<p>Weather permitting, we’ll be driving over from Chicago next weekend to pick apples and do some light recreational bike riding, We’ve been to the towns and beaches for many years but are not that familiar with the orchards in that part of the state - and there seem to be a ton of them! Any recommendations for the best; anywhere from the New Buffalo area on up to Saugatuck? We don’t need hay rides or corn mazes or haunted houses - just the best place to actually pick a few good apples at reasonable prices. Thanks!</p>
<p>[Gary</a> Cranes U-Pick](<a href=“http://www.cranesupick.com/]Gary”>http://www.cranesupick.com/)
is where people in my area like to go</p>
<p>Other ideas:
[Southwestern</a> Michigan Farms and Markets](<a href=“Page Not Found | SWMichigan.org”>Page Not Found | SWMichigan.org)</p>
<p>Erwin’s orchards, or uncle john’s cider mill</p>
<p>Gary Crane’s looks quite interesting, thanks! The other two are not in the SW part of the state, unfortunately. I grew up in East Lansing and we always went strawberry picking when I went home to visit - lots of great U-Pick’s around there! But a little further than we want to go on (at most) an overnight trip.</p>
<p>I live in SW Michigan and the weather should be great this weekend! Some to check out are: Stovers right between St Joseph/Berrien Springs, Jollay Orchards in Coloma(that’s more “carnival like”), Nye’s in St Joseph, Lemon Creek (also a great winery!) in Berrien Springs, Tree-Mendous Farms in Eau Claire.</p>
<p>Wanted to thank Mafool - we went to Crane’s and had a great time and picked way more apples than the two of us can eat - a few will end up in DS’s Halloween package. We also picked up a nice cherry pie, then went to Fenn Valley and got three bottles of wine and two free glasses. And of course some chocolates at South Bend in Saugatuck…then leftover pizza from Silver Beach pizza in St. Joe…our car was full of food by the time we left for Chicago! Good thing we biked both days!</p>
<p>Perfect weather, tons of fall color, a comfortable cottage (the only room left on the entire coast, I think!), a beautiful sunset in South Haven. I’m so glad we were able to fit this in.</p>
<p>Marilyn, I’m pleased it went so well! It is a beautiful part of the world, isn’t it?</p>
<p>We had a U-pick, commercial peach orchard. On our hill there 3 u-pick peach operations, on 3 miles, and within 4 miles of city center. Alas, families are smaller, people do not know what ripe fruit tastes like, afraid of pesticides, think that peaches are fuzzless and hard as a softball. </p>
<p>Hope you had a good time. Appreciate your bounty and let none go to waste. If you are lucky, you picked non irrigated fruit, but paid a bit more for it.</p>
<p>We just went apple picking in SE Michigan yesterday … one of our favorite things about Michigan (along with sledding/skiing/snowboarding in the winter). It was an absolutely perfect day. I can’t wait for the pie I will be making this weekend. :)</p>