Nothing says "Fall" quite like an apple-picking adventure in the mountains. Strolling through the orchard, nibbling apples picked right off the trees, enjoying bumpy hayrides, and sipping on a freshly-made apple cider are pretty much the pinnacle of fall fun in my book. And spoiler alert...it never gets old. And this year we started our harvest season at the Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock, NC.
Soaking in all of the gorgeous views, we drove up the winding road,
veering left and right towards the top of Mt. McAlpine where the Sky Top
Orchard is sprawled. Definitely the orchard that lives up to its name. The 100-acre farm sits above the clouds with awe-inspiring, sweeping mountain views.
The views are always gorgeous up here, but when the fall comes around, they are simply breathtaking with all the foliage taking on new hues.
Once parked, we strode off into the orchard.
But first things first – apple cider donuts. I can never get my fill of them, savoring every bite without an ounce of remorse. Freshly-made, they taste heavenly. Full of apple flavor, those sugar-dusted pastries stole my hearts at first bite. For an amazing flavor combo, pair them with a fresh cup of apple cider, hot or cold.
Full on the donuts and apple cider, we went in search of bumpy rides.
We opted for the hayride, but you can also ride on the cutest bee train as long as you can fit in it.
After a leisurely ride around the orchard on a big pile of hay, we headed out toward the main attraction - wandering through row after row of apple trees and picking apples.
For those of us who want to try before buying, there's a tasting station, right next to the spot where you get the bags to pick your own apples. Plus, to find out which apples are in season, use this cheat sheet inside the store.
If you opt to skip the U-Pick, you can find sorted and bagged apples in the stand.
There are also Mix-N-Match tables where you can hand choose apples of each variety. At the time of our visit early in September, there were 6 varieties available. To find out what's in season, you can also visit Sky Top's website.
Animal Barn
The orchard is huge and as you explore it, don't miss the animals!
There are ducks, sheep, goats, turkeys, chickens
and even peacocks – everything kids love.
They roam around freely, making friends with the visitors.
Gem Mine
This local farm has something special that most orchards in this wild paradise don’t – the gem mine. You can sift some great treasures, panning for rubies, crystals, quartz, topazes and more.
Activities:
- Playground – Free
- Animal Barn – Free
- Apple Cannon
- Gem Mine – New Attraction
- Bee Train
- Hayrides
- Bamboo Forest – Free
- Photo Opps – Free
Good to Know:
- Admission to the orchard is free, but to enter the apple picking area you will need to purchase an apple bag.
- Apple bag costs $30 per bag and comes in one size only. It can hold an average of 10-12 lbs. of apples.
- To avoid crowds, I highly recommend visiting on weekday afternoons. It gets extremely busy on weekends, especially in October, with slow and long lines.
- I cannot stress this enough, but have cash ready before you arrive. The lines for apple bags and donuts only accept cash. If you want to use a credit card, you need to pay at the registers inside the store to buy a voucher first and then go back in lines for apple bags and donuts.
- When picking apples, never shake the branch. Instead, lift the apple up and gently twist it. When they are ripe they come right off.
- You can check the picking schedule here. Always call ahead or check out the farm's Fb page before your visit, as weather and crowds may impact open hours and fruit availability.
Celebrate the season with a visit to this mountaintop farm.
Sky Top Orchard
Where: 1193 Pinnacle Mtn Rd., Zirconia, NC 28731
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