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Your Guide to The Best Fall Activities in Michigan
When the summer heat fades, Michigan transforms into a landscape of beautiful foliage, signaling one of the best seasons in the state. The crunch of leaves is often accompanied by the delightful scent of apple cider and freshly made donuts. Here at Pine Lake Manor, Keego Harbor's premier apartment community, fall is the favorite season for most residents. That's why we've come up with a list of our favorite fun-filled, fall activities.
Cider Mills
In Michigan, fall ciders are a long-standing tradition, and the best places to enjoy ciders are at a historic cider mill. At these mills, the apples are freshly pressed, the cinnamon is often ground to order, and the cider drinks will warm your soul.
The experience is far more enjoyable than getting a cider at a major chain store. Many of these cider mills still use 19th-century technology to prepare the beverage and allow guests to view the old-fashioned milling process that makes their beverage. Additionally, many of the mills are neighbored by walking trails that trace the nearby river. Guests can also stock up on locally produced goods.
While there are many fantastic cider mills in east Michigan, we think two in particular are worth your consideration: The Franklin Cider Mill has been owned by the same family since 1837. With its location in Bloomfield Hills, it is just a 15-minute drive from Keego Harbor.
College Football
Some states like college football, other states are fanatical, but Michigan college football is on a whole other level. Game days involve massive tailgates, where strangers become quick friends, assuming you're wearing the right colors. The energy is infectious, making it a thrilling spectacle even for non-football fans. The most popular college football team is the Michigan Wolverines. Home games are played at the Big House, which is one of the largest sporting venues in the world. Gameday crowds often exceed 100,000, making it one of the most exciting venues in all sports. The stadium is located in Ann Arbor and can be reached from Keego Harbor in about an hour.
Fall Foliage
For the best place to enjoy Michigan Fall Foliage, we recommend the famous Tunnel of Trees. This highway provides 20 miles of scenic driving underneath a beautiful canopy of trees sprinkled with occasional views of Lake Michigan. This stretch of road is often considered one of the most beautiful highways in America. Along the drive, visitors can stop by historic lighthouses, charming diners, and unique shopping experiences. Do note that the highway is a bit narrow and may be hard to navigate in larger vehicles. For something closer in eastern Michigan, we recommend the West Bloomfield Hills Nature Preserve. This 162-acre preserve contains walking paths that meander between wetlands and wooded forests, ensuring more dynamic leaf viewing. This nature preserve is only a ten-minute drive from Keego Harbor.
Corn Mazes
No fall activity list is complete without considering a corn maze or two. The corn maze with the best bang for your buck can be found at Long Family Orchard & Farm. While the corn maze is a delightful treat on its own, admission to Long Family Orchard & Farm offers so much more. Guests can also enjoy a giant hill slide, a pedal kart racetrack, a petting zoo, an apple cannon, and much more. With so many activities, guests can expect to spend the whole day at this farm.
Located in Commerce, a small town in eastern Michigan, the drive to Long Family Orchard and Farm is only about 20 minutes from Keego Harbor. If you want the best corn maze hands down, we recommend the corn maze found at Nixon Farms. This corn maze covers 14 acres and has strategically placed QR codes should you want a cheat code. Located near Ann Arbor in eastern Michigan, Nixon Farms is about a 1-hour drive from Keego Harbor.
Pumpkin Patches
There is no shortage of delightful pumpkin patches in Michigan. But for the best one in the state, we would have to recommend Gull Meadow Farms. This farm is the premier destination for fall activities in Michigan. Visitors can enjoy a hayride to the massive pumpkin patch and are allowed to pick their favorite gourd to bring home. Additionally, Gull Meadow Farms is well known for its market. Visitors can select from freshly baked donuts, jams, dips, fresh apples, and warm ciders.
Gull Meadow Farms is located in western Michigan, just outside of Kalamazoo. It is a little more than a 2-hour drive from Keego Harbor. If you're looking for something closer in eastern Michigan, we recommend Bowers School Farm. This farm is well known for its fall festival, which includes pumpkin picking, wagon rides, and a hay climbing tower. Bowers School Farm is about a 15-minute drive from Keego Harbor.
