Facebook / Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards
There are few things that scream fall in New York quite like crisp apples, warm cider donuts, a wagon ride through the orchard, and the first excuse of the season to break out your flannel. And Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in LaFayette, NY just happens to have all of the above—plus national bragging rights.
After coming in at #5 last year, the 115-year-old, family-run farm has officially jumped to the top spot, being named the No. 1 Apple Orchard in America by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
This isn’t the orchard’s first rodeo, either—Beak & Skiff previously took home the national title in 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2021. But with 400,000 apple trees, an award-winning distillery, an adventure park, and overnight stays right on the property, this year’s top ranking is well-earned.
A 115-Year-Old Upstate Icon
What began in 1911 as a small hillside plot along Route 20—founded by onion farmer George Skiff and dairy farmer Andrew Beak—has blossomed across five generations into one of the most respected names in New York agriculture.
Over the past century, the farm has survived droughts, late frosts, and even the “Big Freeze” of 1945 that wiped out an entire year’s crop. Today, innovation like wind machines and New York’s first flash-pasteurized cider mill has turned the sprawling property into a full-blown fall wonderland–all surrounded by sweeping views of Central New York’s countryside.
Shutterstock / Debra Millet
What To Do At Beak & Skiff
🍎 50 Acres of U-Pick Apples
From late August through late October, visitors can hop on a free wagon ride into 50 dedicated acres of public picking.
With over 20 varieties—including Honeycrisp, SnapDragon, Gala, McIntosh, Paula Red, and Ginger Gold—you can check their online picking schedule before heading out to see what’s peaking.
(Prefer to skip the work? The Apple Barn stocks 15+ pre-picked varieties ready to take home).
🍩 Cider Donuts, Fritters, & Cold Brew
No trip Upstate is complete without treats:
The Café & Bakery: Hot burgers, fries, fresh pies, and warm cider donuts
The Fritter Shack: Dedicated entirely to crispy apple fritters and quick kid-friendly snacks
The Sweet Apple: Gourmet hot chocolate and top-tier fall desserts
Cold Brew & Sparkling Waters: Their own house-made cold brew coffee and kid-friendly sparkling fruit waters
Source / Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards
🥃 The 1911 Tasting Room & Distillery
Beak & Skiff’s famous 1911 Established line makes it a haven for adults, too.
Stop by the updated 1911 Tasting Room & Tavern to sample small-batch hard ciders, wines, and handcrafted cocktails made with spirits distilled right on-site—including vodka, gin, pommeau, and bourbon whiskey.
🌽 Apple Grove Adventure Park & Live Music
Perfect for families, the Adventure Park features a corn maze, the Orchard Speedway, an animal park, an apple chute, and more.
Adults and music lovers can also catch seasonal events and outdoor concerts on the lawn.
Source / Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards
Turn It Into A Weekend Getaway: On-Site Lodging
Since LaFayette is about a 4.5-hour drive from NYC, turning this into a fall weekend road trip is the way to go. Instead of driving back the same day, you can stay directly on the orchard.
Beak & Skiff offers four unique rental properties nestled right among the trees:
The Orchard Overlook
The Honeycrisp House
The Blossom Retreat
The Cider Sanctuary
Booking a stay gives you easy access to night concerts, sunset drinks at the tavern, and early-morning orchard walks before the crowds arrive.
Source / Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards
Visitor Essentials
Location: 2708 Lords Hill Rd, Lafayette, NY 13084 (Central NY, near Syracuse & Skaneateles)
Getting There from NYC: ~4.5 hours by car via I-80 W / I-81 N. Alternatively, take Amtrak to Syracuse and grab a 20-minute rideshare to the farm
Hours: Monday–Wednesday: 10 am – 6 pm | Thursday–Sunday: 10 am – 8 pm
The 10 best apple orchards in the U.S. for 2026, according to USA Today
Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards – LaFayette, NY
Minard’s Family Farm – Cintondale, NY
Lyman Orchards – Middlefield, CT
Red Apple Farm – Phillipston, MA
Bishop’s Orchards – Guilford, CT
Knaebe’s Apple Farm – Rogers City, MI
Sky Top Orchard – Flat Rock, NC
Apple Hill Orchards – Mansfield, OH
Marker-Miller Orchards – Winchester, VA
Mercier Orchards – Blue Ridge, GA