The 50 Best Farms to Visit in North Carolina, Ranked (And the Famous Names That Didn't Make the Cut)

In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene washed out the road to Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville in four places.

The trees were fine. The apples were ripe. But no car could reach them, at the start of the busiest four weeks of an 11-week season.

So Danielle Stepp-McCall, her husband Rex, their college-age kids and their friends did the only thing left. "We picked 120 bushels, drove to Charlotte, and slung apples all day long," she told BPR News.

Here's the short answer. Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard is No. 1 on our list of the 50 best farms to visit in North Carolina, scored on a 100-point scorecard. Every farm is a real working farm, open to the public, with strong Google reviews.

Stepp's lost about 45% of its business that year, around half a million dollars by the family's estimate. It reopened on October 26, 2024. Then it grew its spring tulip season and came back swinging.

That's the kind of farm that tops this list: the one that earns its visitors, keeps them, and survives the day everything goes wrong.

The short answer

No. 1: Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard, Hendersonville (82.0/100).

How many: 50 farms in every corner of the state, from Banner Elk to the Outer Banks.

How we ranked them: A 100-point scorecard (Google stars, popularity, press and awards, visitor experience, recent reviews, story, value and ease). Every farm had to pass four entry tests first, including at least 4.3 stars and 100 reviews on Google, checked in November 2026.

Travellers, use this as your road map for the next 12 months. Farm owners, read it twice: after the list, I'll show you what the top farms do that you can copy.

Jump to Your Region

Find your region, then scroll to those numbers. The list runs in rank order.

Under every farm you'll find its opening hours as listed on its Google profile when we checked (November 6, 2026), plus a link that opens it in Google Maps for directions. Farm hours change with the seasons, so tap through to the live listing before you drive.

• Mountains (Asheville, Hendersonville, High Country, Smokies): No. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 15, 18, 30, 31, 36, 37, 46, 50

• Foothills and Yadkin Valley: No. 16, 22, 23, 25, 40

• Piedmont Triad (Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point area): No. 9, 11, 20, 26, 38

• Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill): No. 8, 24, 27, 29, 32, 33, 43, 45, 47, 48, 49

• Charlotte area: No. 14, 34, 39, 42, 44

• Sandhills: No. 19, 28

• Eastern NC and the Coast: No. 3, 6, 12, 13, 17, 21, 35, 41

Every region of North Carolina has at least two farms worth the drive.

All 50 Farms at a Glance

No.	Farm	Town	Region	Best for	Best season
1	Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard	Hendersonville	Mountains	U-pick apples and spring tulips	Aug-Oct; spring tulips
2	Sky Top Orchard	Flat Rock	Mountains	Mountain-top apple picking	Aug-late Nov
3	Hubb's Farm	Clinton	Eastern NC	Corn mazes	Sept-early Nov
4	Justus Orchard	Hendersonville	Mountains	Apples and fried pies	July-Oct
5	Darnell Farms	Bryson City	Mountains	Riverside farm stand, hayrides	Spring-Dec
6	Mike's Farm	Beulaville	Eastern NC	Country dinner, Christmas shows	Year-round
7	Carl Sandburg Home goat barn	Flat Rock	Mountains	Goats with a story	Year-round
8	Spring Haven Farm	Chapel Hill	Triangle	Baby goats, young kids	Year-round
9	Childress Vineyards	Lexington	Piedmont Triad	Wine and lunch	Year-round
10	Grandad's Apples N' Such	Hendersonville	Mountains	Apples plus pumpkins	Aug-Nov
11	Homeland Creamery	Julian	Piedmont Triad	Farm ice cream	Year-round
12	Simply Natural Creamery	Ayden	Eastern NC	Jersey cows, ice cream	Year-round
13	Duplin Winery	Rose Hill	Eastern NC	Muscadine wine	Year-round
14	Patterson Farm	Mount Ulla	Charlotte area	Strawberries, school tours	Spring; fall
15	Apple Hill Farm	Banner Elk	Mountains	Guided alpaca tours	Year-round
16	The Farm	Dobson	Foothills	Small kids, four seasons	Spring-Dec
17	Island Farm	Manteo	Coast	Outer Banks farm history	Spring-fall
18	Jeter Mountain Farm	Hendersonville	Mountains	Apples, cider, bluegrass	July-Oct
19	Gillis Hill Farm	Fayetteville	Sandhills	History, animals, ice cream	Apr-Oct
20	Summerfield Farms	Summerfield	Piedmont Triad	Farm stay and events	Year-round
21	Lewis Farms	Wilmington	Coast	Strawberries and blueberries	Spring-summer
22	JOLO Winery & Vineyards	Pilot Mountain	Foothills	Wine and dinner with a view	Year-round
23	Stony Knoll Vineyards	Dobson	Foothills	Century-farm wine	Year-round
24	Mystic Farm & Distillery	Durham	Triangle	Bourbon on a farm	Year-round
25	Divine Llama Vineyards	East Bend	Foothills	Llama treks and wine	Year-round
26	Rudd Farm	Greensboro	Piedmont Triad	Strawberries near the city	Spring-fall
27	Smith's Nursery & Farm Market	Benson	Triangle	Fall weekends with bluegrass	Spring; fall
28	Gross Farms	Sanford	Sandhills	Big maze, spring strawberries	Apr; Sept-Nov
29	Ken's Korny Corn Maze	Garner	Triangle	NC's original corn maze	Late Sept-mid Nov
30	Grandfather Vineyard & Winery	Banner Elk	Mountains	Riverside High Country wine	Summer-fall
31	The Orchard at Altapass	Spruce Pine	Mountains	Parkway apples and music	May-Oct
32	Waller Family Farm	Durham	Triangle	Strawberry picking	Late Apr-June
33	Perkins Orchard	Durham	Triangle	Fill-a-bag produce	Spring-fall
34	Lineberger's Maple Springs Farm	Dallas	Charlotte area	Berries, then pumpkins	Apr-July; fall
35	Lu Mil Vineyard	Elizabethtown	Eastern NC	Muscadines and cabins	Year-round
36	Hickory Nut Gap Farm	Fairview	Mountains	Fall at the farm near Asheville	Fall; store year-round
37	Overmountain Vineyards	Tryon	Mountains	Estate-grown wine	Year-round
38	Millstone Creek Orchards	Ramseur	Piedmont Triad	Peaches, apples, Highland cows	Summer-fall
39	Carrigan Farms	Mooresville	Charlotte area	U-pick plus quarry swimming	Spring-fall
40	Silver Fork Winery	Morganton	Foothills	Wine with a mountain view	Year-round
41	Sanctuary Vineyards	Jarvisburg	Coast	Wine on the way to the Outer Banks	Year-round
42	Midland Farms	Midland	Charlotte area	Farm store, fall festival days	Year-round; Oct
43	Hill Ridge Farms	Youngsville	Triangle	Fall festival for little ones	Late Sept-Oct
44	Hodges Family Farm	Charlotte	Charlotte area	Pumpkins close to the city	Late Sept-Oct
45	Vollmer Farm	Bunn	Triangle	Organic berries, fall play	Spring-fall
46	Cooper Creek Trout Farm	Bryson City	Mountains	Easy trout fishing for kids	Year-round
47	Page Farms	Raleigh	Triangle	Strawberries and a fall maze	Spring; fall
48	1870 Farm	Chapel Hill	Triangle	Goat cuddles	Year-round
49	Naylor Family Farm & Corn Maze	Fuquay-Varina	Triangle	Maze and pig pavilion	Mid-Sept-early Nov
50	Frosty's Choose & Cut	West Jefferson	Mountains	Choose-and-cut Fraser firs	Late Nov-Dec

How We Ranked Them

Most "best farms" lists never show the math. Here's ours, in full. It's the same scorecard we used for our lists of the best farms to visit in Georgia, Florida, Texas and California.

First, every farm had to pass four entry tests:

1. Open to the public with posted hours or a way to book.

2. Operating in 2025-26.

3. A real working farm. Crops or animals are raised on the property. A petting zoo bolted onto a parking lot doesn't count.

4. At least 4.3 stars from at least 100 Google reviews. Every farm on this list clears that bar. We read the figures straight from Google Maps in November 2026.

Then each farm was scored out of 100:

What we scored	Points	How it works
Google stars	25	4.3 stars scores 0; 4.9 or higher scores the full 25, on a straight line in between
Popularity	15	Number of Google reviews, on a sliding scale so giants don't swamp small farms
Press and awards	15	National polls, state awards, serious news features
Visitor experience	15	How much there is to do, and how hands-on it is
Recent reviews	10	What visitors said lately, including the complaints
Story and uniqueness	10	Family history, heritage, something you can't get anywhere else
Value	5	Fair prices for what you get
Ease of visiting	5	Clear hours, booking and directions
Total	100

Our 100-point scorecard. Stars carry the most weight, but no farm can buy its way up the list.

We also spread the list across the state, capped pumpkin patches and corn mazes at 15, and removed farms with serious red flags. Ties went to the better story. No farm paid to be included.

We don't print each farm's star rating, because those numbers move weekly. We recheck the list every six months.

One more thing. Several orchards show as "temporarily closed" on Google right now. That usually means the season ended. Check each farm's website before you drive.

The 50 Best Farms to Visit in North Carolina

No. 1: Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard, Hendersonville

Score: 82.0/100 · Best for: U-pick apples, spring tulips and a corn maze · Best season: August to October (apples); spring (tulips)

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Google lists it as temporarily closed right now, which is normal for a seasonal farm. Check before you go. See it on Google Maps

Stepp's bills itself as one of Henderson County's first pick-your-own apple orchards. The family has run it for almost half a century, and Danielle Stepp-McCall is the third generation.

Pick from more than two dozen apple varieties, get lost in the corn maze, fire the apple cannons and grab a bag of cider donuts.

In a 2015 public vote promoted by USA Today, it placed No. 7 for best apple orchard in America, and Yelp put it on its national top-20 apple-picking list in 2023.

Tip: Apple season usually wraps up around Halloween, so Google may show it as closed now. Come back in spring for the tulips, which the family is growing into a second season (here's how u-pick flower fields work).

Helene didn't touch Stepp's trees. It washed out the road, and the farm lost its four busiest weeks.

No. 2: Sky Top Orchard, Flat Rock

Score: 80.2/100 · Best for: Mountain-top apple picking · Best season: August to late November

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Sun 9 am–5 pm. See it on Google Maps

Sky Top sits on Pinnacle Mountain at about 3,000 feet, and the family has run it since 1967.

In 2025, USA Today readers voted it No. 3 among the country's u-pick farms. It was the only North Carolina orchard in the top 10.

