Kids & Family
8 Local Cider Mills Offer a Taste of Fall: Family Bucket List
Visiting a cider mill is a time honored tradition in Michigan. Here are eight that offer family-fun activities.
Nothing says Michigan in the fall like a trip to one of the state’s great cider mills. Fortunately, there are several close to home.
This time-honored tradition isn’t just about sipping flavorful ciders and biting into a crunchy apple. It’s the whole experience that makes the difference. Each cider mill offers its own special touches, but here are eight that shouldn’t be missed.
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No preference is implied by the order of this listing. It’s dictated by the alphabet. “A” is for apple, you know.
Franklin Cider Mill
Why you should go: Known for its non-pasteurized fresh cider, pressed and bottled on site, Franklin Cider Mill is as old as Michigan itself. The Mill was completed in 1837, the same year Michigan gained statehood. | Where: 7450 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Hills | Hours: 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday through the Sunday after Thanksgiving; also 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day | Phone: (248) 626-8261
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Goodison Cider Mill
Why you should go: The cider alone, pressed the old-fashioned way with a century-old press, is worth the trip, but an extra bonus is the mill’s world-famous Pistachio Nut Bread. | Where: 4295 Orion Road, Rochester | Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Sunday until Thanksgiving, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday in December (hours subject to change; call to confirm) | Phone: (248) 652-8450
Middleton Farms Cider Mill
Why you should go: This family-owned mill offers homemade doughnuts, made fresh daily; old-fashioned pressed cider; and variety of gourds and pumpkins in season. Also expect to find homemade pies, caramel apples or candy apples. | Where: 46462 Dequindre Road, Utica | Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Oct. 31; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, Nov. 1-Thanksgiving weekend (hours subject to change, call to confirm hours) Phone: (586) 731-6699
Paint Creek Cider Mill
Why you should go: If you prefer barbecue, a Coney dog, pizza, and ice cream or doughnuts (or both!) with your cider, this is the place to stop. And it all comes with fabulous views along Paint Creek Trail, including a giant water wheel. | Where: 4480 Orion Road, Oakland Township | Hours: Open year round, daily from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. | Phone: (248) 656-3400
Parmenter’s Northville Cider Mill & Winery
Why you should go: Another of Michigan’s historic cider mills, this one has been operating since 1873. Fall fare isn’t limited to cider (or — take note adults — to non-alcoholic drinks). Be sure to pick up a pie, pumpkin butter, roasted almonds and other delicious treats while you’re there. | Where: 714 Baseline Road, Northville | Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily through late November | Phone: (248) 349-3181
Plymouth Orchards
Why you should go: You and the kiddos can take a scenic wagon ride through the 100-acre farm, visit a petting zoo and pick your own pumpkins, then finish the trip with cider and cinnamon doughnuts. | Where: 10685 Warren Road, Plymouth | Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through early November | Phone: (734) 455-2290 | Note: A secondary market at 10260 W. Ann Arbor Road, Plymouth, is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Nov. 25.
Rochester Cider Mill
Why you should go: This isn’t just a cider mill, but an outdoor agricultural museum with a petting farm and straw pyramid the kids can climb while the adults are perusing the antique farm equipment around the complex and guessing the purposes of the vast array of tools. | Where: 5125 N. Rochester Road, Rochester | Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Nov. 30; 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. in December | Phone: (248) 651-4224
Yates Cider Mill
Why you should go: The scenic beauty of the mill property invites a relaxing stroll along the river while enjoying the delicious treats available at the mill, one of the oldest, continually running businesses in Michigan and a destination for generations of Michiganders. | Where: 1990 E. Avon Road, Rochester Hills | Hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday through October; Yates Store open weekdays 7 a.m.-9 p.m.; weekends 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (hours subject to change, call ahead) | Phone: (248) 651-8300
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Photo via Flickr
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