Apple Hill: Post-Harvest Tradition

Aaron and I’s favorite fall tradition is going up to Apple Hill after harvest. This year we loaded up both the pups and made it a mini road trip. I was SO excited to finally spend some valuable time with Aaron and reunite our little family of 4. We sure miss him this time of year!!

It was the best day!! The pups were so good and well-behaved. Dakota pretty much stole the show…there were little ones coming up to her left and right trying to pet her and love on her. I was a little nervous at first. This was definitely her biggest outing since she was born. But she did SOO well! She was so sweet and patient with all the kids and listened to us all day. In fact Aaron got a little brave at the end of the day and let her off of her leash. She stood right by our side the whole time! I am so glad we got her this last May…she’s the best addition to our little family.

(I should do a little introduction here on LCN like I did with Dex when we got him…)

Anyways…I wanted to share with you all where we went. Apple Hill is CRAZYYYY this time of year. And even more insane a few days before Halloween. Remind me to wait until after Halloween next year to attempt this annual post-harvest trip!

Since we like to bring our dogs, below is a little list of our fav, dog-friendly stops at Apple Hill

• Boeger Winery: This place is not just “dog-friendly”…more like “dog-obsessed!” Totally our vibe. If you can’t tell from my Instagram and Snapchat, we are a tad bit (okay, MAJORLY) obsessed with our dogs. So when we found Boeger Winery last year by accident, we knew it would become a regular Apple Hill spot. Killer bonus: we also love their wine. Try the Barbera, you won’t be disappointed!
• Abel’s Apple Acres: If you’re looking for a nice, quiet place to get lunch, this AIN’T your spot…Like I said, this time of year, Apple Hill is insane. So insane they have CHP patrolling the roads. Not kidding. (I hope I’m not talking you out of going…I promise it was just because it was like 3 days before Halloween!) Even though it’s a busy location, Abel Apple Acres is a great spot!! They have tons of different food options and a huge store filled with apple cider and apple pies. The pies looked amazing! We have never bought a pie there before but I hope to next year! There are also lots of fun activities for kids and families. It was a little too busy for us this year so we ate and got back on the road.
• Rainbow Orchards: Rainbow Orchards is by far our favorite place in Apple Hill. I don’t know if it’s the hot, apple cider donuts or the funky metal building painted in bright rainbow colors, or maybe its the super cute apple orchard filled with picnic tables and a live band?? I don’t know but we love it!! It’s just cute and easy and we always hit the jackpot with yummy things. This is where I buy about 5 lbs of golden delicious apples (Aaron’s favorite) and usually a couple pepper jelly’s. Oh, and you can’t forget the apple cider. Also, Aaron’s favorite apple cider. And all of that with a live band?! Yes. Totally up our alley.

Tips and Tricks for Apple Hill

• Get there early! Most of the locations open between 8:30 and 9 am (the wineries usually open around 10). So get your booty up and get there when things open. I promise you that that will help with the traffic and the long lines for your apple cider donuts and apple pies. At that time in the morning, its virtually empty.
• DON’T go the weekend before Halloween!! I highly recommend early October or November.
• Buy/find an Apple Hill road map listing all locations. Don’t type the names of the places you want to see into your google maps…the Apple Hill map shows back roads to all these locations and keeps you off those high traffic streets. This is a huge tip! Trust us. I promise you won’t be disappointed. It might take you a lot longer to get to your destination but exploring Apple Hill this way has helped us find little gems like Rainbow Orchards and gorgeous scenery.
• Pack a lunch. I know I said that Abel’s Apple Acres has food and actually so does Rainbow Orchards, but there aren’t many options. I usually pack us a lunch, but this year got lazy and thought we would find something. The lines were so long everywhere that we ended up getting a quick slice of pizza and wishing we had packed sandwiches instead. There are so many cute places that allow outside food and provide their guests with outdoor seating and amazing vibes!

Comment below, snap (@maddiehittle) or tweet me regarding any random questions you might have about Apple Hill! And please share your favorite places to go and any tips or tricks you have learned!

xoxo, madison naomi