By Zafirah Mohamed Zein, News Correspondent

With the cold weather already setting in, these last few weeks of warmth might just be the best time to soak up the colors of fall and enjoy the outdoors. Although Massachusetts has a lot to offer, from foliage expeditions to Halloween activities, our weekend pick would be apple and pumpkin picking, where you can admire the changing landscape up close while filling up bags with some fall goodies – all within reach of the city. If the picking got a little crazy, baking an apple pie or two and carving some jack-o-lanterns afterward are also a great activities.

Shelburne Farm

106 West Acton Rd., Stow

The oldest pick-your-own orchard in eastern Massachusetts, Shelburne Farm provides fun activities such as hayrides, hay bale mazes and a farm stand that sells freshly baked apple pies on the weekends. Twenty flavors of homemade ice cream also await you after all that picking.

Directions:

Take the Fitchburg/South Acton Commuter Rail line from North Station to the Acton stop, and Shelburne Farm is about a 10 minute cab ride away.

Autumn Hills Orchard

495 Chicopee Row, Groton

If you’re looking to escape the crowd, Autumn Hills is the place to go apple and pumpkin picking in a peaceful, countryside atmosphere. The great quality apples are also cheaper and priced per pound instead of per peck.

Directions:

Take the Fitchburg/South Acton Commuter Rail line from North Station to Ayer and and the orchard is a 12 minute cab ride away.

Honey Pot Hill Orchard

138 Sudbury Rd., Stow

One of the busier fruit orchards in Massachusetts, Honey Pot Hill is your typical mom-and-pop place with grandma’s yummy cider doughnuts, caramel apples and homemade fudge. Check out their three large new corn mazes during the weekends.

Directions:

Take the Fitchburg/South Acton Commuter Rail line from North Station and stop at South Acton. Honey Pot Hill is approximately 15 minutes away.

Boston Hill Farm

1370 Turnpike Street, North Andover

Equipped with a country store filled with homemade breads and pies, Boston Hill is a cozy place to go pick some apples and have some good old barbecue after. You can even visit some farm animals in the petting zoo and listen to a country rock band.

Directions:

Take the Haverhill Commuter Rail Line to Andover and take a 13 minute cab ride to Boston Hill.