In my preliminary research on Aamodt’s Apple Farm I found some negative reviews of the place. This begs the question: what kind of cretin can’t have fun with an apple farm? And a nice one at that. Idyllic lays thick over the place: all mowed lawns, little trees poking out of the earth, neat things to buy, and toddlers skittering around and learning about fruit. It’s near enough to 36 to be convenient without being ruined by the traffic’s drone.

I went with my wife and together we shared one of the nicer hours of this week. First we went into the barn, a cavernous 19th century thing where we were knocked off our feet by the waft of warm apple fritters and cookies. The little restaurant was closed because it was a weekday, but it was a treat to look at all the neat things to buy. You can even buy apples there if you’re too faint of heart to go pick them yourself.

We meandered on over to the big green, where said skittering toddlers were busying themselves with falling off of the playground equipment and the goats. There were three gentle nannies, all of whom form their opinions on people based on whether they have corn or not.

We didn’t just come for the goats though. After that encounter we bought a bag that promised to hold 10 pounds of apples for $10 and went to work. Funny, that fruit picking can either be a nice fall pastime or a harrowing menial labor job. Try explaining to the Joads that you pick fruit to unwind.

We had a blast looking for perfect, unblemished specimens to fill our bag. Only the best would do, and it did — we topped the thing off in a few good minutes. I reached for the choice apples hidden on the upper tree tops while my wife cheered me on. Now we have an obscene number of the things and I don’t know what we’re going to do with them all. If I meet a horse I’m all set I guess.

You’re sensing that I’m going to recommend Aamodt’s to you, and you’d be extremely correct. I loved that it’s in the country, nicely away from the vast tarmac we call home. It’s a pleasant and uncomplicated place. You think about apples when you go there, plain and simple. You eat apple fritters and drink apple cider and pick apples and when you’re done you take the apples home with you so you can keep them in a big bowl for a couple weeks. If Aamodt’s doesn’t take you out of it for a little while then I don’t know what can be done for you.

Aamodt’s Apple Farm
6428 Manning Ave N, Stillwater, MN 55082
Open August 1st through December 31st
Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM