When it is fall and the leaves begin to cover the ground in the Northeast there are some great outdoor activities for families to explore together in the cooler weather. One of these great activities is apple picking. On the surface it sounds like a cunning way to get consumers to provide the labour for picking their own food, but there is more to it than that. Apple picking is surprisingly enjoyable and relaxing.

A lot of the orchids have an area designated strictly for consumers to walk through the isles and pick. At Carter Mountain in Charlottesville they also have a store with various apple flavored food items among other souvenirs and a winery where individuals can partake in a wine tasting. Apple picking is fun for the whole family. You can go at your own pace and you have access to various fresh varieties that are not at your local grocery store.

the good

• The price to pick a nice sized bag of fresh apples is reasonable
• Great ”hidden” exercise
• Consumers can choose from many variations of apples
• Beautiful views during the fall
• Orchids typically will have various apple products to buy onsite like fresh apple donuts (A delicious option at Carter Mountain)

the bad

• Weather — Some people do not like the cooler temperatures
• Some of the picking areas require a good long walk to get to them
• Locations — Some of the orchids are located in the mountains which you have to be comfortable driving on