Each season brings beloved traditions, those moments we wait for all year long and remember for the rest of our lives. Many of us spend months counting down to the all-too-fleeting days when vibrant hues of gold, orange, and red paint the landscapes; leaves dangle precariously from trees and slowly slip to the ground only to crackle beneath our feet, and a slight crispness returns to the air to remind us autumn has arrived. Fall is a time of beauty and some of the best food and drink the year offers. If your favorite autumn drink is apple cider, sip some of the best at this family-owned farm in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

Jaswell’s Farm knows a little something about tradition. The family-owned farm, after all, has been a fixture in Rhode Island since 1899, welcoming visitors from Smithfield and far beyond to pick apples and pumpkins, stock up on homemade goodies like jams and jellies from the market, and drink what many swear is the best apple cider in Rhode Island, maybe even in New England.

There’s a reason the apple cider at Jaswell’s Farm, which celebrates its 125th year in 2024, is beloved by so many. The farm, which grows 14 types of apples, has an onsite cider mill and apple cider pasteurizer that transforms the farm’s apples into an award-winning cider that wins rave reviews from visitors. (The cider is pressed and sold year-round.) That apple cider is also used to make fresh apple cider donuts, sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, which are sold in the bakery.

Oh, but that apple goodness doesn’t stop with cider and donuts. Treat your sweet tooth to a gourmet apple, a delicious twist on an old-fashioned caramel apple. The huge Honeycrisp apple follows tradition as it’s covered in caramel. Then your favorite topping, like chocolate, is added and the final touch is a dark, milk, or white chocolate drizzle.

While stocking up on apple cider and apple cider donuts is a highlight of any visit to Jaswell’s Farm, carve out time to enjoy the enchanting autumn experience it offers. Wander through the orchard to pick apples and find the perfect pumpkins for baking or decorating before exploring the market and bakery that sells everything from fresh eggs to homemade pies.

Gear up for your autumn adventure at the farm by learning more on the official website of Jaswell’s Farm, where you’ll find days, hours, and all of the latest information. Or, stop by the Facebook page of this longstanding farm in Rhode Island. Before you head over, read more about Jaswell’s Farm, which OIYS featured in its Small Business Appreciation series in 2021.

Have you been to Jaswell’s Farm, a family-owned farm in Smithfield, Rhode Island? Do you agree that they pour the best apple cider in Rhode Island? What about the apple cider donuts? Let us know in the comments! Keep that fall theme going while you’re in Smithfield with a stroll along the Stillwater Scenic Trail. A subscription to AllTrails + will make it easy to navigate this and any other Rhode Island trail.