It could be argued that autumn in Michigan is, in fact, the most wonderful time of year. A hallmark of the fall season is the incomparable flavor combination of fresh doughnuts and apple cider offered by Michigan’s bountiful selection of cider mills. Ranging from the traditional to the boozy (hard craft cider, anyone?), these Michigan cider mills hold the key to ultimate fall fun and, of course, doughnuts — all of the doughnuts.

Yates Cider Mill 1990 E. Avon Rd., Rochester; 248-651-8300; 2375 Joslyn Ct., Lake Orion 248-481-9203; yatescidermill.com Yates is unique because it doesn’t have just one location, but two, with one in Rochester and the other in Lake Orion. Both offer similar attractions and fall-ified treats. The Yates Ice Cream Shoppe invites those with a sweet tooth to make any number of homemade apple focused baked goods à la mode. They also offer historic mill tours, pony rides, river walks, and cider making. Photo via Yates Cider Mill / Facebook
Wiard’s Orchard and Country Fair 5565 Merritt Rd., Ypsilanti; 734-482-7744; wiards.com What’s an apple cannon? Well, it’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like, and you can shoot one at Wiard’s Orchard. In operation for more than 180 years, Wiard’s also offers more traditional fall activities such as corn mazes, U-pick apples, pumpkins, hayrides, petting farm, haunted barn, and various play areas. Oh, and each weekend Wiard’s hosts its own country fair, opening up the orchard grounds into a free for all of fun (for a small admission fee, of course). Photo via Wiard’s Orchard / Facebook
Westview Orchards and Winery 65075 Van Dyke St., Washington; 586-752-3123; westvieworchards.com Founded in 1813, Westview is one of Michigan’s oldest operating orchards. In addition to wine, apples, and cider, Westview offers a slew of activities ranging from trivia nights, yoga, live music, and wine-paired dinners. Photo via Westview Orchards and Winery / Facebook
Uncle John’s Cider Mill 8614 US-127, St. Johns; 989-224-3686; ujcidermill.com Uncle John’s Cider Mill’s motto is simple: eat, drink, and play. Boasting both a cider mill and a winery (with opportunities to watch both being made), Uncle John’s also has activities for visitors of all ages with an inflatable jump park, mining for gemstones, a pie barn, a corn maze, and a wine and cider tasting room. Photo via Uncle John’s Cider Mill / Facebook
Three Cedars Farm 7897 Six Mile Rd., Northville, MI 48168; 248-437-8200; threecedarsfarm.org Three Cedars Farm has the best of both worlds. Complete with a U-pick apple orchard and pumpkin patch, they also have a corn maze, and offer hayrides and provide bonfires on the chillier days. Three Cedars is known for their Donut Hut, slushy cider, and their sweet kettle corn. Photo via Three Cedars Farm / Facebook
Stony Creek Orchard r 2961 32 Mile Rd., Romeo; 586-752-2453; stonycreekorchard.com A historic mainstay of Romeo, the Stony Creek Orchard offers homemade autumn classics, U-pick orchards, moonlit hayrides, and a tranquil family farm environment. The market sells homemade pies, caramel dipped apples, jams, jellies, and honey. There’s also a tractor on site for the ultimate fall photo op. Photo via Stony Creek Orchard and Cider Mill / Facebook
Plymouth Orchards and Cider Mill 10685 Warren Rd., Plymouth; 734-455-2290; plymouthorchards.com Winner of the Michigan Apple Cider Contest in 2013, Plymouth Orchards and Cider Mill serves up cider, baked goods, and holiday pies. They also provide a heated space for visitors to eat doughnuts, drink cider, or simply lounge in while watching doughnuts being made. Photo via Plymouth Apple Orchards and Cider Mill / Facebook
