Find Your Fall Flavor in Clermont County

If you only have time for one stop, make it this one. Fall on the Farm runs daily through November 1, and the thing to grab is the caramel apple cider float. It's a scoop of ice cream, a pour of apple cider, and a caramel drizzle, and it tastes best with a view of the fields.

While you're there, the bakery has homemade pie, and the Local Craft Beer Garden is open Friday through Sunday if you'd rather sip something else. New this year, you can also grab burgers on weekends and pizza every day.

Our recommendation: Go on a weekday afternoon, get the float first, then wander the market barn for pumpkins and fall decor.

Pick-your-own season is over at Pringles Orchard, but the orchard stand is still the place to stock up on fall. The apple house is stocked with Golden Delicious, Ambrosia, Fuji, and Turley Winesap, with more varieties on the way, and the pecan crop is expected soon.

The fresh cider is ready, and so are the cider slushies, which are a fun twist on a fall classic. Grab a packet of Aspen mulling spices to turn a jug of cider into a hot cup at home. The shelves also hold apple butter, orchard honey, pumpkin butter, mustards, popcorn, and candles, and you'll find pumpkins, butternut and carnival squash, and Indian corn for decorating the porch.

Our recommendation: Get a cider slush for the drive, then load up on apples, a jar of apple butter, and the mulling spices.

Whether you want a full pumpkin patch day or a quiet afternoon picking one perfect pumpkin, Clermont County has you covered.

Shaw Farms in Milford is our pick for the classic experience. Along with the pumpkins, you'll find hayrides and a corn maze in the fall, and the farm market is stocked with homemade jams, jellies, and baked goods. Clover Valley Farm, tucked between Williamsburg and Bethel, is smaller and more intimate. This family farm grows pumpkins and hosts a fall festival on October 16. It also doubles as an outdoor venue for photographers, so it makes a great backdrop for fall photos.

Our recommendation: Head to Shaw Farms for the hayride and the market and grab a baked good for the road. Mark your calendar for October 16 and celebrate fall at Clover Valley.

Not all great fall stops include a hayride or pumpkin patch. Sometimes, the best seasonal finds are waiting at a local market or tucked inside a jar of honey.

At the Clermont County House of Honey in Newtonsville, you can stock up on locally made honey, from wildflower to clover. It's an easy gift, and a good stir-in for hot cider or tea.

If you'd rather browse and sample from several local growers and makers at once, the seasonal farmers markets in Batavia, Milford, Loveland, and Union Township are all worth a stop. Be sure to check the local farmer’s market pages for dates and hours of operation before setting out on your journey!

Our recommendation: Make a Saturday of it. Start at the Batavia or Milford farmers market, then swing by the House of Honey on your way home.

After all that cider and pumpkin picking, you've earned a real meal. Bite is a Milford scratch kitchen where the chef-driven menu blends Southern, Creole, and global influences with fresh seasonal ingredients, and works with local farmers. The restaurant even grows organic vegetables, herbs, fruits, and nuts on its own two-acre property, which makes it a natural fit for a month of food and farms.

It's a come-as-you-are, BYOB spot, so bring a bottle to go with dinner.

Our recommendation: Ask your server which dishes feature the season's best ingredients, and order from there. Bite is open Tuesday through Saturday (11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday) and closed Sunday and Monday. Dine-in, carryout, and reservations are available. Find them at 1279 State Route 131 in Milford, or call 513-831-2483.