Just ten minutes outside of Stillwater, Aamodt’s Apple Orchard is one of the best fall stops in the Minnesota countryside. This family-owned farm, cidery, and winery covers apple picking, cider and wine tasting, hay rides, and a pumpkin patch that keeps kids and adults busy for a full afternoon. If you’re mapping out your visit, our guide to the best fall things to do around Stillwater is a good place to start planning the rest of your weekend.
Stillwater is one of the most charming small towns in the Midwest, and it’s an easy home base for a weekend built around apple orchards, wine country, and the St. Croix River valley. Whether you’re planning a couples getaway or a family trip, Water Street Inn puts you in a historic downtown building within walking distance of the river and a short drive from Aamodt’s.
Secure your lodging in Stillwater at our historic downtown hotel, one of the best places to stay in Minnesota. Our picturesque riverfront location puts you within walking distance of the best things to do in Stillwater.
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Aamodt’s Apple Orchard grows a wide range of varieties across its orchards, from well-known Honeycrisp to lesser-known finds like First Kiss, SweeTango, and Zestar. Anyone researching apple picking in Minnesota will find Aamodt’s near the top of the list for good reason. Head out Monday through Friday, and you can pick your own straight from the trees.
On weekends, the crowds are heavier, so Aamodt’s Apple Orchard pre-picks a selection and stocks the barn instead. Either way, plan for a morning visit if you want the best pick of the fruit, and bring a bag or box since the orchard sells by the pound. Once you’re back at the barn, the smell of fresh baked apple pie and cinnamon is hard to walk past, so leave room for a slice before you head home.
Named after the orchard’s founder, Thor’s Hard Cider is pressed and made on site from the same apples growing in the fields around you. The lineup runs from classic semi-sweet and dry ciders to rotating specialty batches such as smoked pumpkin, vanilla, ginger fizz, and raspberry with dark chocolate. The barn is the spot to grab a flight and compare a few side by side.
Right next door, St. Croix Vineyards keeps its tasting room open daily from 10am to 6pm, pouring flights, glasses, and bottles of its cold-climate wines. It’s an easy add-on to your Aamodt’s Apple Orchard stop, whether you want a full glass on the patio or just a taste before heading back into town. Some evenings bring a local musician to the small stage, so it’s worth checking their schedule if live music while you sip sounds like your speed.
Fall is when Aamodt’s Apple Orchard really comes alive. Hayride wagons loop through the property, the pumpkin patch fills in for the season, and a small herd of goats is always up for a visit at the fence line. The orchard posts updates on its Facebook page for the latest on live music, weekend specials, and any changes to hours, so it’s worth a quick check before you drive out. Between the hayride and the pumpkin patch, plan on at least two hours if you want to see the whole property without rushing.
If you’re coming from Stillwater, the drive itself is part of the experience. The road follows the edge of the St. Croix River Valley, and the fall colors along the way rival anything you’ll find at the orchard.
After a day of apple picking, cider flights, and hayrides at Aamodt’s Apple Orchard, Water Street Inn is the easiest place to land for the night. Our 61 guest rooms sit in a historic downtown building on the riverfront, an easy walk from shops, restaurants, and the St. Croix itself. Curl up by the gas fireplace, slip into a robe, and pick from three in-house restaurants for dinner, from wood-fired pizza to new American plates.
Book your room directly with us and make Aamodt’s Apple Orchard part of your fall weekend in Stillwater.