Pick from 20-plus apple varieties, then try the hayrides, bee train, apple cannons, gem mine, bamboo forest walk and cider donuts.

Tip: Google may say "temporarily closed," but the orchard's own site says the 2026 season runs to Sunday, November 29, with u-pick winding down. Go on a weekday. Reviewers say weekends get crowded.

No. 3: Hubb's Farm, Clinton

Score: 80.0/100 · Best for: Corn mazes · Best season: Mid-September to early November; Easter weekend in spring

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Wed closed · Thu–Fri 10 am–2 pm · Sat–Sun 10 am–6 pm. See it on Google Maps

This family land in Sampson County grew tobacco, grains and produce for generations. In 2008, just after their son Luke was born, John and Tammy Peterson cut their first corn maze. They named it "Hubb's" after Tammy's father, whose nickname was Hubb.

USA Today 10Best readers keep voting it one of America's best corn mazes: No. 3 in 2024, No. 10 in 2025 and No. 5 in 2026.

Expect several mazes of different difficulty across more than 10 acres, plus pumpkins, wagon rides and 40-plus attractions. In spring it opens for an Easter weekend and quieter farm days. Farmers, here's how to start a corn maze.

Tip: The fall 2026 season ends Saturday, November 7, so watch for the 2027 dates. Each fall it also holds a discounted Special Needs Day (October 6 in 2026).

No. 4: Justus Orchard, Hendersonville

Score: 78.3/100 · Best for: Apples, fried pies and a full family day · Best season: July to October

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Sun 9 am–5 pm. See it on Google Maps

The Justus family has grown apples here for more than a century, once selling to big buyers like Gerber. In the late 1960s they opened the gate to pickers. The fifth generation is now involved.

Helene hit them hard. The family lost at least a couple of thousand bushels and more than 250 bearing trees, and the bakery was completely shut down for a time.

It's back now. Pick apples, Asian pears and summer blackberries, ride the cow train, fire the apple cannons and line up for fried apple pies. There's weekend barbecue and a taproom too.

Tip: The bakery ovens close an hour before the orchard does, so eat early.

No. 5: Darnell Farms, Bryson City

Score: 78.0/100 · Best for: A riverside farm stand with fall and Christmas hayrides · Best season: Spring to December

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Thu 9 am–6 pm · Fri–Sat 9 am–7 pm · Sun 9 am–6 pm. See it on Google Maps

Darnell Farms is an active, second-generation family farm. It grows strawberries, pole beans, sweet corn, tomatoes and pumpkins on 100 acres along the Tuckasegee River.

Spring brings u-pick strawberries. Fall brings a corn maze, live music and hayrides out to the pumpkin patch, which cost $22 including a pumpkin in 2024. In November and December, the Winter Wonderland hayride rolls past the lights with cocoa and s'mores.

Tip: It's open daily from 9 to 7, except four holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day).

No. 6: Mike's Farm, Beulaville

Score: 76.6/100 · Best for: A country dinner and Christmas shows · Best season: Year-round; best in October and at Christmas

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon closed · Tue–Wed 10 am–5 pm · Thu–Sat 10 am–8 pm · Sun closed. See it on Google Maps

Mike's Farm calls itself Onslow County's original agritourism farm. The draw is the family-style country restaurant, open Thursday to Saturday evenings, with no reservation needed. The bakery is known for its fudge.

In October there are hayrides out to the pumpkin patch. In 2024 the hayride was $3 a person. At Christmas, it runs Christmas hayrides and holiday dinner shows.

Carolina Country readers named it a runner-up for the state's Finest Farm Attraction in 2023.

Tip: Christmas events are booking now. Reserve before you drive out.

No. 7: Carl Sandburg Home (Connemara Farms goat barn), Flat Rock

Score: 75.9/100 · Best for: Goats with a story · Best season: Year-round

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon closed · Tue–Sun 9 am–5 pm. See it on Google Maps

This is a National Park Service site, not a commercial farm. It made the list because it keeps a working goat herd you can walk right up to.

Lilian Sandburg, the poet's wife, ran a champion goat dairy from 1935 to 1965. Today's goats descend from her Chikaming herd, in all three of her breeds. WLOS counted 11 goats in July 2026.

The barnyard is open daily, 10 to 4, with rangers on hand.

Tip: Kids aren't born every year, because the park skips breeding when the herd is a healthy size. If baby goats are your goal, check the park's news in spring before you go.

Photo: NPS Photo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

No. 8: Spring Haven Farm, Chapel Hill

Score: 75.5/100 · Best for: Baby goats and families with young kids · Best season: Year-round; October for pumpkin carving with goats

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Tue closed · Wed–Sun 10 am–6 pm. See it on Google Maps

Yelp named Spring Haven one of America's top 30 fall destinations in 2022. The hook is pumpkin carving with goats. You scoop out the pumpkin and the goats eat the insides.

The rest of the year, you can meet baby goats, Highland cows, alpacas, pigs and donkeys. There's goat yoga, tractor rides, a general store and what the farm calls the biggest gem mine in Chapel Hill.

Or book "Baby Goat Zen," a private 50-minute goat cuddle.

Tip: Buy tickets online. In October it stays open until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

No. 9: Childress Vineyards, Lexington

Score: 75.0/100 · Best for: Wine and lunch with a big-name story · Best season: Year-round; harvest August to October

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Sun 10 am–5 pm. See it on Google Maps

NASCAR team owner Richard Childress broke ground here in 2003, and the winery opened in 2004. The grapes come from the vineyard grounds, his home estate and local growers. Expect European-style reds and whites, plus a Scuppernong muscadine wine.

The Italian-style bistro makes it an easy lunch stop off US 52 and US 64. It also hosts free entertainment in spring and fall.

It has more Google reviews than any other farm on this list.

Tip: It sits right where US 52 meets US 64, a short drive from Interstate 85.

No. 10: Grandad's Apples N' Such, Hendersonville

Score: 74.3/100 · Best for: Apples and pumpkins in one stop · Best season: August to November

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Tue closed · Wed–Sun 9 am–5 pm. See it on Google Maps

Grandad's has opened every fall since 1994, on about 120 acres run by a fourth-generation apple family.

After Helene, it reopened in October 2024 and added its first u-pick pumpkin patch.

Come for 30-plus apple varieties, the pumpkin patch, a corn maze, the cow train, the bakery and the country store. Ask for the Mountain Glacier slushie, which the owner's daughters invented.

Reviewers mention fair prices and rocking chairs with a view. Tip: From November 9 it switches to Wednesday-to-Sunday hours, 9 to 5, and leashed dogs are welcome. Christmas season starts in November.

No. 11: Homeland Creamery, Julian

Score: 73.4/100 · Best for: Ice cream from the farm's own cows · Best season: Year-round

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Sat 9 am–7 pm · Sun 1–7 pm. See it on Google Maps

The Bowmans are sixth- and seventh-generation farmers. They've milked dairy cows on the same homestead for nearly three-quarters of a century.

The on-farm dairy plant turns the milk into bottled milk, cheese, butter and ice cream sold right at the farm. Our State magazine included it in its list of 10 North Carolina creameries to explore.

Farm tours run April to October by reservation only. Book through the farm's website or by email.

Tip: It's open Monday to Saturday from 9 to 7 and Sundays from 1 to 7, so it's an easy evening drive from Greensboro.

No. 12: Simply Natural Creamery, Ayden

Score: 73.3/100 · Best for: Jersey cows and 38 ice cream flavors · Best season: Year-round

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Fri 10 am–6 pm · Sat 10 am–9 pm · Sun 1:30–9 pm. See it on Google Maps

The Moyes family started with two cows, Daisy and Carrie, and a bucket milker. Today they run a Jersey dairy that grows its own feed and turns the milk into 38 ice cream flavors.

Tour the dairy and meet the cows. Weekday tours (about 90 minutes) need a reservation; weekend tours (about 30 minutes) run hourly, first come, first served.

Our State featured it in its "Meet the Maker" series.

Tip: Weekend tours need no booking, so a weekend afternoon is the easy option. Call ahead, because tours are sometimes cancelled.

No. 13: Duplin Winery, Rose Hill

Score: 71.5/100 · Best for: Muscadine wine tasting · Best season: Year-round; grape harvest late August to September

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Thu 10 am–5 pm · Fri–Sat 10 am–6 pm · Sun closed. See it on Google Maps

When grape prices crashed and local growers were struggling, brothers David and Dan Fussell started Duplin Wine Cellars in 1972 and turned the region's muscadines into wine.

Today Duplin bills itself as the oldest and largest winery in the South.

Taste the Scuppernong and other muscadine wines, then eat at the bistro.

Tip: Duplin also runs stores in South Carolina and Florida. The Rose Hill winery is the original, and the one to visit.

Photo: Carmen Lucas, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

No. 14: Patterson Farm, Mount Ulla

Score: 71.2/100 · Best for: Strawberries and school tours · Best season: Spring (strawberries); fall

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm · Sat 10 am–5 pm · Sun closed. See it on Google Maps

The Patterson family has grown vegetables in Rowan County since James A. Patterson started in 1919. They grow tomatoes, strawberries and cucumbers for markets up and down the East Coast.

Spring strawberry picking is the main event. Then come wagon rides, a kiddie petting zoo, homemade ice cream and play areas.

Carolina Country readers voted it the state's best pick-your-own farm in 2020.

Tip: Weekend admission was $17 to $20 in 2024. Weekdays are quieter.

No. 15: Apple Hill Farm, Banner Elk

Score: 69.5/100 · Best for: Guided alpaca tours · Best season: Year-round (tickets required)

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Tue closed · Wed–Sun 10 am–4 pm. See it on Google Maps

Lee Rankin fell for alpacas, and in 2003 her dream became a mountaintop farm at about 4,300 feet.

It's a working fiber farm with alpacas, llamas, angora goats and guardian dogs. Every animal has a name and a job.

You can't just wander in. Guided walking tours run 45 minutes to an hour, and the store sells alpaca socks and yarn, including yarn from the farm's own animals.

Tip: Book ahead online. You need a tour ticket to see the animals.

No. 16: The Farm, Dobson

Score: 68.6/100 · Best for: Small kids, in all four seasons · Best season: Spring to December

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Fri closed · Sat 10 am–9 pm · Sun 10 am–7 pm. See it on Google Maps

Carolina Country readers named it the state's Finest Farm Attraction in 2023. One reader summed it up: "They make kids cry—when parents try and get them to leave!"

Owners Josh and Mayghan Watson run something different every season. Spring has u-pick strawberries, summer has a produce stand, and fall brings a big pumpkin patch, apples, a corn maze and sunflowers. December ends with a Christmas light show.

