NC apple orchard named among best in the US by USA Today

USA TODAY readers voted a North Carolina apple orchard as one of the best in the United States.

The annual 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are determined by readers’ votes. Initial selections came from travel experts choosing the top 20 nominees in a number of categories, including best art museum, best farmers market, best outdoor water park and more.

As of Oct. 31, many 10Best categories are still pending, and results will be announced over the next few weeks.

All categories, winners and pending winners can be found at 10best.com/awards/travel.

North Carolina wins for Best Apple Orchard

•Sky Top Orchard won a top-10 readers’ choice award for the best apple orchard in the United States. The orchard is located in Zirconia, just south of Flat Rock, and open for apples through the end of November.

“Less than an hour south of Asheville, North Carolina, Sky Top Orchard offers its guests the chance to celebrate fall on the mountain with a roadside stand feel and nostalgia of yesterday,” USA TODAY 10Best said.

“The cool summer nights and warm days create perfect conditions for growing over 22 varieties of apples, with the U-Pick season lasting from August through the end of October. Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Red and Golden Delicious, Granny Smith and Pink Lady are just a few available varieties.”

Sky Top Orchard came in seventh place on the list. The top spot went to Milburn Orchards in Elkton, Maryland.

Zirconia is about a four-and-a-half hour drive from Raleigh.

For more on Sky Top Orchard, visit skytoporchard.com.

Best Pumpkin Patch

• Beulaville: Mike’s Farm in Beulaville, North Carolina also came in ninth place for the best pumpkin patch in the United States.

Beulaville is under a two-hour drive from Raleigh. For more on Mike’s Farm, visit mikesfarmnc.com.

This story was originally published October 31, 2022 12:53 PM.

Kimberly Cataudella (she/her) is a service journalism reporter for The News & Observer.