APPLE PICKING AT FISHKILL FARMS

Back in March, when COVID first started trickling into the city, I went into full panic mode and impulsively bought a car. It had been on our list of things to do at some point during 2020, but the thought of being trapped on the island made my skin crawl, and we just went ahead and did it. Let me tell you, I have not taken that for granted one little bit. It has been a true sanity saver over the last six months, and I can’t tell you how much it has changed out city life. Getting to escape on the weekends has been such a blessing.

We normally always hit up the strawberry patches, but we missed out on berry picking this year, so I knew we were going to want to make apple picking a priority. There are tons of farms open right now to pick your own, and most have lots of safety precautions set in place. This weekend the air was crisp and the sky was bright and it was the perfect weather for some fall fun.

After chatting with a few friends who had already made their way to a few orchards, we decided to go with Fishkill Farms. I had never been to this orchard before, but what really sealed the deal for me was their timed reservations. This made me feel really good about knowing for sure that things would be too crowded or feel like we were being herded like cattle through the trees. They have a ton of different apple varieties available for picking, and even have their pumpkin patch ready to go right now.

The cost of admission was $45 for our family, though I think it is priced per car, and includes a half bushel of apples. Which is A TON of apples. I truly have no idea what I am going to do with them all…

During normal times, they usually have some fun activities, like a bouncy castle, pony rides, and all the usual farm fun. This year, they only had a hay ride available, which was fine by me. The farm requires masks along with reservations to keep the entire experience really safe.

We made a reservation for 10:00. It is about an hour and 15 minute drive from lower Manhattan, so I knew we were going to have to be up and at em pretty early to get there on time. I am so glad we went in the morning. It was calm and peaceful with very few people. You know there isn’t a lot of people when you are directed to the first parking lot!

As we went through the trees, there were plenty of apples, with enough low for my oldest to pick himself. It was absolutely gorgeous, and I think they did a great job at spacing reservations out to make it feel safe and uncrowded. In years past, it has almost felt like a fight to get to the apples!

Because we were on the early side, we never had to wait for the wagon that goes around the farm or worry about people crowding us while picking. Towards the end, we noticed a lot more people around, and there started to be a line for the wagon ride. This was probably due to them keeping social distancing in place, even on the wagon, which I really appreciated.

Fishkill Farms also has a cute little farm stand with some great souvenirs, yummy treats, and more fresh produce. We skipped eating at the grill and grabbed a box of apple cider donuts. OMG. I am normally not a big fan of apple cider donuts, as I always find them to be on the dry and dense side. These were like little sugar covered pillows of fall. So delicious and not to be missed!

There were limited picnic tables available, and by the time we were done picking, the grill area was a little crowded for my comfort. They also had a cider tasting area to relax and try their very own cider variations!

If you are looking for an incredible place to grab a casual lunch, head down the road about 15 minutes to Round Up Barbecue. It is this little side of the road restaurant with tons of outdoor seating but the food was legit! Don’t miss the brisket or the wings, but skip the mac and cheese and go for the cornbread. You won’t regret it!