Tip: Stony Knoll Vineyards (No. 23) is also in Dobson. Kids' farm in the morning, wine in the afternoon.

No. 17: Island Farm, Manteo

Score: 67.5/100 · Best for: Outer Banks history, with animals · Best season: Spring to fall

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon closed · Tue–Sat 9 am–3 pm · Sun closed. See it on Google Maps

Island Farm brings an 1840s Roanoke Island farmstead back to life.

Adam Etheridge built the house on land his family had farmed since 1757. Today costumed interpreters work the farm, with sheep, a cow, an ox, two Banker ponies and chickens.

Explore nearly a dozen buildings, including a blacksmith shop and a reconstructed cabin for enslaved people, plus exhibits on the island's Freedmen's Colony.

Tip: Check the site's hours and admission before you go. It makes a good beach-trip morning before the afternoon heat.

No. 18: Jeter Mountain Farm, Hendersonville

Score: 67.5/100 · Best for: Apples, hard cider and bluegrass · Best season: July to October; Christmas weekends

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Google lists it as temporarily closed right now, which is normal for a seasonal farm. Check before you go. See it on Google Maps

The family has owned this land since the early 1800s, but the apple trees only went in in 2014. U-pick followed in 2020.

Today it's a 400-acre fall destination. Pick from 25-plus apple varieties, plus berries, then head to the hard cider company, smokehouse barbecue, coffee house and bakery. There's live bluegrass on weekends, and one wagon has a wheelchair lift.

Tip: The orchard is closed for now. It reopens for Christmas weekends starting November 21.

No. 19: Gillis Hill Farm, Fayetteville

Score: 66.3/100 · Best for: History, animals and ice cream · Best season: April to October

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Google lists it as temporarily closed right now, which is normal for a seasonal farm. Check before you go. See it on Google Maps

Gillis Hill is an eighth-generation family farm with restored historic buildings on the grounds.

The family raises pastured poultry and beef and grows hay, wheat, soybeans and corn. Visitors can take a self-guided farm tour (about $3, per visitor reports), feed the animals and finish at the ice cream shop.

Wagon rides cross the grounds, and visitors mention a fall corn maze and hayrides.

Tip: It runs April to October, Tuesday to Saturday, so Google may show it closed in winter.

No. 20: Summerfield Farms, Summerfield

Score: 65.4/100 · Best for: A farm stay and events near Greensboro · Best season: Year-round

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Tue closed · Wed–Sat 10 am–7 pm · Sun 1–6 pm. See it on Google Maps

Summerfield is a working farm raising 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef. It also runs a busy farm event calendar.

Shop the market, join a trivia night, dinner or goat yoga class, and stay over in a bungalow, cabin, cottage or the old homestead.

Thinking of adding beds to your own farm? Start with our farm stay guide.

Tip: The store is open Wednesday to Sunday. Farm tours need booking.

No. 21: Lewis Farms, Wilmington

Score: 62.2/100 · Best for: Strawberry and blueberry picking · Best season: Spring and summer

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Google lists it as temporarily closed right now, which is normal for a seasonal farm. Check before you go. See it on Google Maps

Everette Lewis started this farm in 1953. He brought plastic-mulch growing (plasticulture) to his strawberries in the 1960s.

Cal Lewis, who managed the farm for the third generation, was inducted into the North Carolina Vegetable Growers Association Hall of Fame in 2013. At the time, the farm grew about 100 acres of spring strawberries and 359 acres of blueberries. The family now calls it a fourth-generation operation.

Pick strawberries, then blueberries and blackberries at the Gordon Road market in Wilmington.

Tip: It's closed for the off-season now. Watch its website in early spring, and go in the morning before the heat.

No. 22: JOLO Winery & Vineyards, Pilot Mountain

Score: 61.8/100 · Best for: Wine and dinner with a mountain view · Best season: Year-round

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Wed closed · Thu 11 am–8 pm · Fri–Sat 11 am–9 pm · Sun 11 am–8 pm. See it on Google Maps

JOLO grows its own grapes in the shadow of Pilot Mountain. It pairs them with EndPosts, a full restaurant on the property.

Winetraveler named it one of North Carolina's best wineries.

Taste the estate wines in the vineyard, stay for dinner, and watch the light go down on Pilot Mountain.

Tip: Dinner at EndPosts needs a reservation, and everyone in your party must be 21 or older.

No. 23: Stony Knoll Vineyards, Dobson

Score: 61.6/100 · Best for: Quiet wine on a century farm · Best season: Year-round

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon 10 am–6 pm · Tue–Wed closed · Thu–Sat 10 am–6 pm · Sun closed. See it on Google Maps

Stony Knoll is a winery on a century farm, planted on land that once grew tobacco.

It has some of the strongest reviews of any farm on this list, from a smaller, loyal crowd. You can even sleep in a cabin that dates to the 1800s.

Winetraveler listed it among the state's best wineries.

Tip: Book the cabin early if you want to stay over.

No. 24: Mystic Farm & Distillery, Durham

Score: 61.2/100 · Best for: Bourbon tours on a farm · Best season: Year-round

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Tue closed · Wed–Thu 10 am–4 pm · Fri 10 am–9 pm · Sat 10 am–6 pm · Sun 12–6 pm. See it on Google Maps

Mystic started by blending bourbon with wildflower honey and spices. Now it calls itself the first bourbon distillery in the Triangle since Prohibition. It sits on a 22-acre property with its own fields, and it bills itself as farm-to-flask.

Tour the fields and the stills, taste the Broken Oak bourbon, or book a class. Bourbon and chocolate pairing is the most popular.

Tip: It's closed Monday and Tuesday. Friday is open late.

No. 25: Divine Llama Vineyards, East Bend

Score: 60.8/100 · Best for: Llama treks plus wine · Best season: Year-round (book treks early)

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Wed closed · Thu–Sat 12–6 pm · Sun 1–6 pm. See it on Google Maps

Here you walk a llama through the countryside, then drink the wine.

The trek is about two miles along Miller Creek and ends at the tasting room. VinePair reported it at $50 a person in 2019. Our State called it one of the Triad's best-kept secrets.

There's llama yoga too. It's a working llama farm as well as a vineyard.

Tip: Treks book up fast, so reserve early. Reviewers also say the gravel drive is hard going for wheelchairs.

No. 26: Rudd Farm, Greensboro

Score: 60.7/100 · Best for: Strawberry picking near the city · Best season: Spring to fall

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Fri 9 am–4 pm · Sat 9 am–1 pm · Sun closed. See it on Google Maps

Kenneth Rudd's grandfather started this as a tobacco farm in the early 1900s. For a century it grew tobacco and wheat.

In 2000 the family took a gamble on strawberries, and the first harvest came from 1⅓ acres in 2001. Twenty-five years after that first planting, they grow 17 acres. They quit tobacco in 2004, added greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, and opened a new farm store in 2024.

Pick strawberries in spring, buy sweet corn in summer, and cut sunflowers and pick pumpkins in fall.

Tip: The store opens only six to seven months a year.

Illustrative photo, not Rudd Farm. Photo: Andy Li, CC0.

No. 27: Smith's Nursery & Farm Market, Benson

Score: 60.3/100 · Best for: Fall weekends with bluegrass · Best season: Spring; fall

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm · Sat 9 am–8 pm · Sun closed. See it on Google Maps

Smith's is a working nursery and farm market in Johnston County. Visit NC lists it among the state's fun fall farms.

In fall, pick pumpkins, take a hayride and catch a cooking class. On weekends there's bluegrass and folk music, storytelling and pumpkin painting. In spring, the garden center fills with flowers and strawberries.

Tip: Benson sits where Interstates 95 and 40 meet, so it's an easy break on a road trip.

No. 28: Gross Farms, Sanford

Score: 59.9/100 · Best for: A big maze plus spring strawberries · Best season: April (strawberries); late September to early November

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Google lists it as temporarily closed right now, which is normal for a seasonal farm. Check before you go. See it on Google Maps

Gross Farms is a seventh-generation North Carolina Century Farm, and you ride a hayride across the working farm.

Fall brings a 10-acre corn maze with three puzzles, a pumpkin patch, a giant pumpkin jump, and a 40-foot slide. In 2024, a pumpkin pass was $5 and an all-access pass was $20.

Every April the gate opens again for pick-your-own strawberries and a produce barn.

Tip: The ticket window closes an hour before the farm does.

No. 29: Ken's Korny Corn Maze, Garner

Score: 59.1/100 · Best for: North Carolina's original corn maze · Best season: Late September to mid-November

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Thu closed · Fri 4–9 pm · Sat 10 am–9 pm · Sun 12–8 pm. See it on Google Maps

In 1997, third-generation farmer Ken Walker had an idea. His father, Roy, thought he was crazy.

He tested it with a hay-bale maze, then planted his first corn maze in 1999. It marked its 25th season in 2024, when ABC11 reported about 10,000 visitors every fall. Ken's line: "We don't get lost, we just get 'cornfused'."

Today there's a 5-acre maze in three sections, plus hayrides, a music wall and animals. In 2020 Ken was named Innovative Farmer of the Year by the Wake County Agribusiness Council.

Tip: The farm's site lists this season running to Saturday, November 14. In 2024, tickets started at $10 for ages 3-5 and $17 for older kids and adults.

No. 30: Grandfather Vineyard & Winery, Banner Elk

Score: 58.9/100 · Best for: Riverside wine in the High Country · Best season: Year-round; best in summer and fall

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Thu 12–5 pm · Fri–Sat 12–6 pm · Sun 12–5 pm. See it on Google Maps

Grandfather Vineyard sits beside the Watauga River in the High Country. On warm days you can sit by the water with a glass.

Expect tastings, live music and production tours, plus slushies for the kids.

Pair it with the alpaca tour at Apple Hill Farm (No. 15), also in Banner Elk.

Tip: Reviewers warn that parking is tight and food is limited. Arrive early and pack a picnic.

No. 31: The Orchard at Altapass, Spruce Pine

Score: 58.7/100 · Best for: Parkway apples, music and stories · Best season: May to October

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Google lists it as temporarily closed right now, which is normal for a seasonal farm. Check before you go. See it on Google Maps

This heritage orchard, with some trees nearly 100 years old, sits right on the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 328. It's run as a nonprofit to keep its heritage alive.

Come for heirloom apples, weekend bluegrass, a butterfly garden and Appalachian storytelling. The store sells apple butter, pie and cider.

A hard year: an early bloom and a deep spring freeze damaged much of the 2026 apple crop, on top of the hundreds of mature trees Helene destroyed in 2024. The orchard has closed for the season and plans to reopen in 2027.

