Ripe for the Picking // Fall Bucket List

Fall. It's FINALLY here! While it doesn't exactly *feel* like fall in these parts I wasn't about to let that deter us from partaking in an activity that essentially kick starts the season. It's also an activity I had never done in my entire life, until now. (The four apple trees that we used to have in our backyard do *not* count as apple picking - that was more like a chore than fun.)

We visited an apple orchard to pick apples!

Admittedly, I was worried how up to the occasion Scott would be, as the trip to the orchard would be a two hour trek. One way. To my pleasant surprise Scott was as enthusiastic for the event as I was.

The area we traveled to had at least a half a dozen apple farms all within a five mile loop.

There was no rhyme or reason for the particular farm we chose (except maybe the parking, as it was easy to find, and free). The place seemed to have a little something for everyone.

We only had enough time (and energy) to get in a few activities, and that was ok, as we had the. best. time.

Marcus had his own bag to collect apples, and he promptly went to work filling it. We didn't get 10 yards inside the orchard when Marcus picked up every apple he saw on the ground.

When Marcus wasn't looking we would empty his bag and hand it back to him. He would then immediately refill it. We must have done that no less than a dozen times.

Did I mention how gorgeous the area was? Holy buckets, it was like something right out of a magazine.

Nestled in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains I couldn't decide what I wanted to photograph most, the mountains, or the orchard itself.

 Instead of picking one or the other I was able capture both.

If I had to guess, the highlight for Scott and Marcus was when we pressed our own cider.

1. Entrance to the cider pressing area.
2. Marcus took initiative to fill up our bucket with the needed apples to make the cider.
3. Marcus and I gave our apples a quick washing.
4. A few turns of the apple grater for Marcus.
5. Marcus helped Scott grate all 80-100 apples. Scott may or may not have made a competition out of this between himself and the people who were grating apples next to us - unbeknown to them.
6. Just checking out all the juice being made.
7. After the apples were all grated, and had fallen into a mesh bag, a large vice like thingy (the technical term, obviously) was used to press as much cider out as possible.
8. All that glorious cider spilling into our bucket.

YUM!

Our cider!

Naturally there were a few mandatory stops for photo ops.

After two solid hours of picking delicious apples, making our own cider, and just walking around the huge grounds and soaking up our scenery and time together, it was decided we needed to snag a quick lunch (and a few more photos) before calling it a day and heading back to the city.

 

Apple picking was everything I had hoped it would be, and more. Clearly we have created a yearly fall family tradition.

Have you started checking items off your Fall Bucket List? If so, be sure to link up (linky at the bottom) with Stephanie, Elizabeth, and me in our Fall Family Bucket List, and share your fall fun!

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