- Exploring the hidden gems of Western Wisconsin—curating unforgettable stays and sharing the places locals love most.
Fall along the river smells like apples and woodsmoke. The orchards pile their crates high, the farmers markets are overflowing with squash and honey, and down the Great River Road, the little shops in the river towns are at their coziest. If your idea of a perfect weekend involves a canvas bag, a hot cider and a trunk that’s fuller on the way home than on the way down, this one’s for you.
Here’s how I’d spend a fall harvest weekend from Prescott, from a Saturday market to a hilltop cidery to a slice of pumpkin pie in a village of fewer than a hundred people.
About 30 minutes north of Prescott, the Hudson Farmers Market on Carmichael sets up every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon in the south lot of Faith Community Church. On a busy fall morning, there are more than 50 vendors and a few food trucks, with tables of fall produce, local food and baked goods. Go early for the best selection, grab a coffee and take your time. The 2026 season runs through October 31.
Prefer to stay closer to the river? River Falls has a farmers market on Saturday mornings too, in the lot at Dick’s Fresh Market on South Main Street. Check its season end date before you go.
Just south of downtown Prescott on Highway 35, Young Acres is one of my favorite fall stops, and the story behind it is half the reason. Tucky and Rachel Dias Bandaranaike were living in an RV, traveling from Southern California, when they rolled into Prescott in the summer of 2021. They made an offer on the farm within three days. Today, they tend 16 acres of apple trees, about 1,500 of them, on more than 200 acres of rolling countryside.
There are 17 varieties of apples, and which ones you’ll find depends on when you visit. By late September and early October, look for Haralson, Haralred, Empire and Red Regent. By mid-October, it’s Honeygold and Fireside. Grab a bag, wander the rows and pick until your arms are full.
When you’re done, head into the country store. They press their cider right on the farm, and on a cold afternoon, a cup of hot cider with mulling spices is the best thing you’ll hold all weekend. Browse the shelves for local honey, cocoa bombs and chocolates on your way out.
Good to know: The country store and U-pick are open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. during the season. The season winds down as the weather turns, so check their website or social media before you go.
Young Acres also has a restaurant, The Arbor, where Tucky, a chef and certified sommelier who grew up in Sri Lanka, cooks globally inspired food with local ingredients. Their motto is “think global, eat local.” The Arbor hosts special events like multi-course Chef’s Table dinners with wine pairings rather than regular nightly service, so check their events page and book ahead if one lines up with your weekend.
Head south on Highway 35 along the Mississippi, with the bluffs in full fall color. Just outside Stockholm, turn up the hill to Maiden Rock Cidery, Winery & Orchard. Owners Herdie Baisden and Carol Wiersma bought this 80-acre farm in 1998 and started making cider in 2008, and they grow around 50 varieties of apples, including heirlooms like Northern Spy and true cider apples like Kingston Black. Do a tasting, then sit out by the gazebo with a glass and the view. In fall, there’s U-pick, and the bakery case usually has apple strudel. Hours vary by season, so call ahead.
A few minutes south, Stockholm’s whole downtown is only a couple of blocks long, but it’s packed with makers. Scandihoo has Nordic-inspired gifts, from cuckoo clocks to Icelandic soaps. Great River Press is the printmaking studio of artist Emily Gray Koehler. The Palate is a European-style gourmet shop and wine bar where you can grab a charcuterie board and a glass of wine. Indigo Swan, tucked into a little courtyard, is full of jewelry and fine art. Most shops are open Thursday through Sunday.
Finish at Stockholm Pie & General Store, which USA Today readers voted the best pie shop in America. From October through December, they bake pumpkin, pumpkin cream cheese and pumpkin pecan pies. Get a slice to eat now, a whole pie to take home (call ahead if you want a specific one), and browse the general store for Wisconsin cheese, local wine and old-fashioned candy.
Make downtown Prescott your home base and book direct with us: The Port of Prescott for boutique king suites steps from the river, Port After Dark for romantic suites made for couples, The Harbor Hotel for themed rooms and extended stays, and The Cove Guest House for downtown condos and group getaways.
