Orchard in Detroit

One of our staffers remarks: “It’s the best-tasting cider, and the donuts are to die for. The brown paper bags they come in become translucent with grease. The cider press is right there so you can witness the apple carnage. Watch out for the bees.” Open 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, until Nov. 26. For those going late in the season, the mill offers this appealing opinion: “The sweetest cider is the day we close.”

This large operation out by Stony Creek has fresh cider, donuts aplenty, a petting farm with chickens, goats and bunnies, a vast greenhouse and a country store kitchen with pies, breads, caramel apples, jams and jellies, and much more.

Northville’s second-oldest continuously operating business has the usual favorites — cider, donuts, caramel apples, apple butter, pumpkin butter, honey, maple syrup — you’ll find cider slushes, apple chips drizzled with caramel, white cheddar cheese, cherry salsa, wines and candies ranging from lollipops to wax fangs.

Established in 1939, Stony Creek has all the regular bases — apples to jams to donuts — covered, but on the weekends it really shines. Here you’ll find ice cream, homemade apple pie, lunch items and something called the “Stony Apple” — apple slices slathered in hot caramel sauce, whipped cream, nuts and other toppings. U-pick is available weekends too, and their salesroom offers shipping of made-to-order gift boxes. Open daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. until Dec. 31. From Jan. 1, open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday only.

This family-run orchard offers “U-pick apples” and pumpkins, donuts, unpasteurized cider, honey, pears, plums and unusually shaped gourds. Though the mill is housed in a (slightly) less-than-picturesque building, it’s still a wonderful place to take the kids. Besides, who could pass up an unusually shaped gourd? Open every day until Oct. 31, and then open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday for the first two weeks of November.