This fam-favorite hosts "U-Pick Apple Adventures" through the end of Oct. The exploration begins with a free wagon ride into the orchards where you and your crew are given as many picking bags as you can carry. This orchard gets high marks in the convenience category—credit card payments for the apples are accepted in the orchard and all of the trees are dwarf trees with fruit that is reachable for the toddler set from the ground.

If apple cider is your jam, this is where you'll want to lay your basket. The cider mill at this farm is the oldest in continuous use in Maryland, which means they know what they're doing. The fresh-pressed cider is available every day through December. If you want to pick your own fruit, you must pre-register.

Rock Hill has several thousand apple trees in their orchard! From Blondee’s to Macoun’s this is your go-to apple picking place. Your family is guaranteed to have an authentic farm experience here. Rock Hill Orchard is located in the Agricultural Reserve in Northern Montgomery County and is midway between Damascus and Mount Airy. Pick-your-own time slots can be found on Fri.-Sun.; reservations are required for Sat. and Sun. time slots.

You'll likely smell this charming orchard before you see it. That's because, in addition to offering a host of apple varieties (including cortland, empire and cameo), Catoctin whips up fresh apple cider, pies, and jam in its on-site kitchen and bakery. You can pick your own fruit every weekend Sept.-Oct.

This nearly-organic farm sprays its apples with pesticides only as a last resort. Instead, they use other tactics like crop rotation and water management to keep buggy-boos at bay. Other than their eco-conscious efforts, Larriland also offers more than 15 different types of u-pick apples, a barn store with already-plucked fruits and veggies (and kettle corn) and pre- or post-picking hayrides.

Baugher's Orchard has been a family-owned, working fruit and vegetable farm since 1904. It started out as a 60-acre piece of land and has expanded to become a 600-acre operation and one of the largest orchards in Maryland. Enjoy a wagon ride to the orchard and pick from apple trees on a picturesque Carroll County hillside. Kids can run around at the playground and even explore the Petting Zoo. Ice cream is sold in the market which is a great way to cap the day!

Don't know your Ginger Golds from your Granny Smiths? Can't tell what's ripe or not? No problem! This is a teaching farm, so just ask and you shall receive. Their website also lists a ton of apple-based recipes (the Apple Crisp is a must-try!). Side note: You can leave the flimsy grocery store bags at home—Homestead hooks you up with heavy-duty totes to collect your crop.

Sure, this farm boasts a whopping 325 acres of apples. But, what really impresses the kid set is the cow train (it's exactly what it sounds like—a cow-shaped train); old time-y wagon rides; and Kiddie Land, an irresistible playground complete with a large wooden ship, tractor and wagon. Apples? What apples?

Located near the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hartland is a deep-rooted, family-owned working farm and orchard. Take a relaxing drive and spend the day in the scenic countryside. Hartland takes pride in offering the freshest, juiciest apples possible. Containers and bags can be found upon entering the orchard, where you can spend a few hours in a stunning country setting picking a variety of apple types from Braeburns to Nittanys.

Apples are Great Country Farms’ thang! Apple picking is like a competitive sport to these folks so get ready to roll up your sleeves at CGF and get to work! Not only do they have apple picking, but there is also apple cider pressing, apple wine tastings and apple butter that you can buy. Their orchard is bursting with lovely apples and they have several varieties such as Gala, Jona Gold, Jona Free, Candy Crisp, Ruby Jon and Fuji ready for picking through the fall.