no longer commercially available. They are located in Nebraska City. Arbor Day Farm is a halfday adventure for our family. Website.
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Union Orchards-This orchard offers 18 varieties of crisp apples from Honeycrisp to Granny Smith! Each apple variety has a very distinctive flavor and produces at various times throughout the season. Located in Nebraska City. This is a 2-4 hour activity.Website.
Ditmar's Orchard, located in Council Bluffs Iowa, offers tractor rides, a bale maze, a playground, tire maze and more and host many events. This is a half day-full day trip with driving. Website.