Past Tense Cider Mill 1965 Farnsworth Rd., Lapeer; 810-664-5773; pasttensecountrystore.com Past Tense Cider Mill is a little bit of everything. In addition to the Cider Mill and its related restaurant where they make homemade pizza, soups, and bread, the Past Tense complex also offers an Arts and Antiques store with American antiques and Michigan-made goods. Past Tense offers year-round Christmas and Halloween departments at its country store. Additionally, they are also known for their homemade fudge, home-grown cherries, and their country store. Photo via Past Tense Cider Mill / Facebook
Paramenter’s Cider Mill 714 Baseline Rd., Northville; 248-349-3181; northvillecider.com During select days during the fall, the historic Paramenter’s Cider Mill offers an up-close look at fresh cider pressing as well as access to the mill’s Nut and Fudge Huts, where they make candied almonds and fresh fudge. Another visitor favorite are the ducks, which storm the river behind the mill each year. Guests are welcome to feed and observe the ducks while chowing on cider doughnuts. Photo via Paramenter’s Northville Cider Mill / Facebook
Paint Creek Cider Mill 4480 Orion Rd., Rochester ; 248-656-3400; facebook.com Three words: Cider mill bacon. There’s more than meets the eye with this traditional cider mill, which offers cider mill classics as well as full restaurant offering via an extensive lunch and dinner menu. Visitors can also enjoy their cider mill treats along the scenic Paint Creek Trail. Photo via Paint Creek Cider Mill / Facebook
Miller’s Big Red Apple Orchard 4900 32 Mile Rd., Washington Twp.; 586-752-7888; bigredorchard.com The oldest U-pick apple orchard in Washington Twp., Miller’s Big Red Orchard mixes traditional and modern offerings, including an onsite smokehouse and restaurant and hard cider tasting room, in addition to 90-acres of orchards. Photo via Big Red Orchard / Facebook
Long’s Family Cider Mill 1540 E. Commerce Rd., Commerce Charter Twp.; 248-360-3774; longsorchard.com While Long’s Family Cider Mill has plentiful apple crops, this farm is also a popular spot for fresh asparagus, peas, and sweet corn. Long’s also has a corn maze, a petting zoo, bounce houses, hayrides, pedal karts, and a giant slide. For those looking to relax, there’s a designated picnic area as well as fresh fruit that can be purchased or hand-picked. Photo via Long Family Farm / Facebook
Knaebe’s Mmmunchy Krunchy Apple Farm 2621 S. Karsten Rd., Rogers City; 989-351-7868; mmmunchykrunchyapplefarm.com Knaebe’s Mmmunchy Krunchy Apple Farm is pushing the cider doughnut to the limit with their signature BAM doughnut, made with bacon, apple, and maple. Additionally, the farm provides a tasting room with a specialty hard craft cider menu. Photo via Knaebae’s Mmmunchy Krunchy Apple Farm and Twisted Roots Cider / Facebook
Jollay Orchard Farms 1850 Friday Rd., Coloma; 269-438-3075; jollayorchards.com Jollay Orchards offers the ultimate U-Pick experience for those looking to take some delicious Michigan-grown apples home. This 150 year-old farm also offers a slew of other homemade treats and spreads, including their signature cider doughnuts and apple pie. There is also a ferris wheel that overlooks the stunning orchard, and during the Halloween season, Jollay’s offers a corn maze and a haunted house. Photo via Jollay Orchards / Facebook
Hy’s Cider Mill 6350 37 Mile Rd., Bruce Twp.; 810-798-3611; hyscidermill.com A family-owned mill, Hy’s offers U-Pick opportunities for those looking for specific apple types at 88 cents per lb. Hy’s will also host a rotation of food trucks during the fall season. Photo via Hy’s Cider Mill / Facebook
Goodison Cider Mill 4295 Orion Rd., Rochester; 248-652-8450; goodisoncidermill.com Goodison Cider Mill makes old-fashioned candies and treats as well as fresh cider and doughnuts. Goodison is known for their pistachio nuts, pistachio nut bread, as well as frosted cherry and blueberry doughnuts. For those not ready to let go of summer but still want a taste of fall, they offer their cider in slushie form. Photo via Goodison Cider Mill / Facebook