Tip: Reviewers call the gravel access road scary, and the orchard has no full meals. Bring lunch.

Photo: Ken Thomas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

No. 32: Waller Family Farm, Durham

Score: 58.2/100 · Best for: Strawberry picking · Best season: Late April to June

Google hours: not listed on its Google profile, so check the farm's own page or call before you go. See it on Google Maps

Waller is a real working strawberry, vegetable, chicken and cattle farm, tucked between Durham and Chapel Hill. It has one of the highest ratings of any farm on this list.

Picking usually starts in the last week of April and runs into June. Kids can say hello to the cows and chickens, and a small stand sells jam, bread, vegetables and cut flowers.

Tip: Check the farm's website for picking conditions before you go.

No. 33: Perkins Orchard, Durham

Score: 58.1/100 · Best for: Fill-a-bag produce value · Best season: Spring to fall

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon 9 am–8 pm · Tue 9 am–4 pm · Wed–Thu 9 am–8 pm · Fri 9 am–6 pm · Sat 9 am–4 pm · Sun 12–8 pm. See it on Google Maps

Perkins isn't a big attraction, and that's the point. It's the kind of farm you'll keep coming back to.

Reviewers rave about the $25 fill-a-bag produce deal and a friendly owner who walks people round the farm and tells the founding story.

The market also stocks meats, pickles and syrup. Pair it with Waller Family Farm (No. 32), also in Durham, for strawberries.

Tip: Bring an empty trunk.

No. 34: Lineberger's Maple Springs Farm, Dallas

Score: 57.9/100 · Best for: Berries in spring, pumpkins in fall · Best season: April to July; September to October

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Fri closed · Sat 9 am–5 pm · Sun closed. See it on Google Maps

Harold and Patsy Lineberger are longtime farmers a few miles north of Gastonia.

Come April to July for strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and peaches.

In fall, come back for the pumpkin patch. There are cooking pumpkins and jack-o'-lantern types, plus gourds, greens and muscadine grapes. Kids get wagon rides, small mazes and a nature trail.

Tip: It's just west of Charlotte, and it takes school groups (call to book).

No. 35: Lu Mil Vineyard, Elizabethtown

Score: 57.8/100 · Best for: Muscadine wine and a cabin stay · Best season: Year-round; harvest August to September

Google hours: not listed on its Google profile, so check the farm's own page or call before you go. See it on Google Maps

Ron Taylor grew up on this land when it grew tobacco. Today it grows 78 acres of muscadine grapes, and the vineyard is named after his parents, Lucille and Miller Taylor.

Taste the wines, fish the ponds and stay overnight in a cabin.

Taylor told WECT that visitors "want to know about the story, the history."

Tip: It's an easy detour off the road to Wilmington and the southern beaches.

No. 36: Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Fairview

Score: 57.6/100 · Best for: Fall at the farm near Asheville · Best season: Fall; farm store year-round

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Tue closed · Wed–Sun 10 am–6 pm. See it on Google Maps

Jim and Elizabeth McClure bought this old stagecoach stop, Sherrill's Inn, in the 1910s. Five generations of the family have farmed the land since.

Today it raises grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork and chicken, and grows fruit. It's 20 minutes from Asheville.

From late September, Fall at the Farm brings hayrides, pumpkins, fresh-pressed cider and mountain views. The farm store and butchery are open Wednesday to Sunday.

Tip: Go in fall. Outside fall, one reviewer noted it's mainly a farm store.

No. 37: Overmountain Vineyards, Tryon

Score: 57.5/100 · Best for: Estate wine from the vines outside · Best season: Year-round

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Tue closed · Wed–Thu 12–6 pm · Fri–Sat 12–7 pm · Sun 12–6 pm. See it on Google Maps

Frank and Lita Lilly bought this 70-acre tract in 1990 and planted Cabernet Sauvignon in 2000. Today there are 17 acres of French grape varieties, and the tasting room opened in 2010.

Their daughter Sofia is the assistant winemaker, and the family calls themselves farmers first.

The tasting room hosts more than 120 tastings a month. Expect a firepit, a swing and seasonal concerts.

Tip: The tasting room is open Wednesday to Sunday from noon.

No. 38: Millstone Creek Orchards, Ramseur

Score: 55.6/100 · Best for: Peaches, apples and Highland cows · Best season: Summer to fall

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Sat 10 am–5 pm · Sun 12–5 pm. See it on Google Maps

Millstone Creek gives you two fruit seasons in one trip. Pick peaches in summer and apples in fall. In 2024 the farm planted more than 20,000 pumpkin seeds.

Add sunflowers and zinnias, hayrides, Highland cows, a playground and the weekend Cider House kitchen. Finish with cider slushies and apple cider donuts.

Heart of North Carolina has featured its summers, and NC State Extension took a group there for an educational tour in 2024.

Tip: Weekend pumpkin picking in October has needed a reservation, so check the website before you drive.

No. 39: Carrigan Farms, Mooresville

Score: 55.4/100 · Best for: U-pick plus quarry swimming · Best season: Spring to fall

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon 11:15 am–4:30 pm · Tue–Sun closed. See it on Google Maps

The Carrigans have farmed in the Piedmont since before America was founded. They bought this farm in 1902, and the family home dates to 1852.

Over the years they grew cotton and ran a dairy, then Doug Carrigan switched to pick-your-own.

Pick strawberries, apples and pumpkins, then swim in the farm's old quarry (by reservation).

Tip: NC Tripping reports that fall pumpkin visits need a reservation and that the farm doesn't take cards, so check the farm's site and bring cash.

No. 40: Silver Fork Winery, Morganton

Score: 55.2/100 · Best for: Wine with a South Mountains view · Best season: Year-round

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Tue closed · Wed–Sun 12–6 pm. See it on Google Maps

The first vines went in here in 1992. In 2012, new owners Jennifer and Ed added the winery and tasting room.

Today about five acres of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot go into Bordeaux-style wines. You drink them on a patio looking out at the South Mountains.

There's live music on summer Saturdays and small plates from the "Fork to Table" menu.

Tip: Ask about vineyard tours. They're offered on request.

No. 41: Sanctuary Vineyards, Jarvisburg

Score: 55.0/100 · Best for: A wine stop on the way to the Outer Banks · Best season: Year-round

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Sun 10 am–6 pm. See it on Google Maps

The Wright family has farmed in Currituck County for seven generations.

It sits on the Currituck mainland, right on the road to the Outer Banks, so it's an easy stop on the way to or from the beach. Walter magazine has featured it.

There's live music on Thursday evenings.

Tip: Food options can be limited, so eat before you taste.

No. 42: Midland Farms, Midland

Score: 54.8/100 · Best for: A farm store and fall festival days · Best season: Store year-round; festivals in October

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon closed · Tue–Fri 12–6 pm · Sat 9 am–5 pm · Sun closed. See it on Google Maps

Midland Farms started with milking goats and making goat's milk soap. Now this first-generation family farm also raises grass-fed Angus beef, pasture-raised pork and chicken.

Drive the half-mile lane to the farm store for meat, soaps, local honey and cheese.

The big days are the October fall festivals, with a barnyard, hayrides, a corn pit and a large pumpkin patch. Tickets are limited.

Tip: Buy festival tickets early. The farm limits how many it sells.

No. 43: Hill Ridge Farms, Youngsville

Score: 53.5/100 · Best for: A fall festival for little ones · Best season: Late September to October; Christmas lights

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Wed closed · Thu 9:30 am–2 pm · Fri–Sun closed. See it on Google Maps

Hill Ridge is built for small children.

The fall festival has covered wagon rides, a pumpkin patch, a train, a carousel, gem panning, a jumping pillow and an 80-foot slide. Grown-ups get fudge and cider donuts.

At Christmas, the Festival of Lights takes you through the displays by covered wagon.

Tip: There are no online tickets. You buy them at the ticket booth when you arrive.

No. 44: Hodges Family Farm, Charlotte

Score: 52.9/100 · Best for: An easy pumpkin patch close to the city · Best season: Late September to October 31

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Tue closed · Wed 5–7 pm · Thu–Sun closed. See it on Google Maps

The Hodges family has farmed here for more than 100 years, and it's a North Carolina Century Farm.

In 2024, the car rental firm SIXT ranked it the No. 1 pumpkin patch near a big US city, for value and variety.

On weekdays you get pumpkins, hay bales to climb and farm animals. Weekends add hayrides and kettle corn.

Tip: Weekend parking was $5 in 2024. It's only about 11 minutes north of Charlotte.

No. 45: Vollmer Farm, Bunn

Score: 52.1/100 · Best for: Organic berries in spring, the Back-40 in fall · Best season: Spring to fall

Google hours: not listed on its Google profile, so check the farm's own page or call before you go. See it on Google Maps

Vollmer is an organic farm, and Visit NC lists it among the state's fun fall farms. In spring and summer you pick strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and wildflowers. Then you cool off with homemade ice cream at the café.

In fall, the Back-40 opens: a corn maze, hayrides, a trampoline and a 100-foot underground slide.

Tip: The Back-40 opens on fall weekends only.

Photo: Gloria Cabada-Leman, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

No. 46: Cooper Creek Trout Farm, Bryson City

Score: 52.0/100 · Best for: Easy trout fishing for kids · Best season: Year-round, daily

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Sun 10 am–5 pm. See it on Google Maps

This is one of the region's oldest working farms, set under oak trees down a narrow country road. North Carolina ranks No. 2 in the country for trout.

The staff lend you a pole and bait. You pay by the pound for every rainbow trout you catch, and they'll clean it for a small fee.

Tip: There's no catch-and-release here. Kids catch fast, so set a limit before you start. Bring a cooler with ice.

No. 47: Page Farms, Raleigh

Score: 51.9/100 · Best for: Strawberries and a fall maze inside Raleigh · Best season: Spring; late September to early November

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Google lists it as temporarily closed right now, which is normal for a seasonal farm. Check before you go. See it on Google Maps

Page Farms is a fourth-generation family farm that once grew tobacco. Now it grows fruit and vegetables all year.

In spring, pick strawberries. In fall, head into the 5-acre corn maze, pick pumpkins, ride the hayride and meet the farm animals. Admission ran $12 to $15 in 2024.

Tip: It has a Raleigh address, so it's one of the easiest farms on this list to reach from the city.

No. 48: 1870 Farm, Chapel Hill

Score: 50.8/100 · Best for: Goat cuddles and small animals · Best season: Year-round

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Tue closed · Wed–Sun 10 am–1 pm. See it on Google Maps

1870 Farm is small and hands-on.

Feed goats, sheep, alpacas, pigs and rabbits, or sign up for goat yoga and seasonal events. ABC11 has covered its goat-cuddling sessions.

