*** This post originally appeared in the Fall 2013 issue of Traverse Bay Family. It has been reprinted with permission. ***
By the end of summer, I’m past ready for Fall. With temperatures starting to drop by mid-August, I just want a little consistency in the weather and frankly, I’m craving apples, squash & soups.
Here are some of our favorite fall traditions in the Grand Traverse Bay area of Michigan.
Orchards
Northern Michigan has two gems–both are a hike but well worth going to. The first is Klicherman’s in Northport. They have 200+ varieties of heirloom apples and unpasturized cider. The second is Friske Orchards in Atwood. They have a cafe & the fresh donuts are fabulous. There is also a kids playland, a rope “corn maze” and a gift shop. They also have special event days on the weekends in fall.
Corn Mazes
The most well known corn maze is Jacob’s Corn Maze at Witkop Farm on M-72 on the way out toward Empire. This year the theme is big island adventure & the season goes from 8/17 until 11/3. Until this year, no one has been old enough to enjoy this, but I’m hoping to take the girls this year.
There is also a corn maze out at Hoxsie’s Farm Market in Williamsburg. Every weekend there are free tractor rides around the farm that will take you from the farmers market to the apple orchard, the pumpkin patch & corn maze. They also have wagons you can use to walk to the orchard & pumpkin patch and donuts & cider available.
Haunted Houses
If you have older children, you might try Screams in the Dark out at the Northwest Michigan Fairgrounds. Open every Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 7-11pm in October, Screams in the Dark includes 2 haunted houses, a trail, a hayride and a zombie paintball shoot.
Do you have a favorite fall activity that you do with your family?
