Apples to apples

Brought to North America by European colonists and spread along Native American trade routes, apples were conveyed to the Midwest by none other than John Chapman, AKA Johnny Appleseed, an orchardist and conservationist who saved many of the apple varieties we enjoy today from extinction.

Michigan is the second largest apple producer in the United States, harvesting over 23 million bushels of apples annually. Typically ripening from August through Halloween, our state produces over 50 types of apples, from grocery store favorites to hard-to-find “antique” varieties. There are numerous ways to try them all up and down Michigan’s west coast.

Just over the Michigan border, only 60 miles from Chicago, is Three Oaks, a village just south of Warren Dunes State Park. There, you’ll find the Apple Cider Century Bike Ride, one of the largest and longest running cycling events in the Midwest. The event, held annually on the last Sunday of September, is accessible for all riders and skill levels, with rides of 15, 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles that wind through orchards, forests and wine country. Registration is online (applecidercentury.com) and comes with apples and cider at all rest stops, ride support and repair, as well as an ice cream social the Saturday night before the big ride.

Families hoping for adventures all in one place can find them at Jolly Orchards in Coloma, which offers apple picking, a corn maze, haunted house and fishing pond among many other attractions. Or plan a whole weekend around a trip to Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo in New Era. From visiting with exotic animals like capybaras, kangaroos and sloths, to a corn barn, giant slide and enormous jumping pillows, kids will have the time of their lives. After trying the colossal Hot Caramel Apple Cider–topped with whipped cream and an entire apple cinnamon donut–walk off your indulgence by heading to the far side of the farm to shoot the apple cannons.

For offerings for those 21+, check out the beer tent with live entertainment at Silver Lake Sand Dunes Apple & BBQ Festival on September 6 & 7. The festival also hosts an amateur BBQ competition, classic car show, apple pie contest, apple market and craft show, as well as a 5k. Or head to Virtue Cider in Fennville, an award-winning hard cidery that makes farmhouse cider using heirloom fruit on their sustainable solar-powered farm. In addition to hard cider, they offer a seasonal menu of food, tours and guided tastings, and encourage visitors to spend the day walking their trails or sitting by the firepit.

Looking for apple fun further up north? Stop by Jacob’s Farm in Traverse City for a U-pick orchard, corn maze and kid’s zone, along with an extensive list of cider, beer, cocktails and top-notch BBQ and pizza. Just north of Traverse on US-31, find a golden mile (or forty) of apple growers and farm markets, from larger operations like Royal Farms, King Orchards, and the newly revamped and extensive Friske Farm Market, to small independent fruit stands that sell fresh-picked apples at many turnouts along the highway. Continue north to Charlevoix and attend one of the longest running fruit festivals in the state, Charlevoix AppleFest, celebrating its 46th anniversary this year. The festival offers more than 30 varieties of apple, including hard to find “antique” and heirloom varieties you may not find anywhere else. The event also hosts a craft fair, pony rides, apple bobbing and more.

No matter how you choose to enjoy your apple adventure, Michigan’s shoreline is sure to please everyone to the core.

TOP PHOTO: apple picking – ID 110414731 © Lonny Garris | Dreamstime.com