Tip: Pair it with No. 8, Spring Haven, if your kids can't get enough goats.

No. 49: Naylor Family Farm & Corn Maze, Fuquay-Varina

Score: 50.5/100 · Best for: A 7-acre maze and the pig pavilion · Best season: Mid-September to early November

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Fri closed · Sat 9 am–6 pm · Sun 10 am–6 pm. See it on Google Maps

Naylor has been open to the public for more than a decade.

Start with a hayride, then pick a pumpkin. After that, visit the Pig Pavilion, ride the pedal karts, mine for gems and finish in the 7-acre corn maze. Reward yourself with caramel corn, funnel cake or an apple cider slushie.

Admission was $20 in 2024, with some extras charged separately.

Tip: In 2024 it was open daily in October and on weekends in September and November. Check this year's dates before you go.

No. 50: Frosty's Choose & Cut, West Jefferson

Score: 50.4/100 · Best for: Cutting your own Fraser fir · Best season: Late November to December

Google hours (checked Nov 6, 2026): Mon–Thu closed · Fri 3–5 pm · Sat 9 am–5 pm · Sun 12–5 pm. See it on Google Maps

Frosty's is in Ashe County, in the High Country that Visit NC calls America's Christmas Tree Capital. Nine of North Carolina's record 16 White House Christmas trees came from this one county.

Pick and cut your own Fraser fir. Ride the Christmas trolley or the tractor, visit Santa and build a wreath.

The best souvenir is a slice of your tree's trunk, branded with the year. Old Barn Winery calls itself the home of Frosty's, so you can stop for a glass afterward.

Tip: Go on a weekday in early December for the best pick of trees, and wear boots you don't mind getting muddy.

Illustrative photo, not Frosty's Choose & Cut. Photo: Indy beetle, CC0.

Farm owners: here's what real farms charge for choose-and-cut Christmas trees.

The Famous Names That Didn't Make the Cut

Here are the well-known names we checked and left out, and the exact reason for each. None of this is a verdict on the people who run them. It's where they fell against our tests in November 2026.

Lazy 5 Ranch, Mooresville. It's popular and has thousands of reviews. But it's a privately owned drive-thru safari with animals from all over the world, not a working farm, so it fails our third test. Separately, on October 17, 2026, a tree branch struck a horse-drawn wagon during the ranch's fall festival, according to a rider's family. The ranch said the horses jumped after the wagon hit the branch, and three people fell and were hospitalized. On October 23, WBTV reported, via Gray News, that one rider's son had posted on Facebook that his mother had died from her injuries. WBTV said the ranch had not responded to its request for comment. WSOC-TV reported earlier that other riders it spoke to did not think anyone was to blame.

Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farm, Waynesville. It has 150 acres, a trout stream and nine hand-hewn log cabins 150 to 200 years old. But its Google rating (from 159 reviews) was just under our 4.3-star bar when we checked. One strong season of reviews could put it on the next update.

Maple View Farm, Hillsborough. Locals love the ice cream and the porch view. But in August 2021 the farm announced it was ending its dairy operations, and its cattle went to a new home. The ice cream shop stayed open, with its dairy supplied by Simply Natural Creamery in Ayden (No. 12 on our list). We found no sign of animals or crops being raised there for visitors today, so it misses our working-farm test.

Phillips Farms of Cary. Visit Raleigh says it has served the area for more than 100 years, and it has a big following. Its Google rating clears our bar. But a recent Google review raised a safety concern about its cow-train ride, and our red-flag rule holds back farms with recent safety complaints until we can recheck. We'll look again in six months.

Lavender Oaks Farm, Chapel Hill. Its lavender fields are gorgeous. But much of the farm's business is luxury weddings and private events. Its website offers scheduled tours, ticketed events and a boutique open three afternoons a week, but no regular public farm hours, so we treated it as a venue rather than a farm visit for this list.

Cartner's Christmas Tree Farm, Newland. This farm grew the 2024 White House Christmas tree, a famous story. But it had only 35 Google reviews when we checked, so it doesn't meet our 100-review minimum yet. Also below 100 reviews: Mistletoe Meadows, Lil' Grandfather Mountain, C and J, Celebrity Dairy and Goat Lady Dairy.

Denton FarmPark, Denton. It's home to the Southeast Old Threshers' Reunion and a full-size steam railroad (its locomotive is being restored). But the park says it opens only for events, Google lists it as an event venue, and its website describes no day-to-day farming, so it misses our regular-hours and working-farm tests.

Biltmore Estate, Asheville. Biltmore has a real farmyard with goats, farm talks and goat-milking demos at Antler Hill Village. But you reach it on Biltmore's daytime estate admission, and the estate is a historic house first, so we treat it as a separate kind of trip.

On our watch list (unranked): Mountain Fresh Orchards, Lyon Farms, Banner Elk Winery, Eno River Farm and Coston Farm & Apple House all passed the entry tests but scored just below No. 50. Any of them could move up next time.

North Carolina Farm Season Calendar: What's in Season When

Get the timing wrong and you'll drive two hours to a closed gate. Confirm on the farm's website, because weather moves every date.

North Carolina's farm year runs from spring strawberries to choose-and-cut Christmas trees.

Season	What to pick or do	Where to start on our list
Mid-April to May	Strawberries (high tunnels can start earlier)	No. 14, 21, 26, 28, 32, 47
Spring	U-pick tulips	No. 1
Mid-June to early August	Blueberries	No. 21, 45
June to September	Peaches	No. 34, 38
Mid-August to mid-October	Muscadine grapes and harvest	No. 13, 35
August to October (some into November)	U-pick apples	No. 1, 2, 4, 10, 18, 31
September to October (some into early November)	Pumpkins and corn mazes	No. 3, 5, 28, 29, 44, 49
Late November to December	Choose-and-cut Christmas trees, Christmas hayrides	No. 50, 5, 6
Year-round	Wineries, creameries, animal farms	No. 9, 11, 12, 8, 7

North Carolina is the country's No. 1 sweet potato state (USDA) and No. 2 for Christmas trees (NCDA&CS). Henderson County grows about 85% of its apples, per NC State Extension.

Farm owners, here's how to start a pumpkin patch.

Illustrative photo, not a ranked farm. Photo: Willthacheerleader18, CC0.

What North Carolina's Top Farms Teach Every Farm Owner

Most "best farms" lists stop at the gate. But if you own land, the 50 farms above are a free course in what works. Here's what the top of the list does that most farms don't.

Lesson 1: Sell more than one season

Stepp's is famous for apples. But when Helene wrecked the fall of 2024, the farm already had a second season growing: spring tulips. By September 2025, Danielle Stepp-McCall told WUNC they'd had "a great tulip season," and the family is working to grow it.

Darnell Farms runs from spring strawberries to Christmas hayrides. Gross Farms opens for strawberries in April and the maze in fall.

Field-Tested Play: List your 12 months and circle the dead ones. Then add one paid reason to visit in your quietest season, such as spring flowers, a summer evening event or a December hayride. Test it for one year.

Lesson 2: Plan for the day the road washes out

Helene didn't touch Stepp's trees. It took out the road. Henderson County lost about $10 million in agritourism revenue, county data showed, and its pick-your-own farms, about a $5 million industry, saw income drop by more than 25%, per Cooperative Extension estimates.

The farms that held on moved fast. Stepp's sold apples, donuts and pumpkins at other farms around Charlotte and at markets and fairs, stretched its season to November 10, and won grants from about half a dozen groups.

Field-Tested Play: Write your "closed gate" plan now, before you need it. Who else could host your stand? Which products travel? Who are your 50 best customers, and can you reach them by text or email in one hour? Our weather backup plan walks you through it step by step.

Lesson 3: Give people a story they'll repeat

Hubb's is named after Tammy Peterson's father. Ken Walker's dad thought the corn maze was crazy. Lilian Sandburg's goat line is still in the barn 60 years after her dairy closed. Lu Mil's owner grew up on the tobacco land his vines now cover.

People don't drive two hours for "apples." They drive for a story to tell their friends.

Field-Tested Play: Write your farm's story in three sentences: who started it, the hard moment, and why you still do it. Put it on your website, gate sign and Google listing. Here's why a farm story lets you charge more.

Lesson 4: Make booking and prices easy to understand

Spring Haven sells tickets online. Apple Hill says plainly you need a ticket to see the animals, and Midland Farms limits festival tickets and says so up front. Summerfield and Mystic fill their calendars with ticketed dinners, classes and dance nights.

Among the complaints we read, many were about surprise fees and ticket rules.

Field-Tested Play: Put one clear price table on your website: what's included, what costs extra, and whether you need to book. Then sell online, so you get paid before the rain arrives. Here's how to set entry fees and ticket prices.

Lesson 5: Feed them, and they'll stay

Food keeps people on the farm longer. Mike's Farm has a whole restaurant. JOLO has EndPosts. Justus has fried pies and weekend barbecue, and Jeter has a smokehouse and a coffee house. Two of our top 12 are creameries built on their own cows' milk.

Every extra hour a family stays means more sales.

Field-Tested Play: Start with one food item made from what you grow, like apple cider donuts, berry slushies or farm-milk ice cream. Then check your permits before you sell a single one. See what each type of farm food needs.

Lesson 6: Win on Google before you win at the gate

Every farm on this list has at least 100 Google reviews and 4.3 stars. It's the first thing most travellers check.

Field-Tested Play: Claim your Google Business Profile, add hours and seasons, keep "closed for the season" notices current, and ask every happy family for a review. Here's how to turn Google into a steady flow of visitors.

North Carolina Agritourism by the Numbers

Here's why this matters if you farm in North Carolina, or anywhere.

The 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 982 North Carolina farms earning money from agritourism and recreation. That's the third-most of any state, behind Texas and California.

Together they earned $30.4 million in 2022, up from $23.8 million in 2017. That's about 28% more money from about the same number of farms (995 in 2017).

North Carolina's farms earned more from visitors in 2022, from about the same number of farms.

But NC State economists put the average at about $31,000 per North Carolina agritourism farm. By our calculation from the same Census, the US average is about $44,000.

North Carolina has lots of agritourism farms but earns less per farm than the US average. That's the gap to close.

And only about 2.3% of North Carolina's 42,817 farms earn any agritourism money at all (our calculation from the Census).

In plain English, the room to grow is wide open. Visitors spent a record $37.2 billion in North Carolina in 2025, according to Visit NC. The customers are already here.

Reality Check: Visitors bring risk along with money. Helene cost North Carolina agriculture about $4.9 billion in damage, needs and mitigation, state budget officials estimated. One accident on a ride can end a family's season, or worse. Before you add hayrides, animals or a maze, talk to your insurer about what's covered, and price in the bad years, not just the good ones. Start with our guide to agritourism insurance in North Carolina.

