Best Apple Orchards & Fall Winery Events Near Wayzata, Lake Minnetonka & the West Metro
Apple picking. Warm cider. Crisp Minnesota mornings. A glass of wine in the afternoon. Live music. Leaves changing along the lake.
This is one of my favorite times of year in Minnesota. MN shines during the fall!
And if you live in — or are thinking about moving to — Wayzata, Lake Minnetonka, Minnetrista, Plymouth or the West Metro, you don't have to drive hours to experience the best parts of fall.
Some of my favorite fall days are actually the simple ones.
Pick apples.
Take a walk.
Grab a cider donut.
Find a winery with live music.
Sit outside with a glass of Minnesota wine.
Then head home before dinner.
That's the beauty of living here.
My Favorite Fall Day Starts Close to Home
After more than 20 years living in the Wayzata and West Metro area, one of the things I appreciate most about Minnesota is how quickly you can go from lake country and beautiful neighborhoods to farms, orchards and vineyards. It's actually easy to hit all 3 in 1 day.
You can be in Wayzata in the morning, picking apples in the afternoon and watching the sunset over a vineyard before the day is over.
So if you're looking for things to do this fall near Wayzata, Lake Minnetonka or Minneapolis, here are a few places I'd put on the list.
1. Everly Farms — Minnetrista
If you're looking for a fall experience really close to Lake Minnetonka, start here. This place is a MUST go!
Everly Farms in Minnetrista is one of those places that feels like fall should feel.
Apple trees.
Hayrides.
Pumpkins.
Apple donuts.
Hot cider.
Animals.
And a wine garden.
The orchard's 2026 fall season opened August 29, with the orchard and gift shop open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekend activities include U-pick apples when varieties are ripe, unlimited hayrides, the animal barn, pumpkins, live music and the wine garden.
Everly Farms Minnesota
And this is exactly the kind of place I love showing people who are considering moving to the Wayzata and Lake Minnetonka area.
Because this is what living here can look like.
You don't have to choose between convenience and having room to breathe.
You can be close to Minneapolis while still having farms, trails, lakes and open space right outside your door.
[Visit Everly Farms for current fall hours and activities]
My fall move:
Go in the morning.
Pick apples.
Get the donuts.
Take the hayride.
Then slow down.
Don't rush through it.
2. LuceLine Orchard — Watertown
If you want a little more of a classic Minnesota orchard day, put LuceLine Orchard on your list.
Located in Watertown along the Luce Line Trail, the orchard has thousands of apple trees and a wide selection of Minnesota varieties, including Honeycrisp, Haralson, SweeTango, Zestar!, First Kiss, Keepsake and Sweet 16.
And October 4 is a particularly good day to visit.
Christine Passig & Deep Roots perform from 2–5 p.m. on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
LuceLine Orchard, Best Apple Orchards in MN
So you could make this an entire fall afternoon:
Apple picking → cider donuts → live music → sunset drive home.
That sounds pretty perfect to me.
Explore LuceLine Orchard's apple varieties and fall events
3. Aamodt's Apple Farm — Stillwater
Want to turn apple picking into a full St. Croix Valley fall day?
Head toward Stillwater.
Aamodt's Apple Farm is a longtime family-owned orchard in the St. Croix Valley with apples, baked goods, a farm store and seasonal activities.
Aamodt's Apple Farm
What I love about this area is that you don't have to make the orchard the entire day.
Make it one stop.
Then continue into Stillwater.
Walk downtown.
Grab coffee.
Walk along the river.
Have dinner.
Or find a winery on the way home.
That's the kind of fall day that makes Minnesota feel special.
Explore Aamodt's Apple Farm and plan a fall visit
4. Make It a Winery Day in Waconia
This is one of my favorite ways to spend a fall afternoon.
Head west toward Waconia, where the landscape opens up and you start to feel like you've left the city behind.
And then add wine.
