Visitors enjoy a variety of activities and return home with fresh ingredients for pies and more!
ORANGE COUNTY, N.Y. (September 20, 2016) – Hudson Valley apples are ripe for the picking, and apple growers are opening their orchards to crowds looking to pick their own this fall. Located just 50 miles from Manhattan, a day of apple picking in Orange County offers the ideal family getaway. There are more than 25 varieties of apples grown on over 1,000 acres, and the activities offered are just as vast.
“Crisp air, crisp apples, and beautiful autumn leaves as the background,” said Orange County Tourism Director Susan Hawvermale. “Spend a fun day in the orchards and take home a bag of fall’s favorite snack food.”
One of the largest festivals in Orange County, Warwick Applefest, draws tens of thousands of visitors to the heart of Orange County’s apple country each year. Warwick Applefest will be held on Sunday, October 2nd this year. The festival features craft vendors, children’s rides, live entertainment, and fittingly, an apple pie contest.
Popular pick-your-own orchards include:
Pennings Orchard: 169 State Route 94 South, Warwick. Pick your own apples and pumpkins daily, September through October. Activities include farm market, beer garden, pumpkin fields, hayrides, farm animals, kiddie maze and more. PenningsOrchard.com
Soons Orchard: 23 Soons Circle (just off Route 17M) New Hampton. 50+ varieties of home grown apples, peaches, nectarines, apple cider and vegetables. Enjoy homemade pies, cookies, and donuts. Fall weekends include hayrides. SoonsOrchards.com
Apple Ridge Orchards: 101 Jessup Road, Warwick. Many varieties to pick while enjoying breathtaking scenery. Tractor-pulled hay wagon rides, pet and feed friendly farm animals, corn maze, and famous observation hives on site. AppleRidgeOrchards.com
Apple Dave’s: 82 Four Corners Road, Warwick. Free wagon rides and puppet show. Winery, picnic area, farm animals, herb and rose gardens. Relax by the ponds, or sample the latest creations of the Distillery and Applewood Winery. AppleDavesOrchards.com
Overlook Farm Market: 5417 Route 9W, Newburgh. Fall weekends feature hay maze, petting zoo and fishing at the pond. Bakery and deli on site. 4 miles north of I-84. Promises a “no-razz-a-ma-tazz” experience to enjoy nature without the crowds. OverlookFarmMarket.com
Masker Orchards: 45 Ball Road, Warwick. Drive right to the tree and bring your picnic gear for an idyllic day in the country. Live music, pony rides, country store. For the kids, there are barnyard baby animals, pony rides, and wagon rides. Maskers.com
Share your apple picking experience on Instagram using the hashtag #VisitOrangeCountyNY. Be sure to visit Orange County Tourism’s Facebook page: Orange County Tourism NY. It’s a fabulous guide to up-to-the-minute postings of area events and activities, great times, and memorable experiences available to visitors.
Also visit Orange County Tourism’s new website: www.orangetourism.org.
About Orange County Tourism
Orange County Tourism, based in Goshen, N.Y., is the county’s tourism headquarters and a participant in the I LOVE NY program. A comprehensive listing of area attractions, lodging, and events can be found at www.OrangeTourism.org. For a free copy of the Orange County Travel Guide, e-mail tourism@orangecountygov.com or call 845-615-3860.
