Escaping to Apple Hill

I finally got a day off work today to sneak up to Apple Hill for a little festive fall scenery. It ended up being just my mom and I on this trip, but the weather was perfect, in the 60s and sunny.

Apple Hill can be a bit dizzying to visit because there are tons of little orchards, tree farms, restaurants, wineries, breweries, and other attractions nestled in a lush, hilly area only accessible by narrow, winding roads. And it’s almost impossible to see all the locations in one day. So we try to visit our favorites and try some new locations each year.

We started with a little bakery that wasn’t offering many vegan options, but I was tempted to snack on the grapes hanging from their gorgeous trellis.

We moved on instead to another ranch to check out crafts and animals.

The goats were a cute attraction for kids to feed, but they looked a little restless.

And hungry since there weren’t many kids on a weekday.

Plenty of old-time farm equipment on display.

And tons of baked goods at every stop – apple strudels, apple turnovers, apple donuts, pumpkin bakes, lots of pies, etc. One could gain a lot of weight sampling all the goods. Lucky for me that apple baked goods have never been a huge temptation for me.

Apple beer on the other hand…

Instead we moved on to browse crafts and eats at High Hill Ranch after a so-so veggie burger lunch in the cafe.

And got a head start on picking out a Christmas Tree this year from my favorite tree farm.

They’re $80 a pop, but so gorgeous and fills the house with a heavenly smell for the holidays.

The final stop was Boeger Winery for a little tasting and maybe buying. So tempting when all their wines are vegan friendly.

I tasted the Muscat and most of the reds.

We ended up with a case of zinfandel to share.

And adored these pumpkins decorating the tasting room that were dusted with glitter, very fairytale and fun.

Before making the drive home, we had to check out the gardens.

Where I was again tempted to snack on fresh grapes and figs.

Besides wine and a full memory card, the only other goodies I brought home was a jar of pumpkin butter and lots of unique apples, some larger than pie pumpkins! After all the sampling, Mutsu apples were my favorite variety of apples with a nice balance of tart and sweet for a strong flavor. Since I rarely see that variety in grocery stores, I brought home plenty.

After a long day, I just had a simple dinner of a loaded salad with sauteed tofu chunks and nutritional yeast.

Leaving plenty of time to play with two anxious chihuahuas after having a lonely day at home.

What a wonderful day, do I really have to go back to work tomorrow? Sigh, I guess. But fall is officially here for me now. :-)