Parley Lake Winery
Parley Lake Winery
Parley Lake Winery sits on a 125-acre vineyard and orchard property in Waconia, with views toward Lake Waconia and a calendar of live music and events.
And Sunday, October 4 is a great example of why I love fall here.
The Brilliant Colors Trio performs from 2–5 p.m.
So here's my ideal Sunday:
Morning: apple orchard
Lunch: somewhere local
Afternoon: Parley Lake Winery
2–5 p.m.: live music + wine
Evening: drive home through the fall colors
See Parley Lake Winery's October events
And don't overlook the fact that Parley Lake has an orchard and vineyard on the same property.
That's a very Minnesota combination.
5. Sovereign Estate Winery — Lake Waconia
Another Waconia favorite is Sovereign Estate Winery, located along the north shore of Lake Waconia. Don't miss the bonfire at the end of the month!
Sovereign Estate Winery
Their fall calendar has live music, seasonal food and wine experiences.
On Sunday, October 4, 2026, their Sundays at Sovereign series features Rob Meany from 1–5 p.m.
That makes this another easy fall afternoon option.
And I love that it isn't just about wine.
It's about being outside.
Seeing the vineyard.
Watching the leaves.
Listening to music.
Taking a breath.
That's the Minnesota lifestyle I love.
See Sovereign Estate's current events and fall schedule
Don't Forget the Little Fall Things
Sometimes the best part of an orchard isn't the apples.
It's the apple cider donut you eat before you even leave.
It's the smell of wood smoke.
The first cold morning.
A dog running through the leaves.
A sweatshirt and boots.
Kids coming home with muddy shoes.
A drive where nobody is in a hurry.
Or sitting outside at a winery and realizing that it's 5 p.m. and you haven't looked at your phone in an hour.
Those are the moments I think people remember.
And they're a big part of why I love Minnesota.
Fall in Minnesota Is Also About Where You Live
One of the reasons I love showing homes in Wayzata, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Medina and the Lake Minnetonka area is that the lifestyle doesn't end when you pull into your driveway.
Where you live determines how easily you can get to the lake.
How quickly you can get to trails.
Where you can grab dinner.
Which orchards and farms are nearby.
How long it takes to get downtown.
And what your weekends can look like.
For some buyers, that means Wayzata schools.
For others, it's a wooded lot in Minnetrista.
Maybe it's Lake Minnetonka.
Maybe it's a neighborhood with trails and a pool.
Maybe it's simply having enough space that you can step outside and feel like you're somewhere else.
Those details matter.
Because buying a home isn't just about the house.
It's about buying into a lifestyle.
My Minnesota Fall Bucket List
If I had one fall weekend to show someone why I love living here, I'd make it simple:
🍎 Pick apples at a local orchard.
🍩 Eat an apple cider donut.
🍷 Visit a Minnesota winery.
🎶 Find live music outside.
🚶♀️ Walk somewhere surrounded by fall color.
🌅 Stay long enough to watch the sunset.
⭐ And if you're lucky, get far enough away from the city to see the stars.
That's Minnesota.
See the stars. Feel the earth. Love where you live.
And if you're considering moving to Minnesota, I'd love to show you not just the homes — but the places and lifestyle that make people want to stay.
About Vicki Peters
Vicki Peters is a luxury real estate agent serving Wayzata, Lake Minnetonka, Minnetrista, Plymouth, Medina, Minnetonka and surrounding West Metro Minneapolis communities.
With more than 20 years of local experience, Vicki specializes in luxury homes, relocation, waterfront properties and helping buyers understand the neighborhoods, schools, lakes, trails and lifestyle differences that make each Minnesota community unique.
She has helped more than 200 families relocate to the Minneapolis area and brings firsthand knowledge of what it's like to live, raise a family and build a life in the West Metro.
Because knowing Minnesota isn't just knowing real estate. It's knowing Minnesota.
[Explore Wayzata & Lake Minnetonka real estate with Vicki Peters]
