Ochs Orchard Apple Picking with a 3-Year-Old: Honest Review 🍎
We recently went apple picking at Ochs Orchard with our 3-year-old son, and we had such a fun day!
Ochs Orchard is HUGE—seriously, really huge! 😂 If you want to enjoy fresh produce and truly feel like you’re out in nature, this is a great place to visit.
We decided to pick Honeycrisp and Gala apples, which were available for picking during our visit. Some of the other apple varieties still looked like they needed more time to ripen.
The Gala apples were good, but honestly, I think they could have used a little more time to become sweeter and more flavorful.
Our little guy had so much fun picking apples by himself. 🍎🥰 The weather was beautiful, the scenery was gorgeous, and we took way too many pictures!
Ochs Orchard Apple Picking: Admission & Parking
Parking is free, and there is plenty of space.
The store and animal-feeding area are near the lower parking area, while the Pick Your Own fields are farther up the hill.
At the time of our visit:
- Under 5: Free
- Age 5+: $5
- Parking: Free
- Wagon rental: $5 + $20 deposit
When you pay admission, you receive a silver token, which gives you a $3 credit toward your purchase.
You can also get a map showing which fields are currently open for picking. Just check the field number against the map before you start picking.
Bring a Wagon or Ask About the Tractor
Because Ochs Orchard is so large, there is quite a bit of walking. The orchard also has hills, rocks, and uneven areas, so pushing a stroller can be challenging.
I noticed many families using wagons, and I think a wagon is a great option if you have young kids.
And trust me—the box gets surprisingly heavy, even if you don’t pick that many apples! 😂
If your child doesn’t like walking, ask about the tractor option at registration. Since the orchard is so large and hilly, this could be a great option for families with young kids.
Our son actually likes walking and doesn’t really like riding in things, so we just walked around the orchard.
What About the Tomatoes?
We also went looking for tomatoes, but most of them were already ripe and there weren’t many left to pick.
We managed to find about three tomatoes. 😂
Interestingly, several people kept asking us where we found the tomatoes, so apparently everyone was looking for them too!
Goats, Apple Donuts & Homemade Ice Cream
After picking, we followed the exit signs back down to the store.
There is a small area where kids can feed the goats, and you’ll need a quarter to buy the goat food.
Don’t forget your quarters! 🐐
The store also sells fresh produce, honey, and other farm products.
And definitely try the apple cider donuts and homemade ice cream!
The homemade ice cream was really good, and the apple donuts were delicious too. 🍎🍦
My only disappointment was that there wasn’t really an outdoor seating area. We had to sit at a small table inside the store, which felt a little disappointing on such a beautiful day.
Would I Take My 3-Year-Old Back?
Overall, we really enjoyed our visit.
If you want to pick fresh produce and enjoy nature, I definitely recommend Ochs Orchard. It’s spacious, peaceful, and feels more like a real farm experience than an entertainment-focused farm.
However, compared with some other farms we’ve visited, there aren’t many activities specifically for young children.
There is a lot of walking, plenty of hills, and not much for toddlers to do besides explore and pick produce.
Our 3-year-old had fun, but honestly, I think we’ll wait until he’s around 6 or 7 before coming back for Pick Your Own.
If you have older kids, or your children enjoy walking and exploring outdoors, I think Ochs Orchard would be a great choice.
For families with toddlers, I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a natural farm experience with fresh produce, apple donuts, and homemade ice cream, rather than a farm packed with rides and activities.
For us, watching our little guy proudly pick his own apples made the trip completely worth it. ❤️🍎
