Apple Picking in Upstate New York
Well, apple season is won’t be here for a while but I never quite got around to posting about going apple picking when I was last home in New York. It’s something I used to do as a child; my godparents would take me apple picking and then we’d spend the day baking! Even now the smell of apple pie fills me with a lot of nostalgia! So when I went home last October, I made a point of heading upstate and going apple picking. It was so much fun! Autumn in New York is such a lovely time to visit and taking the train up along the Hudson River is a lovely treat! How ’bout them apples?
Stone Ridge Orchard
I have a friend who lives in Rhinebeck and when I mentioned wanting to a) come up and visit him and b) go apple picking, he suggested we head to Stone Ridge Orchard. They had a huge selection of apples to pick as well as a lovely farm shop. There was a bit of a heat wave when I was in New York so it wasn’t really autumnal but the leaves were starting to change and it was lovely out!
We went for a wander through the orchards, picked some apples and then enjoyed the sunshine. We also had some apple cider donuts which I was very happy about. Apple cider donuts aren’t really a thing in the UK and I miss them. They’re a great seasonal treat. I had them a few times while I was in New York. I also had a lovely bottle of apple cider (yet another thing I miss from time to time!) and it was so refreshing!
Wandering Woodstock
After our apple picking adventure we went for a drive, over to Woodstock (yes, that Woodstock) for lunch. It’s a very cute little area with lots of shops and restaurants. I think it can be a pretty heavy tourist attraction in peak travel season but there’s plenty to see! Since we went to lunch, we didn’t do too much exploring but we did walk along the main street and peek into some of the shops.
Mainly our time in Woodstock was spent enjoying lunch out on the patio of Pearl Moon, lounging in the sunshine, catching up with old friends and people watching. Then we went for a little wander. If I’d had more time, I definitely would have done more exploring!
Sunset in Rhinebeck
Our last few hours were spent in Rhinebeck. I felt a bit like I was walking around a film set; it definitely has classic American small town vibes like Stars Hollow or something! Several of the houses made me feel like I was on the set of Practical Magic (one of my all-time favorite movies! It’s a classic!). Plus, seeing houses with Halloween decorations and autumnal displays was fun. I know it’s a very American thing but I’m here for it!
We also popped into Samuel’s Sweet Shop to pick up some treats and grab a coffee. It’s part owned by Paul Rudd and Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton and it’s very cute! A very sweet end to a lovely day!
Back into the city I went with a bag of sweets and fresh picked apples! I wish I could get back to New York more often but it can be very expensive! Plus if every holiday I took was heading home to New York, well? I wouldn’t see as much of the world as I’d like. Still, New York will always be my home!
