Apples apples apples!!

Review by: Do

My favorite season in CNY is Fall. The air is crisp, the foliage is beautiful, and there are so many fall festivities to take advantage of! One of our (or just my) favorites is apple picking.

This year we went to Beak & Skiff in Lafayette, NY. My favorite kind of apple is Empire & they started picking them Oct 3rd, so that's the day we went. It was a really nice day too - sunny and not too cold. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the orchard from our house, and since apple picking came a bit early this year (because of unusual spring & summer weather) the leaves were just starting to change.

We got there just before noon and the crowd was a pretty good size...I guess a lot of people like Empire apples. First we walked around a bit to see what was going on that day. We traveled through the local store where they sell things from apple cider to apple socks. Among 'everything apple under the sun', they also offer items made from honey, pumpkins, corn, etc.

Just about this time I pulled out my camera so I could take some nice pics. I was snapping shots of everything. I was taking pics of signs, scenery, gigantic pumpkins, buildings...just everything. I didn't think anything was wrong, but I guess I must have gotten a bit carried away cuz my hubby started calling me 'Hirohito'. Yes, I'm your local japanese apple orchard tourist.

With camera in hand we checked out the cider mill, which wasn't running, but was cool to look at. From there we headed over to the snack shack. They were offering coffee, hot cocoa, cider (h/c), and apple fritters. We all got some cider and fritters....let me just say, Hirohito likey! The fritters were awesome. For those of you who have never had an apple fritter, it's like a hot mini apple pie all your own! Mmmm...wish I had some right now. I even took a pic of one, if you can imagine that.

After our snack we went to hop on a wagon ride out to the apple orchard. The trees were jam packed with huge red beautiful empire apples!! You wouldn't believe how over flowing they were. We grabbed three empty bags (1 each for the kids, 1 for hubby & I to share), and started our apple search. This place was great because they set up ladders near the trees so you can climb to the top for the best selection of apples. Awesome! Took a pic. :-)

Apple picking is easily addicting. There are so many beautiful apples that you can't stop picking! I'm not kidding. Eat an apple, pick a couple, snap some pics, eat another apple, pick a couple more, repeat. Good thing they didn't weigh us before and after our visit. We ended up buying 23+ lbs. of apples! Now that's a lot of apples.

After we were done picking, the kids got their faces painted, I took some pics, and then we did an apple taste test to find our favorite variety. I found out that I like Jona Gold, Honey crisp, and of course, Empire. My poor husband is still searching for his fave.

The day started to warm up nicely, and it was obvious that the orchard was getting way too crowded. So I snapped a couple more pics, sent my hubby to buy some Beak & Skiff apple cider and we were done for the day. I think apple picking is a wonderful way to get the family outside for a day trip. Beak & Skiff offers great apples, yummy snacks, and a variety of activities for all ages. And if their other store items are as good as their cider, then you just can't go wrong.

So until next apple season, this is Hirohito wishing you all Good Pickin'!! Domo Arigato.

Chittenango Falls

Review by Do

Earlier this month my husband and I went on a day trip to Chittenango Falls, in Chittenango NY. I have always wanted to go and we ended up alone on July 4th weekend, so my husband planned a nice drive out for us. This is a pic from the top of the Falls. We had a gorgeous day too...we really lucked out.

We cautiously walked down rock stairs as they were pretty steep. I wouldn't recommend this excursion for someone who isn't prepared for a good hike. These are pics from the bottom of the falls on a wooden bridge that crosses over the ravine. There was a family playing in the water at the bottom, but I'm not real sure if that's actually allowed or not.

We continued across the bridge and up the other side of the falls. The trail is tricky in parts, but mostly comprised of steps carved into the rock. There isn't much of a rail to speak of, but it is not too difficult to make it all the way around the falls.

This was our tour guide (my husband). He picked up a trail map as we entered the park, and he planned our hike for the day. The trails names are pretty self explanatory. Trail A, the Gorge Trail, travels down, around, and back up the other side of the falls. This is the trail you would take if you just wanted to see the Falls. Trail B, Creekside, takes you up the creek and back.

After Trail A and Trail B, we pitstopped for a drink and then our tour guide decided we would continue on to Trail C, Chips Trail, which heads on into the woods. I still am not too sure why it's called Chips Trail, it should be called Desolate Forest trail. This trail didn't seem to be too widely used, but what the heck, we gave it a try. Our quick hike on Trail C led us to Trail D, Meadows Trail, at which point I thought the locals were going to step out of their house and shoot at us for trespassing. This was a very extended trail through...of all things...a meadow, who knew?? We did not venture on Trail E, Meadow Extended Trail, because I wanted to make it home that night. Trail C-E are through the woods and meadow with no sight of the Falls, and no wildlife that I could see. At one point we seem to have been following the power lines with the hope it would lead us back to civilization. We joked we should be leaving bread crumb trails 'cuz it all started to look familiar...again. Look kids Big Ben! (see National Lampoon's European Vacation for inside joke). After about an HOUR, my experienced tour guide, who kept insisting he was a human compass, did manage to find our way back. (note to self: do not let tour guide lead the way on Trail C, D, and esp not E, ever again).

We had a great time at the Chittenango Falls. The day was beautiful, the park was not packed, the falls were gorgeous, and I love hikes. The park also includes picnic areas, charcoal grills, a small playground, volleyball nets, and would make a wonderful place to have a family outing. To view the falls, I would positively recommend Trail A and Trail B.

I think I just talked myself into a family trip back so the kids can enjoy the falls too. If I can get everyone on board, maybe we'll plan a picnic lunch after we explore the falls. I know they'll love it as much as I did.