Legal and Insurance: Questions to Ask Before You Open Your Gate

This isn't legal advice. These are the questions to take to a North Carolina farm lawyer and an insurance agent before the first visitor parks.

1. "Are my warning signs right under G.S. 99E-32?" North Carolina's agritourism law (G.S. 99E-30 to 99E-32) can protect you from liability for injuries caused by the "inherent risks" of farm activities. But only if the warning is posted at the entrance and at the site of the activity, in black letters at least 3/4 inch high. The Farm Act of 2023 lowered that from 1 inch. Get it wrong and the protection can be lost. See where to post agritourism warning signs and our 50-state guide to agritourism laws.

2. "Does my written paperwork carry the warning?" The law also requires the same warning, in clearly readable print, in written contracts for professional services, instruction or equipment rental.

3. "What isn't covered?" The law doesn't protect you for willful or wanton disregard for safety, or for a dangerous condition or animal you knew about, or should have known about, and didn't warn people of. Ask how that applies to your wagons, animals and play areas.

4. "Do my barns count as farm buildings for zoning?" Under G.S. 160D-903, county zoning generally can't regulate bona fide farm use. But a building used for agritourism, including weddings, meals and farm events, only counts if the owner holds a qualifying farm sales tax exemption certificate or the property is enrolled in present-use value taxation. Fail to keep that up for three years, and the building can fall under county zoning. City limits work differently. See our guide to farm wedding venue zoning.

5. "What does my policy actually cover?" Ask your agent, in writing, about visitors, animals, hayrides, food and events.

Why I Pay Attention to Farms Like Stepp's

I'm Stephen Loke, the founder of Bloopy Durians in Bentong, Malaysia. Bloopy Durians has been featured in Bloomberg News and Asahi Shimbun.

Our durian seasons are short, about December to February and June to August. Outside those months there are no durians to sell. So I understand what a farm like Stepp's feels when four weeks vanish.

Short seasons taught me the same lesson the top North Carolina farms teach.

First, give people more than one reason to come. Our visitors reach the farm on a four-wheel-drive adventure, so the ride itself is part of the experience, not just the fruit at the end. You can read how the 4WD ride brought in extra revenue.

Our farm tour runs about an hour and a half. Guests plant a durian tree, ride the four-wheel drive, and see durians hanging on the branches. Back at the farmhouse they eat durians and learn to tell one durian variety from another, and a good fruit from a poor one. Then they open a durian themselves. They can also pick their own mangosteen and rambutan and meet our ducks, chickens, geese and rabbits.

That tour is what drew visitors from all over the world and international attention to the farm. Many companies now send their staff and management, and Bloomberg News and Asahi Shimbun both came to the farm and featured it. Notice what Hubb's Farm and Spring Haven Farm do the same way: they sell an afternoon, not a product.

Second, own your customer list. We keep a WhatsApp list of loyal customers who buy whenever the durians are in. When the season opens, we don't wait for strangers to find us. We send one message.

It's the same thing that helped Stepp's in 2024: family, friends and fellow farmers who showed up when the road was gone. No list yet? Start with email marketing for your farm this week.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best farm to visit in North Carolina?

On our 100-point scorecard, Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville is No. 1 (82.0/100), followed by Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock and Hubb's Farm in Clinton. If you have young kids, also look at Spring Haven Farm in Chapel Hill (No. 8).

What are the best apple orchards in North Carolina?

Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard (No. 1), Sky Top Orchard (No. 2), Justus Orchard (No. 4), Grandad's Apples N' Such (No. 10) and Jeter Mountain Farm (No. 18), all around Hendersonville and Flat Rock. For history, add The Orchard at Altapass (No. 31) on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

When is the best time for apple picking in Hendersonville?

U-pick apples in Henderson County usually run from about August to the end of October, and a few orchards stay open longer. Sky Top's 2026 season runs to November 29. September and early October are peak season, so go on a weekday if you can.

Where can I cut my own Christmas tree in North Carolina?

Head to the High Country. Ashe, Avery, Alleghany and Watauga counties are the state's top Christmas tree counties. Frosty's Choose & Cut in West Jefferson is on our list (No. 50). Choose-and-cut farms typically open in mid-to-late November and run into December. Darnell Farms (No. 5) and Mike's Farm (No. 6) run Christmas hayrides and shows.

What are the best farms for kids near Raleigh and Charlotte?

Near Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, try Spring Haven Farm (No. 8), Ken's Korny Corn Maze (No. 29), Hill Ridge Farms (No. 43), Page Farms (No. 47) and Naylor Family Farm (No. 49). Near Charlotte, try Patterson Farm (No. 14), Lineberger's Maple Springs Farm (No. 34), Carrigan Farms (No. 39), Midland Farms (No. 42) and Hodges Family Farm (No. 44).

Is Biltmore a farm visit?

Not in our ranking. Its Antler Hill farmyard has animals and goat-milking demos, but it's part of Biltmore's daytime estate admission, so we treat Biltmore as a separate kind of trip.

How was this list made?

Every farm passed four entry tests, including at least 4.3 stars from 100 or more Google reviews (checked November 2026), then was scored out of 100. See "How We Ranked Them" above. We recheck the list every six months.

Your Next Step

The top farms chose activities that fit their land and seasons. Find out which ones fit yours in five minutes.

Take the Free Farm Readiness Quiz

Want the full menu of ideas first? My free ebook, 150 Ways to Unlock Hidden Wealth From Your Farm, gives you 150 ways farms make money from what they already have: fields, barns, animals, views and stories. It's built for owners who want a better income or a second income, without betting the farm.

Get the Free 150 Ways Ebook

P.S. Remember the 120 bushels Danielle and Rex hauled to Charlotte? That wasn't a plan. It was a family refusing to quit, with friends who'd help and customers who'd show up. Build those three things before your bad year comes, and you'll have something no storm can wash out.

Stephen Loke of AgritourismSuccess.com, whose farm is featured in Bloomberg News and Asahi Shimbun. Farm details checked November 2026; hours, prices and seasons change, so check each farm's website before you go. This article is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

Hurricane Helene recovery and apples

• 'A telltale sign': WNC farmers look to Apple Festival to jumpstart season after devastating year. BPR News via WUNC (Gerard Albert III). https://www.wunc.org/2025-08-29/a-telltale-sign-wnc-farmers-look-to-apple-festival-to-jumpstart-season-after-devastating-year (Aug 29, 2025)

• Farmers in western North Carolina face lengthy, costly recovery after Helene. WUNC (Celeste Guajardo). https://www.wunc.org/environment/2024-11-01/helene-western-north-carolina-farmers-recovery-apples-millions (Nov 1, 2024)

• 'Hope and resilience.' Apple farmers in western NC a year after Helene. WUNC. https://www.wunc.org/term/news/2025-09-26/helene-apple-farms-henderson-county-recovery (Sept 26, 2025)

• As WNC farmers recover from Helene, billions of federal funds remain unseen. BPR/WFAE (Gerard Albert III). https://www.wfae.org/2025-03-03/as-wnc-farmers-recover-from-helene-billions-of-federal-funds-remain-unseen (Mar 3, 2025)

• Hope After Helene: Extension promotes resilience, renewal for N.C. apple growers. NC State Extension. https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/11/hope-after-helene-extension-promotes-resilience-renewal-for-n-c-apple-growers/ (Nov 19, 2024)

• Hurricane Helene Damage and Needs Assessment (revised). NC Office of State Budget and Management. https://www.osbm.nc.gov/hurricane-helene-dna/open (Dec 13, 2024)

Statistics: agritourism, agriculture and tourism

• 2022 Census of Agriculture, North Carolina, Table 7 (agri-tourism and recreational services). USDA NASS. https://nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_State_Level/North_Carolina/st37_1_007_008.pdf (Feb 2024)

• 2022 Census of Agriculture, North Carolina, Table 1 (number of farms). USDA NASS. https://nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_State_Level/North_Carolina/st37_1_001_001.pdf (Feb 2024)

• The State of Agriculture in North Carolina: Lessons from the 2022 Census (NC State Economist, 2024 Issue 3). NC State University (Dorfman and Gutierrez-Li). https://cals.ncsu.edu/agricultural-and-resource-economics/wp-content/uploads/sites/46/2024/09/Economist_2024Issue3final.pdf (Sept 2024)

• Agritourism and Recreational Services on US Farms: Data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture (Data Brief 2024-1). Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development (Entsminger and Schmidt). https://nercrd.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/AgritourismDataBrief.May2024.pdf (May 2024)

• NC tourism hits record $37.2 billion in 2025. Visit NC. https://www.visitnc.com/media/news-release/nc-tourism-hits-record-372-billion-2025 (May 7, 2026)

• North Carolina's Rank in U.S. Agriculture, 2024. USDA NASS NC Field Office. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/North_Carolina/Publications/Annual_Statistical_Bulletin/AgStat/NCHighlights.pdf (Sept 2025)

• North Carolina Agricultural Statistics, Section 5 (blueberries, pumpkins). USDA NASS. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/North_Carolina/Publications/Annual_Statistical_Bulletin/AgStat/Section05.pdf (2024)

• Celebrate the holidays with North Carolina Christmas trees. NCDA&CS. https://ncagr.gov/news/press-releases/2024/11/25/celebrate-holidays-north-carolina-christmas-trees (Nov 25, 2024)

• Choose, Cut and Stay in the Christmas Tree Capital. Visit NC. https://www.visitnc.com/list/choose-cut-and-stay-christmas-tree-capital (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• 2022 N.C. strawberry season underway. NCDA&CS. https://www.ncagr.gov/news/press-releases/2022/04/14/2022-nc-strawberry-season-underway (Apr 14, 2022)

• Your Ultimate Guide to U-Pick Fruits and Vegetables in North Carolina. Cardinal & Pine. https://cardinalpine.com/news/your-ultimate-guide-to-u-pick-fruits-and-vegetables-in-north-carolina/ (Aug 8, 2023)

Law and zoning

• G.S. 99E-30, 99E-31, 99E-32 (Agritourism Activity Liability). North Carolina General Assembly. https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_99E/GS_99E-32.html (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• S582 North Carolina Farm Act of 2023 (S.L. 2023-63), bill summary. North Carolina General Assembly. https://ncleg.gov/Legislation/SummariesPublication/Summary/2023/1/S582-SMTQ-54(sl)-v-3 (2023)

