Allen's Orchard — Attraction in Marion

Our first time here: Parking was easy to locate and seemed plenty big. Welcomed with friendliness at the main building. Given clear guidance about orchard and fun things to do there. No cost for parking or picking or hay ride or petting goats or playing on the equipment. $3/lb. for both apples and pears. That is cheaper than where we used to pick in southern MO. VERY happy with the price here! The best part…the ripe apple varieties are put on a paper with their ribbon color/pattern. The same ribbon is tied onto the tree, or row of trees, that is that variety of ripe apples/pears/grapes. Genius!!! Super easy to navigate the orchard. Building is well laid out inside. Yes, there was a line of people at the two registers, but it didn’t take long to go through. Realistically, they were processing people quickly yet efficiently. The building, aka gift shop, was full of apple orchard treasures. Some pre-picked apples were there as well as the doughnuts, slushies, T-shirts, apple cider, etc. etc. etc. Yes, we drove three hours for this. Yes, we are planning on coming again, maybe even in a few weeks. It’s worth it. I also love the story of the original owner’s idea of a patchwork quilt type of apple orchard and how they have had to organize that idea for their customers convenience. Oh, they have picking poles for you to use, which we did and were glad to...

I brought my family here about 3 years ago now, and it was late season crisp fall quite beautiful they still had some apples to pick and some pumpkins so we got some just like any other orchard but when we got to the front desk it was suggested that we get some of there famous apple donuts so we got some they were soft warm and fresh just like a newborn baby we decided we would wait till we got to the car to partake of these succulent delicacies we passed them out and as I took my first innocent bite I would not know what I was getting into as soon as the smooth soft buttery bread entered my mouthed it was washed in a wave of saliva and I finally knew this is what I am living for I looked back on my life when I got married, graduated and had children and all these moments pale in comparison to this moment nothing mattered in my life any more but this donut NOTHING there are entire worlds, galaxys, and nebulae that pale in comparison to this donut I Froze didn't know what to do the rest of my family had already finished there donuts and i was on my first bite I quickly snarfed it down and drove my family home I knew what I had to do 3 weeks later I divorced my wife and took up a life of crime cooking meth, robbing banks and killing people just to fuel my addiction whatever you do, do not eat one of those donuts it will ruin...

This beautiful orchard offers a country experience within easy reach of Marion, Hiawatha, and Cedar Rapids. It's just a short distance from Linn Mar HS. We visited on a weekday in August, where we found a list of seven or eight apple varieties ready to pick. The orchard house looks new and has a bit of everything from apples and cider donuts to jam, syrup, tote bags, cute children's books, etc. A super helpful employee guided us in how to pick, where to find the apples we wanted, and the orchard rules. Purchase by the weight as you pick into a wood slat basket you carry along. Please note that for those who may not desire the walk through orchards, there is a good selection of pre picked apples available for purchase. Everyone we spoke to was smiling and friendly. There is a pretty picnic area where you could take your donuts and beverage to relax. A swing is set in the front of the orchard house for the little ones to enjoy. I can well imagine that on weekends in the fall, this sweet destination is full of families enjoying the old-fashioned experience of harvesting your own apples. On this day, there were few around. So we were able to walk the lanes of trees laden with apples enjoying the heavenly fragrance while soaking up the sun with only the sounds of nature. I will return again and again to pick the changing...