How ‘Bout Them Apples?

Nothing motivates kids to eat their fruits and veggies more than harvesting them personally. Happily, at least half a dozen pick-your-own orchards near Ottawa are vying for your attention, and at most of these family-oriented places, a visit isn’t just about bringing home the apples—it’s an event.

At Mountain Orchards (south of the city in Mountain, ON), most of the fun happens on weekends, when you can buy freshly made cider doughnuts (yum!), frolic among the stacks of straw, and hitch a wagon ride out to the orchard. There’s also a corn maze and nature trail.

Kilmarnock Orchard is located on the Island of Kilmarnock, overlooking the historic Rideau River and Rideau Canal system. You can pick your own fruit, and an apple shop also sells tempting pies, jams, jellies, honey, mustards, candy apples (weekends only) and freshly squeezed apple cider. The orchard is open to school groups, with a guided tour that includes a wagon ride, butter and cider making lessons, and a goodie bag.

East-end residents might prefer to head to Cannamore Orchard near Embrun, ON. This place is known for its array of mazes, including a left-turn-only outdoor maze, a patio stone maze, rope maze, life-size checkers and rainbow maze.

The only downside? It takes some kids only about 15 minutes to pack what feels like five metric tonnes of apples into a few bags. So what do you do with these dozens of apples at home? Our thoughts: Make apple jellies, jams, sauces, pies, crisps, muffins, juice or baked apples. Freeze for future use (apple muffins are great in school lunches)—and give generously to friends and neighbours.

And just in time for Thanksgiving dinner, click here for a favourite apple recipe from one of our savvy scouts that will feed a crowd. It’s worth upsetting the apple cart for.

Mountain Orchards
www.mountainorchards.ca

Kilmarnock Orchard
www.kilmarnockorchard.ca

Cannamore Orchard
www.cannamoreorchard.com

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