There’s a certain point every year when West Michigan seems to collectively decide it’s time for fall. The coffee shops roll out the pumpkin spice, the leaves begin their slow transformation, and farms and orchards start filling up with hay bales, pumpkins and apple cider.
Whether you’re planning a family outing, a weekend adventure or simply looking for an excuse to embrace sweater weather, here are some of the best ways to make the most of the season.
Pick Your Own Adventure
West Michigan’s orchards are the obvious place to start—and there’s much more to them than apples.
At Schwallier’s Country Basket in Sparta, 15 varieties of u-pick apples are available through mid-October, alongside a corn maze, pumpkin patch, wagon rides and cow train. There’s also a petting farm populated by the sort of fall-day celebrities everyone loves: bunnies and goats. For groups looking to make an afternoon of it, bonfires with all the fixings can be booked in advance.
At Ed Dunneback and Girls Farm Market, the family farm and orchard has been a West Michigan fixture since 1925. Today, it’s as much an entertainment destination as a farm market, with outdoor live music, special events and festivals continuing through the fall. Kids can visit the play area and farm animal petting pen, while grown-ups can stop by Pink Barrel Cellars taproom for a drink and food.
For a quieter orchard experience, Wells Orchard southwest of downtown Grand Rapids comes into its own in autumn, when its roughly 25 varieties of apples are at their peak. The market is also stocked with fresh cider, fruit pies, apple turnovers and other seasonal treats, along with gourds, mums, corn stalk bundles and painted pumpkins.
And then there’s Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery, a West Michigan fall institution for good reason. Grab a cider and doughnut, shop for Michigan-themed goods, pick your own apples or simply pick up a bag or bushel. The winery also offers wine and cider tasting, making this one particularly easy to turn into a leisurely fall afternoon.
At DeKleine Orchards in Hudsonville, the October surprise is u-pick chestnuts. It’s a particularly timely harvest for anyone already thinking about holiday cooking—or who simply wants the satisfaction of roasting something over an open fire. Picking availability can vary, so check the farm’s social media before heading out.
Down in Fennville, Crane Orchards offers more than 20 varieties of apples for u-picking beginning around Labor Day, along with hayrides, a corn maze, cow train and, later in the season, a pumpkin patch. The onsite Crane’s Pie Pantry Restaurant & Winery is another reason to make the drive. New this year, a holiday drive-through light show is expected to open in November.
And if pumpkins are the goal, Harvest Moon Acres Corn Maze & Fun Park in Gobles is a full-on fall playground. Open only during the autumn season, the destination features a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, a five-acre corn maze, farm animals, hayrides and a Fun Zone, with the season running from late September through the end of October.
Make It a Family Day
Fall is an especially good time to rediscover West Michigan’s family attractions. At John Ball Zoo, visitors can see more than 2,000 animals, along with more than 20 larger-than-life animatronic pollinators. Plus, the annual Zoo Goes Boo celebration returns this October with three weekends of family-friendly Halloween fun! From trick-or-treating and larger-than-life characters to live entertainment, spooky decorations and conservation connections, Zoo Goes Boo offers plenty of ways for families to celebrate the season together.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park offers the Children’s Garden and Farm Garden, while the Grand Rapids Public Museum is home to Unseen Oceans.
For a more structured outdoor adventure, Adventure Point offers year-round programs centered on leadership, trust and teambuilding, STEM and outdoor skills. Its activities include climbing, ziplining, archery, outdoor living skills, large-group games and more.
Chase the Colors
You don’t need a destination packed with attractions to have a great fall day. West Michigan’s fall color season provides plenty of opportunities for self-guided scenic drives through forests and farmland. Pack a picnic and find a local park where you can enjoy the changing leaves at a leisurely pace.
For a closer look at the season’s natural transformation, wander the trails at Blandford Nature Center, the Calvin College Ecosystem Preserve or the Wittenbach/Wege Agriscience & Environmental Education Center.
Get a Little Spooked
And then, naturally, there’s the other side of fall: fog machines, dark woods and jump scares.
West Michigan has no shortage of haunted attractions for those who prefer their autumn adventures with a little screaming. The Haunt in Wyoming, The Haunted Forest at Cannonsburg Ski Area and New Salem Corn Maze in Dorr are among the options around the Grand Rapids area.
Further afield, Abandoned Acres Farm in Sparta offers a haunted farm experience, while Nightmare Realm in Paw Paw, Haunt Park in Kalamazoo, Haunted Acres in New Era and Trail of Terror in Holton give thrill-seekers plenty of reasons to venture beyond the city.
