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5 Easy Apple-Picking Adventures Close To The Big Apple
By
Bethany O'Grady
Published Sep 16, 2011
Modified Sep 16, 2011
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By
Bethany O'Grady
Published Sep 16, 2011
Modified Sep 16, 2011
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While a number of Harvest-mimicking events tend to pop up around the five boroughs in September and October, sometimes leaving the city for the ‘real thing’ is the only way to get the full fall experience. And so, for those times when ironic "apple" picking in McCarren Park just doesn't cut it, here are five orchards close to the city (some even accessible by mass transit) where you can pay upwards of $20 to get some fresh Autumn air and honest manual labor!
Apple Ridge Orchards: For the sum of $9.00 a person, you can pick and walk away with 10 to 12 pounds of apples at Apple Ridge Orchards in Warwick, NY. The price includes an apple cider doughnut and a glass of apple cider, so a penchant towards apples is suggested. The Orchard boasts well-manicured trees full of everything from Crispin to Winesap varieties, and they have ‘dwarfed trees’ so the little ones can do all the work reach for the juicy fruits themselves.
101 Jessup Road, Warwick, NY/ (845) 987.7717
Open to the public Friday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Outhouse Orchards: Don’t let the name of the Orchard put you off--Outhouse Orchards in North Salem, NY prides itself on its fresh produce and family oriented environment. They have “world famous” apple cider doughnuts along with anywhere from Courtland to McIntosh apples. By the time you’ve overdosed on apples, there are peach and pear orchards to mosey around in as well.
Outhouse Orchards is easily accessible by train: take Metro North from Grand Central to the Croton Falls station. A cab is likely to be waiting to take patrons to the Orchard.
130 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem, NY/ (914) 277.3188
Open to the public Friday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Masker Orchard: At Masker Orchard in Warwick, NY, pickers are invited to eat all the apples they’d like while romping around the Orchard. They’re also invited to pay $24.95 for one take-away bag of apples. Never the less, Masker Orchard is located in the Hudson Valley region and affords visitors pretty spectacular views of the valley in its entire fall foliage splendor.
Masker Orchard is easily accessible by bus: take the NJ Transit bus #196 or #197 from Port Authority to the Willowbrook Station in Warwick. Masker Orchard is ½ mile walk from the station.
45 Ball Road, Warwick, NY/ (845) 986.1058
Open to the public 7 days a week, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Jenkins-Lueken Orchard: nestled in New Paltz, NY, Jenkins-Lueken Orchard is all about the “U-Pick”. They offer an array of apples (Empire, Jonagold, and Ida Red to name a few) along with the option of blackberry, raspberry and pumpkin picking as well. Jenkins-Lueken claims to have the freshest apple cider in the region since their Cider House Rules they have their own cider mill.
Jenkins-Lueken Orchard is easily accessible by bus: from Port Authority take the Trailways bus to the Newpaltz bus/taxi station. Take a short cab ride to the Orchard.
69 Yankee Folly Road, Newpaltz, NY/ (845) 255.0999
Open the public 7 days a week, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Dubois Farms: Voted the best “Pick-Your-Own” in the Mid-Hudson Valley, Dubois Farms certainly offers an eclectic array of fall activities. In September, you can pick your own plums, tomatoes, pears, pumpkins and of course, apples. They pull out all the bells and whistles with their inclusion of a farm market and café, a bakery, a corn maze, pony rides, weekend barbecues, and “all new desserts, cotton candy and snow cones”. Those snow cones better taste like Autumn.
209 Perksinville Road, Highland, NY/ (845) 795.4037
Open to the public 7 days a week, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tagged
autumn
fall
fall guide 2011
Bethany O'Grady
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