Franklin Cider Mill 7450 Franklin Rd., Bloomfield Hills; 248-626-8261; franklincidermill.com For more than 100 years, the Franklin Cider Mill has been serving fresh cider and doughnuts, pastries, meats, and cheeses. The cider mill is surrounded by beautiful creeks folks can enjoy after getting an up-close look at how the fresh doughnuts and cider are made. Photo via Franklin Cider Mill / Facebook
Erwin Orchards and Cider Mill 61475 Silver Lake Rd., South Lyon; 248-437-0150; erwinorchards.com While apple cider may be all the rage, Erwin Orchards and Cider Mill is known for its raspberries. Erwin Orchards offers U-Pick apples, pumpkins, cherries, and raspberries as well as corn mazes, group tours, and cooking lessons. Photo via Erwin Orchards & Cider Mill / Facebook
Erie Orchards and Cider Mill 1235 Erie Rd., Erie; 734-848-4518; erieorchards.com Home of both the Apple Festival and Harvest Festival, Erie Orchards offers hayrides, a corn maze, and a large market where visitors can purchase bushels of orchard-grown apples or they can pick their own. Photo via Erie Orchards and Cider Mill / Facebook
Dexter Cider Mill 3685 Central St., Dexter; 734-426-8531; dextercidermill.com As the oldest operating cider mill in Michigan, the Dexter Cider Mill runs along the Huron River as visitors are able to enjoy cider, caramel apples, doughnuts, and other fresh fall treats. Its traditional-style gives visitors a piece of history that this family-owned mill lives by. Photo via < a href="https://www.facebook.com/dextercidermill/photos/a.159799060765327/2391743137570897/?type=3&theater/">The Dexter Cider Mill / Facebook
Diehl’s Orchard and Cider Mill 1479 Ranch Rd., Holly; 248-634-8981; diehlsorchard.com Diehl’s family-owned orchard is home of its annual Ciderfest, which offers fresh food, crafts, and tours of the orchard and mill. Photo via Diehl’s Orchard and Cider Mill / Facebook
Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill 17985 Armada Center Rd., Armada; 586-784-5343; blakefarms.com Once an old-fashioned farmhouse, Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill now offers a Barnyard Funland, consisting of a hayride, petting zoo, and a bicycle track. Aside from 500 acres of U-pick fruits, as well as a bakery offering fresh pastries, Blake’s hosts the Fall Harvest Tour, the Michigan Lavender Tour, and haunted-themed events closer to Halloween. Photo via Blake Farms – Farmers Market / Facebook
Anderson & Girls Orchards and Gifts 2985 N. Sheridan Rd., Stanton; 989-831-4228; andersonandgirls.com Known for their secret family recipe, friends and families cannot get enough of Anderson & Girls cider. This large farmer’s market consists of hayrides, a corn maze, a petting zoo, and an ice cream parlor that sells 12 flavors of ice cream. Photo via Anderson & Girls Orchards and Gifts / Facebook
Spicer Orchards 10411 Clyde Rd., Fenton 810-632-7692; spicerorchards.com Want a glass of wine with your cider doughnuts? Spicer Orchards is also a winery that offers hayrides to U-pick fruit orchards, train rides, animals, as well as up-close looks at cider and doughnut production. Photo via Spicer Orchards Farm Market / Facebook
Apple Charlies South Huron Orchards 38035 S. Huron Rd, New Boston; 734-753-9380 Apple Charlie’s cozy atmosphere includes a pavilion fresh food all season. They provide many activities for families such as hayrides, fruit-picking, and a gift shop. The orchard grounds also offer a ponds and a petting zoo. Photo via Apple Charlies South Huron Orchards/ Facebook

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