• G.S. 160D-903 (Agricultural uses). North Carolina General Assembly. https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_160D/GS_160D-903.html (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• What the heck is agritourism?. UNC School of Government (Jim Joyce). https://canons.sog.unc.edu/blog/2022/07/07/what-the-heck-is-agritourism/ (July 7, 2022)

Farm facts and awards

• Stepp's Hillcrest among top 10 orchards in U.S.. Hendersonville Lightning. https://www.hendersonvillelightning.com/news/4493-stepp-s-hillcrest-among-top-10-orchards-in-u-s.html (2015)

• These apple-picking orchards in North Carolina rank among nation's best. McClatchy via Yahoo News. https://ca.news.yahoo.com/apple-picking-orchards-north-carolina-141008699.html (Sept 2023)

• Sky Top ranks third in USA Today poll of best orchards. Hendersonville Lightning. https://www.hendersonvillelightning.com/news/15475-sky-top-ranks-third-in-usa-today-poll-of-best-orchards.html (Sept 25, 2025)

• Sky Top Orchard (season dates). Sky Top Orchard. https://www.skytoporchard.com (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Our Story. Hubb's Farm. https://www.hubbsfarmnc.com/our-story (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Specialty Days and Spring. Hubb's Farm. https://www.hubbsfarmnc.com/specialty-days-1 ; https://www.hubbsfarmnc.com/spring (accessed Nov 6, 2026)

• Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard (home page). Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard. https://steppapples.com (accessed Nov 6, 2026)

• Justus Orchard in Hendersonville (Caroline Kelly). Our State. https://www.ourstate.com/justus-orchard-in-hendersonville/ (Aug 27, 2018)

• Justus Orchard (home page). Justus Orchard. https://www.justusorchard.com (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Darnell Farms (home page). Darnell Farms. https://www.darnellfarms.com (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• 15 biggest and best pumpkin patches in North Carolina. Cardinal & Pine. https://cardinalpine.com/local/15-biggest-best-pumpkin-patches-in-north-carolina/ (Oct 2024)

• Mike's Farm (home page). Mike's Farm. https://www.mikesfarmnc.com/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Barn - Connemara Farms. National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/carl/planyourvisit/barn-connemara-farms.htm (updated Sept 21, 2026)

• Farm FAQs. National Park Service, Carl Sandburg Home. https://www.nps.gov/carl/planyourvisit/farm-faqs.htm (accessed Nov 6, 2026)

• Goats keep history alive at Carl Sandburg's historic home. WLOS. https://wlos.com/community/carolina-moment/carl-sandburg-wife-lilian-dairy-goat-herd-history-western-north-carolina-pulitzer-prize-winning-author-poet-pieces-art-milk-producers-flat-rock-farm-land (July 24, 2026)

• Spring Haven Farm (home page). Spring Haven Farm. https://www.springhavenfarm.com/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• This NC farm's pumpkin patch has a wild twist (Simone Jasper). McClatchy via Yahoo News. https://news.yahoo.com/nc-farm-pumpkin-patch-wild-155118509.html (Sept 26, 2022)

• Childress Vineyards. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childress_Vineyards (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Grandad's Apples N' Such (home page). Grandad's Apples. https://www.grandadsapples.com (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Homeland Creamery (home page). Homeland Creamery. https://www.homelandcreamery.com (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Tours. Homeland Creamery. https://www.homelandcreamery.com/tours (accessed Nov 6, 2026)

• 10 N.C. Creameries to Explore and Enjoy. Our State. https://www.ourstate.com/10-nc-creameries/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Simply Natural Creamery (home page). Simply Natural Creamery. https://www.simplynaturalcreamery.com (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Duplin Winery. NCpedia / North Carolina History Project. https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/duplin-winery/ (Mar 7, 2016)

• Duplin Winery (home page). Duplin Winery. https://www.duplinwinery.com/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Patterson Farm history. Patterson Farm, Inc.. https://www.pattersonfarminc.com (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Carolina's Finest: Pick-Your-Own Farm. Carolina Country. https://www.carolinacountry.com/story/carolinas-finest-pick-your-own-farm (Dec 2020)

• Apple Hill Farm (home page). Apple Hill Farm. https://applehillfarmnc.com/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Apple Hill Farm spreads alpaca love. NC Field & Family (NC Farm Bureau). https://ncfieldfamily.org/farm/apple-hill-farm-spreads-alpaca-love/ (Aug 22, 2019, updated Jan 8, 2025)

• 2023 Carolina's Finest: The Farm (Leah Chester-Davis). Carolina Country. https://www.carolinacountry.com/story/the-farm (Nov 2023)

• Island Farm (home page). Island Farm. https://www.theislandfarm.com (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Jeter Mountain Farm (home page). Jeter Mountain Farm. https://www.jetermountainfarm.com (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Fun at the Farm: Apples, Pumpkins, Corn Mazes and Hayrides. Visit NC. https://www.visitnc.com/list/fun-farm-apples-pumpkins-corn-mazes-and-hayrides (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Gillis Hill Farm (home page). Gillis Hill Farm. https://www.gillishillfarm.com (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Summerfield Farms (home page). Summerfield Farms. https://www.summerfieldfarms.com (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• A passion for his work takes Cal Lewis to the state growers' Hall of Fame. NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. https://cals.ncsu.edu/news/a-passion-for-his-work-takes-cal-lewis-to-the-state-growers-hall-of-fame/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• 22 best North Carolina wineries and vineyards. Winetraveler. https://www.winetraveler.com/north-carolina/22-best-north-carolina-wineries-vineyards/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Mystic Farm and Distillery. Discover Durham. https://www.discoverdurham.com/directory/mystic-farm-and-distillery/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Drink wine, hike with llamas. VinePair. https://vinepair.com/booze-news/drink-wine-hike-with-llamas/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Rudd Farm (home page). Rudd Farm. https://ruddfarm.com/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Rudd Farm place page. Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/place/details/253543/rudd-farm (accessed Nov 6, 2026)

• Pick strawberries at Rudd Farm. Only In Your State. https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/trip-ideas/north-carolina/pick-strawberries-rudd-farm-nc (accessed Nov 6, 2026)

• Smith's Nursery and Strawberry Farm. Johnston County Visitors Bureau. https://www.johnstoncountync.org/listing/smiths-nursery-and-strawberry-farm/932/ (accessed Nov 6, 2026)

• Gross Farms (home page). Gross Farms. https://www.grossfarms.com/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Ken's Korny Corn Maze & Fall Activities. Ken's Produce. https://kensproduce.com/kens-korny-corn-maze-fall-events/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Ken's Korny Corn Maze in Garner celebrates 25 years of 'cornfusion'. ABC11. https://abc11.com/post/kens-korny-corn-maze-garner-north-carolina-celebrates-25-years-cornfusion/15496954/ (Nov 1, 2024)

• Guide to Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes in Raleigh, N.C.. Visit Raleigh. https://www.visitraleigh.com/plan-a-trip/visitraleigh-insider-blog/post/guide-to-pumpkin-patches-and-corn-mazes-in-raleigh-nc/ (Sept 13, 2024)

• Exploring Durham: Strawberry Picking at Waller Family Farm. Glitter, Inc.. https://glitterinc.com/durham-strawberry-picking-waller-family-farm/ (May 22, 2017)

• Lineberger's Maple Springs Farm. Carolina Country. https://www.carolinacountry.com/story/lineberger-s-maple-springs-farm (Oct 2014)

• Generations of family history intertwined in vines at Lu Mil Vineyard. WECT. https://www.wect.com/2019/05/17/generations-family-history-intertwined-vines-lu-mil-vineyard/ (May 17, 2019)

• Visit the Farm. Hickory Nut Gap Farm. https://hickorynutgap.com/pages/visit-the-farm (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Review: Heritage and Home, Photographs of Hickory Nut Gap Farm (Diana C. Stoll). Aperture. https://aperture.org/blog/review-heritage-home-photographs-hickory-nut-gap-farm/ (Aug 19, 2015)

• Family Roots (Overmountain Vineyards). Edible Upcountry. https://edibleupcountry.ediblecommunities.com/drink/family-roots (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Millstone Creek Orchard educational tour. NC State Extension, Cumberland County. https://cumberland.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/09/millstone-creek-orchard-educational-tour/ (Sept 2024)

• This Mooresville farm family has tilled Piedmont soil since before America's founding (Joe Marusak). Charlotte Observer via Yahoo News. https://ca.news.yahoo.com/mooresville-farm-family-tilled-piedmont-100000488.html (Mar 15, 2023)

• The one enchanting winery in North Carolina (Silver Fork Winery). Only In Your State. https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/food/north-carolina/silver-fork-winery-morganton-nc (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Drink: Sanctuary Vineyards. Walter magazine. https://waltermagazine.com/food/drink-sanctuary-vineyards/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Midland Farms (home page). Midland Farms. https://www.midlandfarmsnc.com/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Hodges Family Farm. Charlotte Culture Guide. https://charlottecultureguide.com/organization/961/hodges-family-farm (accessed Nov 6, 2026)

• Mecklenburg County pumpkin patch named No. 1. Kiss 95.1. https://kiss951.com/2024/10/02/mecklenburg-county-pumpkin-patch-named-no-1/ (Oct 2, 2024)

• Cooper Creek Trout Farm (place page, quoting Google reviews). Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/place/details/214508 (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Chapel Hill farm offers goat cuddling sessions. ABC11. https://abc11.com/goats-goat-cuddling-yoga-1870-farm/5169093 (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Old Barn Winery ("Home of Frosty's Choose and Cut"). Old Barn Winery. https://www.oldbarnwinery.com/contact (accessed Nov 6, 2026)

• Replace the Harvest. The Orchard at Altapass. https://altapassorchard.org/replacetheharvest/ (accessed Nov 6, 2026)

• Hill Ridge Farms (home page). Hill Ridge Farms. https://www.hillridgefarms.com (accessed Nov 6, 2026)

• Grandad's Apples: About and Activities. Grandad's Apples. https://grandadsapples.com/about-grandads-apples/ (accessed Nov 6, 2026)

• Frosty's Choose and Cut (segment). PBS North Carolina. https://www.pbs.org/video/frostys-choose-and-cut-kz1ru1 (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

Farms that didn't make the cut

• Woman dies after falling from horse-drawn wagon, family says (Spencer Chrisman and Gray News staff). WBTV/Gray News via WECT. https://www.wect.com/2026/10/23/woman-dies-after-falling-horse-drawn-wagon-ranch-family-says/ (Oct 23, 2026)

• Family recalls freak accident: wagon crash at Lazy 5 Ranch. WSOC-TV. https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/family-recalls-freak-accident-wagon-crash-lazy-5-ranch-that-left-2-women-seriously-hurt/KIEIBQUGUNDF5HIIP2BCI3YQPU/ (Oct 19, 2026)

