Top 5: Alternatives to Fall Apple Picking

Apple picking may have been a tradition in your house, but that doesn’t mean you need to keep it going. Start your own fall traditions with an alternative to the apple. Here’s where to imbibe, sample and tour the best of what fall offers.

Go Wine Tasting
Wine tasting is always a good alternative to anything, provided you enjoy a regular glass of wine. Seavey Vineyard in St Helena, California, can help you discover your new favorite wine. Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack, New York, provides wine tours and accommodations, as well as gorgeous fall foliage. If there’s not a winery near your area, look for wine tastings at hotels or nearby resorts that put you in touch with the fall colors.

Explore a Preserve
Taking a brisk, fall hike at a park is always a nice way to spend the day, but you can enhance the experience by seeing a preserve. Look for options with historic finds or within proximity to a grand finish at a pub or coffee shop to warm up. Make a weekend of it and check to see if on-site camping, cabins or yurts are available to soak up the sunset.

Visit a Creamery
Spend a fall day on a guided tour of a farm showcasing a creamery. Guests at Rock House Creamery learn how milk and cheese are made, meet the cows and enjoy plenty of samples. There are farm and creamery tour options around the country. But if you come up empty, get creative with local tours for cheese, hot chocolate or candle making.

Enjoy a Cider Tour
Cider lovers get in on the fall fun with tours just for them. If you’re in Virginia, stop by Blue Bee Cider for a short tour and tasting, or Richmond Brewery Tours to get an overview of how to make cider and its long history. Samplings and tastings are included in the ticket price to turn you into a cider connoisseur.

Take a Train Ride
A fall train ride along the river or mountains to a nearby city is a relaxing way to spend the day. Turn it into an overnight, or get a return ticket for the same day. Some areas even offer seasonal train rides that less several hours and return you to your original destination. Hop aboard the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad in West Virginia or Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in Ohio for a gorgeous ride. Most seasonal excursions also include lunch or dinner to complete your day. Before you book, ask if there’s a bar car on the train. Turn it into a picnic with a loved one and order snacks and beverages while watching the world go by.