Updated: 11/3/25
Apple picking and leaf peeping are two of our favorite fall traditions, filled with fond memories of crisp air, colorful trees, and laughter with friends and families. Over the years, we've visited quite a few orchards - Hilltop Orchards in the Berkshires and Honey Pot Hill Orchard in Stow are among our favorites. There's just something special about wandering through the rows, picking your own apples, and soaking in the beauty of a perfect fall day.
Apple picking and leaf peeping are two of our favorite fall traditions, filled with fond memories of crisp air, colorful trees, and laughter with friends and families. Over the years, we've visited quite a few orchards - Hilltop Orchards in the Berkshires and Honey Pot Hill Orchard in Stow are among our favorites. There's just something special about wandering through the rows, picking your own apples, and soaking in the beauty of a perfect fall day.
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| Hilltop Orchard in the Berkshires |
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| You can walk or ride the tractor wagon to the trees |
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| Resistance is futile ... on these yummy apple cider donuts |
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| Pick the apples yourself or buy them from the store |
At Honey Pot Hill, the cider donuts were even better than Hilltop's, and the farm animals delighted both kids and adults alike.
This year’s COVID-19 restrictions kept us from heading up north, so I brought fall to us inst.ead. I picked up some Cameo apples at a local farm stand, got a few Pink Ladies from our neighbors. Just a few days later, I spotted a sale at Ingles—our local supermarket—on Honeycrisp apples. What cook could possibly resist? Normally priced at nearly three times the cost of other varieties, these delicate, crunchy gems were a steal at just $1.29 a pound! After diving into an article about them, I finally understand why Honeycrisps are both pricey and wildly popular. You can learn more about the fascinating history of the Honeycrisp apple here.
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| Honeycrisp apples, cut and in basket 3 Cameo on left, 2 Pink Lady on right |
Between the freshly picked ginkgo nuts and a basket of pecans, my kitchen’s looking like a fall buffet. But don’t worry—I’ve got big plans for those apples (looking at you, apple cider and apple turnovers!).
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| fan-shaped leaves on a Gingko tree on a beautiful fall day |
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| Picking Gingko nuts that had fallen on the ground |
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| Washed and dried gingko nuts, pecans in the back |
What are your favorite fall activities?
This post is shared on Skywatch Friday, My Corner of the World, Slices of Life and Art*Journal*Journey.
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Had to laugh at your resistance if futile comment. There is no way I could resist those donuts!!
ReplyDeleteI like apple picking. We have 14 apple trees and it is work but fun and the pies and such are delish. I didn't know about Gingkp nuts. Interesting
ReplyDeleteMB
MB
Sounds like a wonderful day. Just heard in news apple is high in vitamin C and potassium and the skin is rich in vitamin too. Its true apple a day keeps the doctor away. The fresh pecan at your place was the best I ever tasted.
ReplyDeletesue
Beautiful sky shot. The apple picking looks like a fun time. The donuts! Oh my. My mouth is watering.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to experience apple picking! Sounds like fun!
ReplyDeleteThose doughnuts look amazing!
Looks like there are lots of fun things to do at Honey Pot Hill Orchard. I see more than one apple cider donut was eaten :) Didn't know gingko nuts are a thing with cooking. How do you use them? Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteIt seems you have a whole lot of terrific snacks!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see your link at 'My Corner of the World' this week!
Apple picking in the sunshine under the blue skies looks lovely. We've missed seeing anything that resembles autumn here in Thailand this year but I remember conkers from a horse chestnut tree and picking blackberries from the hedgerows from my UK youth!
ReplyDeleteWren x
Apple picking sounds like such a fun tradition.
ReplyDeleteThose gingko nuts and pecans are such cool finds too!
Happy Wednesday, Eileen!
Honeycrisps are my family's favorite kind of apple! We love going to pick at the orchard and getting fresh cider donuts too.
ReplyDeleteThe apples look healthily delicious but those donuts seem like an irresistible treat. :)
ReplyDeleteLovely photos, but I don't see an art journal page.
ReplyDeleteI love apple picking and cider donuts. :) Thanks for sharing this with us.
ReplyDelete