For many people, fall is synonymous with one fruit in particular: apples. Apple picking season technically begins in late summer, but the vast majority of apple varieties start to ripen in the fall months, and it’s at this time of year that hundreds of farms and orchards open up and welcome visitors from all around the nation for some apple picking fun. Picking apples is a terrific way to get away from the rat race of city life and get in touch with nature for a while, forgetting about all your worries as you take a hayride over to the trees and spend some time picking those tasty treats from the trees.

More ideas: Best Weekend Getaways, Best Day Trips

Virginia is an excellent state to do some apple picking, with dozens of top rated farms and orchards to be found in both the north and south of VA. Virginia’s best apple picking locations have a lot to offer and also provide a fun way for you to see more of the state and it’s beautiful scenery. Most Virginia orchards are located near pretty little towns you might never have visited before, so be sure to plan an apple picking trip or two this fall in order to really make the most of this time of year.

Best Apple Picking Spots in Virginia

As previously mentioned, Virginia has a long list of super apple picking spots, and it can be quite a challenge to pick the right one for you. There’s no ‘bad choice’ when it comes to apple picking locations in VA, but some are better than others. Some of the state’s orchards offer additional activities, like farm stores, cafes, tractor rides, corn mazes, and more, while others keep things simple. Read on to learn about the best U-Pick spots in Virginia.

- Dickie Brothers Orchard - 2552 Dickie Rd, Roseland, VA 22967, Phone: 434-277-5516

Located down in Roseland and established way back in the 18th century, this fruit farm offers U-Pick services for apples, peaches, nectarines, berries, pumpkins, and more. The land has a ton of history behind it, having being sold to Mr James Dickie by the King of England himself back in the 1750s. The family has kept the farm going through the years and helped it become one of Virginia's premier apple picking locations, offering stunning views of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. Apple varieties you can pick at this orchard include Gala, McIntosh, Golden Delicious, Paula Red, Honeyscrip, and Jonagold.

- Stribling Orchard - 11587 Poverty Hollow Ln, Markham, VA 22643, Phone: 540-364-3040

Built around a house that was first constructed in the mid-1700s, Stribling Orchard has a lot of history behind and the land has many stories to tell, as well as offering some of the best soil and weather conditions for all kinds of apples to grow. The orchard features around 2,500 apple trees in total, as well as almost a thousand peach trees, and is open to the public from Tuesday through to Sunday of each week all through apple-picking season. There's also a bakery on-site crafting some scrumptious homemade treats like fruit breads, apple pies, pumpkin pies, apple turnovers, regular breads, and more. Live music and entertainment can be enjoyed at this orchard on the weekends and special events like rescue animal adoption drives are held here too.

- Chiles Peach Orchard - 1351 Greenwood Rd, Crozet, VA 22932, Phone: 434-823-1583

Located near Crozet, Chiles Peach Orchard has been serving the state of Virginia with high quality fresh fruit for over a hundred years, with the Chiles family owning and working the land through multiple generations. The fifth generation of the family is currently working at the property, giving a really friendly and authentic atmosphere to this lovely orchard. Despite being named for its peaches, this orchard also grows a huge range of apples including Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Albermarle Pippin, Fuji, Gala, Jonagold, and Granny Smith.

- Mackintosh Fruit Farm - 1608 Russell Rd, Berryville, VA 22611, Phone: 540-955-6225

Mackintosh Fruit Farm is situated in the beautiful surroundings of Berryville, offering some stunning scenic views in every direction to complement your apple picking experiences. Open every day from Wednesday to Sunday during apple picking season, this family owned and run location got started back in 1988 and has swiftly grown into one of Virginia's favorite fruit locations. Guests can stop off at the Clarke County Farmers Market to purchase fresh fruit and veggies from the farm or visit themselves to grab some apples right from the trees. Some of the varieties you can find here include Golden Delicious, Ginger Gold, and Honeycrisp.