• Maple View Farm will stop milk production, bottling; ice cream store to remain. ABC11. https://abc11.com/post/maple-view-farm-ice-cream-closing-milk-bottles/10959840/ (Aug 18, 2021)

• Maple View Farm and Milk Company closing; ice cream shop to remain open. Chapelboro. https://chapelboro.com/news/business/maple-view-farm-and-milk-company-closing-its-doors-ice-cream-and-country-store-to-remain-open (Aug 2021)

• Lavender Oaks Farm (home page). Lavender Oaks Farm. https://lavenderoaks.farm (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Denton FarmPark (home page). Denton FarmPark. https://dentonfarmpark.com (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• The Barn & Farmyard at Antler Hill Village. Biltmore. https://www.biltmore.com/visit/biltmore-estate/antler-hill-village/farmyard (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

Review summaries and listings (quoting Google or visitor reviews)

• Sky Top Orchard place page. Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/place/details/214512 (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Grandad's Apples place page. Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/place/details/214431/grandads-apples (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Darnell Farms place page. Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/place/details/214602 (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Island Farm place page. Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/place/details/182934/island-farm (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Gillis Hill Farm place page. Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/place/details/271450/gillis-hill-farm (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Perkins Orchard place page. Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/place/details/158477 (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Grandfather Vineyard & Winery place page. Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/place/details/214438 (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• The Orchard at Altapass place page. Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/place/details/110905/the-orchard-at-altapass (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Divine Llama Vineyards place page. Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/place/details/429151/divine-llama-vineyards (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Millstone Creek Orchards place page. Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/place/details/720434/millstone-creek-orchards (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Hill Ridge Farms place page. Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/place/details/6087919/hill-ridge-farms (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• 1870 Farm place page. Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/place/details/280011 (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Phillips Farms of Cary place page. Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/place/details/13178 (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Pilot Mountain trip planner (JOLO). Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/tp/61857/pilot-mountain-trip-planner (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Dobson trip planner (Stony Knoll). Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/tp/62562/dobson-trip-planner (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Sanctuary Vineyards. Airial Travel. https://airial.travel/attractions/united-states/jarvisburg/sanctuary-vineyards-xv6hdikP (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Hickory Nut Gap Farm reviews. Tripadvisor. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g49129-d7028159-Reviews-Hickory_Nut_Gap_Farm-Fairview_North_Carolina.html (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Hendersonville apple orchards for apple picking. Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide. https://blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/hendersonville-apple-orchards-for-apple-picking/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Where to experience farm life near Asheville. Explore Asheville. https://www.exploreasheville.com/article/where-to-experience-farm-life-near-asheville (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Pumpkin patches in North Carolina. NC Tripping. https://www.nctripping.com/pumpkin-patches-in-north-carolina/ (updated Aug 2026)

• Experience summer's embrace at Millstone Creek Orchards. Heart of North Carolina. https://www.heartofnorthcarolina.com/articles/post/experience-summers-embrace-at-millstone-creek-orchards/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Best-kept secrets in the Triad: Divine Llama Vineyards. Our State. https://www.ourstate.com/best-kept-secrets-in-the-triad-divine-llama-vineyards (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Meet the Maker: Simply Natural Creamery. Our State. https://www.ourstate.com/meet-the-maker-simply-natural-creamery/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• From Tobacco Rows to Berry Baskets: Page Farms turns crops into community. NCDA&CS blog. https://blog.ncagr.gov/2026/04/22/from-tobacco-rows-to-berry-baskets-page-farms-turns-crops-into-community/ (Apr 22, 2026)

• Destination: Hill Ridge Farms in Youngsville. WRAL. https://www.wral.com/story/destination-hill-ridge-farms-in-youngsville/11648757/ (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

Photos

• Paula Sandburg raised champion dairy goats at Connemara Farms (NPS Photo, public domain). Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paula_Sandburg_raised_champion_dairy_goats_at_Connemara_Farms._Today,_visitors_can_enjoy_visiting_with_descendants_of_Mrs_(6c92ac93-1dd8-b71b-0b76-d2d38012b630).JPG (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Duplin vineyard of Scuppernog grapevines (Carmen Lucas, CC BY-SA 2.0). Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duplin_vineyard_of_Scuppernog_grapevines.jpg (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Altapass Orchard-27527 (Ken Thomas, public domain). Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Altapass_Orchard-27527.jpg (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Cucurbita moschata - Neck pumpkins, Vollmer Farms (Gloria Cabada-Leman, CC BY 2.0). Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cucurbita_moschata_-_Neck_pumpkins,_Vollmer_Farms.jpg (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Christmas tree farm in Ashe County (Indy beetle, CC0). Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_tree_farm_in_Ashe_County.jpg (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

• Pumpkin patch in Roaring Gap, NC (Willthacheerleader18, CC0). Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pumpkin_patch_in_Roaring_Gap,_NC.jpg (accessed Nov 5, 2026)

Google listings (ratings and review counts read on Google Maps, November 5, 2026)

• No. 1: Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard, Hendersonville. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Stepp%27s+Hillcrest+Orchard+Hendersonville+NC

• No. 2: Sky Top Orchard, Flat Rock. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Sky+Top+Orchard+Flat+Rock+NC

• No. 3: Hubb's Farm, Clinton. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Hubb%27s+Farm+Clinton+NC

• No. 4: Justus Orchard, Hendersonville. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Justus+Orchard+Hendersonville+NC

• No. 5: Darnell Farms, Bryson City. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Darnell+Farms+Bryson+City+NC

• No. 6: Mike's Farm, Beulaville. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Mike%27s+Farm+Beulaville+NC

• No. 7: Carl Sandburg Home (Connemara Farms goat barn), Flat Rock. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Carl+Sandburg+Home+%28Connemara+Farms+goat+barn%29+Flat+Rock+NC

• No. 8: Spring Haven Farm, Chapel Hill. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Spring+Haven+Farm+Chapel+Hill+NC

• No. 9: Childress Vineyards, Lexington. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Childress+Vineyards+Lexington+NC

• No. 10: Grandad's Apples N' Such, Hendersonville. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Grandad%27s+Apples+N%27+Such+Hendersonville+NC

• No. 11: Homeland Creamery, Julian. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Homeland+Creamery+Julian+NC

• No. 12: Simply Natural Creamery, Ayden. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Simply+Natural+Creamery+Ayden+NC

• No. 13: Duplin Winery, Rose Hill. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Duplin+Winery+Rose+Hill+NC

• No. 14: Patterson Farm, Mount Ulla. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Patterson+Farm+Mount+Ulla+NC

• No. 15: Apple Hill Farm, Banner Elk. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Apple+Hill+Farm+Banner+Elk+NC

• No. 16: The Farm, Dobson. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=The+Farm+Dobson+NC

• No. 17: Island Farm, Manteo. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Island+Farm+Manteo+NC

• No. 18: Jeter Mountain Farm, Hendersonville. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Jeter+Mountain+Farm+Hendersonville+NC

• No. 19: Gillis Hill Farm, Fayetteville. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Gillis+Hill+Farm+Fayetteville+NC

• No. 20: Summerfield Farms, Summerfield. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Summerfield+Farms+Summerfield+NC

• No. 21: Lewis Farms, Wilmington. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Lewis+Farms+Wilmington+NC

• No. 22: JOLO Winery & Vineyards, Pilot Mountain. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=JOLO+Winery+%26+Vineyards+Pilot+Mountain+NC

• No. 23: Stony Knoll Vineyards, Dobson. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Stony+Knoll+Vineyards+Dobson+NC

• No. 24: Mystic Farm & Distillery, Durham. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Mystic+Farm+%26+Distillery+Durham+NC

• No. 25: Divine Llama Vineyards, East Bend. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Divine+Llama+Vineyards+East+Bend+NC

• No. 26: Rudd Farm, Greensboro. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Rudd+Farm+Greensboro+NC

• No. 27: Smith's Nursery & Farm Market, Benson. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Smith%27s+Nursery+%26+Farm+Market+Benson+NC

• No. 28: Gross Farms, Sanford. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Gross+Farms+Sanford+NC

• No. 29: Ken's Korny Corn Maze, Garner. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Ken%27s+Korny+Corn+Maze+Garner+NC

• No. 30: Grandfather Vineyard & Winery, Banner Elk. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Grandfather+Vineyard+%26+Winery+Banner+Elk+NC

• No. 31: The Orchard at Altapass, Spruce Pine. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=The+Orchard+at+Altapass+Spruce+Pine+NC

• No. 32: Waller Family Farm, Durham. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Waller+Family+Farm+Durham+NC

• No. 33: Perkins Orchard, Durham. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Perkins+Orchard+Durham+NC

• No. 34: Lineberger's Maple Springs Farm, Dallas. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Lineberger%27s+Maple+Springs+Farm+Dallas+NC

• No. 35: Lu Mil Vineyard, Elizabethtown. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Lu+Mil+Vineyard+Elizabethtown+NC

• No. 36: Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Fairview. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Hickory+Nut+Gap+Farm+Fairview+NC

• No. 37: Overmountain Vineyards, Tryon. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Overmountain+Vineyards+Tryon+NC

• No. 38: Millstone Creek Orchards, Ramseur. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Millstone+Creek+Orchards+Ramseur+NC

• No. 39: Carrigan Farms, Mooresville. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Carrigan+Farms+Mooresville+NC

• No. 40: Silver Fork Winery, Morganton. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Silver+Fork+Winery+Morganton+NC

• No. 41: Sanctuary Vineyards, Jarvisburg. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Sanctuary+Vineyards+Jarvisburg+NC

• No. 42: Midland Farms, Midland. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Midland+Farms+Midland+NC

• No. 43: Hill Ridge Farms, Youngsville. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Hill+Ridge+Farms+Youngsville+NC

• No. 44: Hodges Family Farm, Charlotte. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Hodges+Family+Farm+Charlotte+NC

• No. 45: Vollmer Farm, Bunn. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Vollmer+Farm+Bunn+NC

• No. 46: Cooper Creek Trout Farm, Bryson City. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Cooper+Creek+Trout+Farm+Bryson+City+NC

• No. 47: Page Farms, Raleigh. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Page+Farms+Raleigh+NC

• No. 48: 1870 Farm, Chapel Hill. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=1870+Farm+Chapel+Hill+NC

• No. 49: Naylor Family Farm & Corn Maze, Fuquay-Varina. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Naylor+Family+Farm+%26+Corn+Maze+Fuquay-Varina+NC

• No. 50: Frosty's Choose & Cut, West Jefferson. https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Frosty%27s+Choose+%26+Cut+West+Jefferson+NC