One of the best things about the fall in North Carolina is being able to go to the apple orchard. Living where we live in Western North Carolina is ideal for easy access to a multitude of orchards and Chris and I ventured to one in Flat Rock last week.
Sky Top Orchard is located on Pinnacle Mountain Road but the GPS won’t get you there if you use that address. Best way to get there is to put 3403 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, North Carolina into your GPS and then follow the Sky Top Orchard signs. Funny how sometimes GPS just can’t do the job, right?
We tried to go during the week when we hoped it would not be crowded. We arrived early in the morning soon after they opened, Unfortunately there were masses of kids and parents there as part of several school groups but we managed to avoid them for the most part.
It seems like every orchard these days has to have a variety of activities to keep families coming back. This one was no different. There was a an area that had some kid friendly structures, playground and photo cut outs. There are also hay-less hay rides on wagons to help those with allergies, a pond, an apple cannon that shoots across a pond, as well as an animal area.
Chris and I specifically wanted apple cider donuts and these babies were in demand. They were bought up as soon as they came out of the fryer so the ones we ate were only minutes old. Fresh, fresh, fresh. Add a cup of frosty apple slushy and it is an apple lover’s dream.
We decided to just get apples that were already picked as the ones that were ready to be picked in the orchard were not the varieties we wanted. I wanted some to make applesauce so we opted to just pick apples from the bins that were inside the huge store area.
Of course they have all kinds of great apple products in the store you can buy as well. It is a great place to find some great products like jams , jellies, salsas and more. Sky Top has no admission fee and no parking fee which is a nice thing especially for families who want a fun activity.
The orchard is open daily 9 am to 6 pm (or 5 pm when Daylight Savings Time ends) and is open through early December. Check out their website for complete information and tips as to when to visit and more guidelines about visiting.
Have you been to an apple orchard yet this year? I would love to hear all about it in the comments. Remember that each comment this month means a 50 cent donation to our Comments for a Cause – In the Pink. Click on the link to read more.
