I mentioned yesterday that I am way more into apple picking than pumpkin picking. I look forward to pumpkin spice latte season as much as the next person, but I've definitely always been more of an apple girl. Apple pie, apple cider, apple cider donuts...I mean, seriously, what's not to like about an apple? Going apple picking is one of my favorite Fall activities (although to be honest the actual apple picking part is really only a small piece of the over all ritual).
When I moved to LA I thought I'd have to give up this favorite past time. Then, last year, I discovered Oak Glen. Oak Glen is a little piece of East Coast in the West Coast mountains. I wrote a little bit about it last year, but I thought I would give a few more tips this time around - in case this is your kind of fun.
Unlike Mr. Bones, this excursion is a commitment. It's an hour and a half drive from Los Angeles, so you need to be commited to an all day event. But the distance is really not so bad because after all the activities your kids will take a nice long nap on the way home. Things start to get busy around 10am so it's best to hit the road early and aim to get there at opening. There's a quaint map you can find here that gives you an idea of what to expect. It's one long road that loops through the mountains. The orchards are mostly close together and it's easy to walk from one to another, with a few exceptions.
Some have parking lots, but there is also free parking all along the road. If you get there early, it's not a problem finding space. I've always started at Riley's Apple Farm. There are several Riley's and they are owned by different people but this one is basically the first farm you will run into. In addition to apple picking they have archery and tomhawk throwing, press your own cider, and hay rides (I'd like to say for the kids, but the truth is the adults participated in this way more than any of our kids did).
Another good thing about starting at Riley's is if you go as a group you will all be able to find each other. Be forewarned - there is barely any cell reception in the area. I got a lot of text messages hours after they were sent. Walkie talkies? Maybe next year. But you're gonna have to go old school with your communication on this trip.
Once you've gotten your fill of what you technically drove up here for you can soak up the rest of the experience by driving into the town center. Or another way of putting it - driving into the past. Up the road you will find a series of old wood buildings that include a leather shop, a candy shop, and Apple Annie's - home to the largest apple pie I've ever seen. A slice fed the whole table on this trip. There are a few other places to eat, but this seems like the go to spot. You're going to wait in line for a while but the pie makes the wait worth it. You can pick some up to take home at the bakery next door.
And then, while you digest, your wallet can get gauged by overpriced children's activities! $7 pony rides, $5 petting zoos (that charge for adults too!), face painting...you know all the good stuff. But hey, the best of memories are paved with the empty lining of your wallet, right?
Oh yeah, bring cash. But not just for the ponies. Bring it for the apple cider donuts. 'Cause your next stop is really why you came - on to Snow-Line Orchard. As you drive up the scent will hit you strong - apple cider mini donuts. All that is good in the world. Their cinnamony goodness melts in your mouth. Here you can buy bushels of apples if you prefer to have the picking done by someone else. You'll also find an apple and apple cider tasting station run by a slightly curmudgeonly old lady who looks like she's been peeling apples for the last 80 years. (Part of the charm right?)
And that's what I really love about this place. It's exactly like I remember from my childhood - and I hope it never changes.
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