Apple Picking in Virginia
I saw a reel on Instagram recently about parents having the responsibility of creating their children’s childhood memories and wow, the pressure.
But also, challenge accepted.
So when the leaves started turning beautifully crimson, deeply orange, and warm yellow, and the air started to feel crisp, we packed up our cars for a day trip out to the country for our annual apple picking weekend.
Actually just kidding. We live in south eastern Virginia where it was most definitely still in the mid 80’s, the sun was strikingly hot, and the leaves were still very much green as can be. But off we went to the Shenendoah Valley region anyway because word on the street was that the fuji apples were ripe for the picking.
And now enter in: traditions.
I can’t say annual traditions were really my thing growing up. As a (very proud) New Yorker, I never once left the city to go apple picking when I was growing up. I’m not sure that’s exactly something to be proud of, but here we are. I honestly think the first time I went apple picking was when I was in my late 20’s. So the idea of having an annual family apple picking weekend now as my son is 5 years old appeals to me on so many levels, even if getting a bag of apples from the store is way easier, and cheaper. But I know, I know, that’s not the point.
Our first stop during apple picking weekend is always for breakfast, and even though it’s not necessarily a tradition to go to the same restaurant every year, breakfast is a must. One time we packed 15 of us into the Virginia Diner, which was featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. It’s one of those Americana diners with southern staples like biscuits and gravy, and of course, the all famous Virginia peanuts.
One part of the weekend my allergies and I could definitely skip is a stop at a peanut shop, but everyone in the family stocks up on cans and cans of peanuts. After all, Virginia is known for its peanuts, and we even drove by a farm in Sussex County where the first commercial production of peanuts started in the United States. They say it’s delicious, I’ll just take their word for it.
A little over an hour later, we always stop at the Spring Hallow Farm Market. It’s an Amish run store with tons of freshly picked produce and snacks on the inside, and tons of pumpkins and also handcrafted outdoor furniture for sale on the outside.
A stop at this market always includes some homemade ice cream and sandwiches to go, which we take to have a picnic at our next stop, the piece de resistance, the apple orchard.
There’s tons of popular apple orchards and farms to choose from in western Virginia, but the one we’ve been going to most recently is Dickie Brothers Orchard. It’s a lot less crowded than some of the other more popular ones like Carter Mountain (although their apple donuts and apple cider can make battling the crowds worth it). This year, we made it the orchard on opening weekend and picked a bunch of fresh fuji apples that proved to be as sweet as we hoped for. Although it was in the 80’s and felt more like more like beach weather than the crisp fall air we were hoping for, we found a few picnic tables in the shade and enjoyed our sandwiches out in the country.
And that’s when it really hit me, traditions like annual apple picking and stopping at the same places provides a sense of nostalgia, while also creating new memories at the same time. It’s a fun experience to look back at the different years we’ve spent at the same places and see how much we’ve grown, while also looking forward to the next time we visit. Even though I’m the type to always be on the hunt for a new place to try or the next destination to visit, this annual day trip is a reminder that there’s a reason why people say it’s not just about the destination, but also about the journey there.
