Photo by Riley McCarthy @rcmmphotography95 (**all Barton Orchard Photos are by Riley)
It’s a bittersweet moment when Fall finally rolls around here in New York. It’s always hard for me to give up the warm air of Summer. But if anything could make me excited, it’s apple pie, apple cider donuts, pumpkin carving, and Halloween!
Over the weekend I took a trip up to Fishkill Farms (Hopewell Junction NY, Dutchess County) with Helen of @styleinherited / styleinherited.com and on Sunday I went with a number of the local influencers and photographer Riley McCarthy to Barton Orchards (Poughquag NY, Dutchess County). My heart was filled with great friends and Fall fun all weekend long!
Living in Westchester County, New York, I have been to probably almost every orchard a number of times. And since I work all week in New York City I can totally understand not wanting to schlep somewhere far to not have a great time. Today I’m going to share my favorite farms and orchards to go on a girls trip apple picking and pumpkin picking outside of NYC! I’ll start with this past weekend and then share some of my other favorites throughout the years!
My Favorite Places to go on a Girls Trip Apple Picking and Pumpkin Picking Outside of NYC
Fishkill Farms
9 Fishkill Farm Rd, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533
About 50 minutes from lower Westchester County
As I said above, Helen and I went to Fishkill farms on Saturday, but this wasn’t my first time here. I love Fishkill farms because the apple trees are a lot closer to the ground (makes for the perfect photo op!) and it always feels less packed than other orchards. If you google the farm it’s one of the most popular in Dutchess County so maybe the communal space is just larger than other farms – because there are definitely a lot of people there!
There is an area where you can drink hard cider, a farm store, and food! Along with live music. We arrived around 10:15 a.m. and it didn’t start to feel “full” until around noon. Dogs are also allowed – Helen and I were sad we didn’t know this before because Ranger could have come!
If I had to pick the best apple cider donuts (besides my faves out on the Nork Fork, see Wickham’s Farm), theirs would be it! The girls there said that they tend to run out of donuts around 2:00 p.m. on the weekends so be sure to grab them before picking your apples!
Barton Orchards
63 Apple Tree Ln, Poughquag, NY 12570
About 50 minutes from lower Westchester County
My girls trip apple picking and pumpkin picking to Barton Orchards was amazing. We really had a blast! At the last minute, Riley messaged me and ask to come and take photos of the group! I am so thankful Riley came to capture all these amazing moments with local influencers that have also become my friends!
Barton also offers, food, drinks (hard cider, beer) and has a farm shop! They are also dog-friendly! Maria was able to bring her pup and it was so sweet to have her there with us. We arrived around 10:30 a.m. and by the time we were done exploring the orchard, around 12:30 p.m., it was pretty packed. The line for food and donuts were a bit long but were moving. There was live music in the center area, and they also had TONS of things for kids to do. There was a large playground, you can feed the animals, a corn maze and a haunted house!
Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard
130 Hardscrabble Rd, North Salem, NY 10560
About 40 minutes from lower Westchester County
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I love Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard and I have for a while. The photo above is from 2016! Recently I found out that another local influencer and her family own and run the farm making is that much more special! Hi Christine!
This past April I also took a drive up with my mom to check out their farm store that offers breakfast and lunch! I had a bacon egg and cheese there and it was so good! We also grabbed fresh eggs, grass-fed beef, local honey, and blueberry crumble pie that changed my life. LOL So delicious!
Harvest Moon also has live music, food, drinks (including hard cider and beer) along with hayrides! Dogs are not allowed – which is also kind of nice if you are worried about larger dogs near your kids. Although it is a nice thing to be able to bring your pets to the prior two farms I could also find this to be a plus if you are afraid of or allergic to dogs.
Wilkens Fruit and Fir Farm
1335 White Hill Rd, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
About 35 minutes from lower Westchester County
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I feel like this is a Westchester County classic farm to go to. When I was in high school and when Tom and I first started dating (also pre-blog) this is where we would go. While I haven’t been in a while, I can remember it always being busy, even if you got there early. It’s located in Westchester County so it’s a super quick trip if you’re in the area!
They have a corn maze, farm market, bakery, apple picking, pumpkin picking and a winery on-site! I never realized they had the winery (probably because I wasn’t even 21 yet when I was going!) so now I think I need to check it out again! You can also cut your Christmas tree down there – pretty cool! I also remember their apple cider donuts being really good. Seriously have to get back here, who wants to go with me??
Pets are not allowed.
Westchester Greenhouses & Farm
332 W Hartsdale Ave, Hartsdale, NY 10530
**In lower Westchester – not an orchard
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While I love going apple and pumpkin picking, sometimes I just don’t have an extra two hours of my day to drive somewhere. Westchester Greenhouses & Farm has always been very reliable when it comes to produce and pumpkins. Plus, they have apple cider donuts! I love carving pumpkins (or painting them!) so it’s important to me the pumpkins are fresh. I’ve bought them at the food store before and they are always beyond vile when you cut them open. So if you’re a local, this place never disappoints me and is beautiful too!
Apples, Pumpkins, and Respect for the Farms
While I feel like this should be understood I’m going to say (type? write?) it anyway – none of the apples or pumpkins in the photos were damaged in any of these photos. Any apples picked were number one from the trees marked “ripe” and two put in my bag (purchased from the farm, not the Louie Vuitton one, that was for the photo only) and taken home. We all actually caught the apples we tossed! Apples on the floor were already on the floor and were simply moved around if needed. Nothing was plucked from a tree to be put on the floor. And any trash was taken with us / thrown out in the multiple on-site garbage cans.
Remember these are people’s businesses, they sell the food they produce, so treat it that way!
Where to next?
I hoped you enjoy the recap of my girls trip apple picking and pumpkin picking outside of NYC, along with the other farms and orchards I love! If you’ve been to an amazing farm nearby, feel free to share it with everyone in the comments below!
Came across this on my Pinterest and enjoyed reading it! I enjoyed it because we are so close in area and you have given me more inspiration for my blog!
totallybeckyy.com (:
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Thanks so much, girly! Have you signed up for my events emails? link here I have something coming up at Bloomies on Nov. 17th, hope you can come!