Harvesting Memories: A Magical Day of Apple Picking With the Family

As I get older, I find I really enjoy a seasonal moment. And I won’t lie… I love it even more when this seasonal moment is an Instagrammable one too. For the past few years, I’ve sought out places and activities that are especially seasonal — light displays and Christmas in the Winter, Easter egg hunts in the Spring, rooftop movies and beach days in the Summer, and pumpkin patches and apple picking in the Autumn.

Last year, my mom, brother, daughter, and I tried our hand at apple picking. And we had a great time! We enjoyed the many photo opportunities, hunt for apples, stores filled with apple-made products, pony rides, and food trucks. So this year, we thought we’d do it again. We picked a Saturday when we had no other commitments (because it makes for a tiring day) and journeyed east to Oak Glen, California.

Farm Spotlight

Both years we’ve gone apple picking, we’ve done it at Los Rios Rancho in Oak Glen, California. I like this farm because it is the largest and oldest apple farm in Southern California. As such, it has apple picking — as a science and as a trendy activity — mastered. It offers all sorts of practical apple-picking tips, supplies, and byproducts, as well as extras. Because, after all, apple picking doesn’t actually take that long. So it’s nice to have other things to do after making the long drive to the farm and doing the hard work to harvest the apples. They’re also home to a delicious restaurant and a local singer.

Then, as a planner, I love that they keep their website and social media so regularly updated. You can check at any time and see if there are actually apples to pick, if the restaurant is open, what the weather is like, and if there are any special activities happening. I 10/10 recommend.

Apple-Picking Tips

Having gone apple-picking twice, I’ve learned a thing or two about what makes the experience more enjoyable.

• Wear flat, closed-toe shoes. I’ve worn closed-toe shoes both times. But the amount of women I see wearing sandals or high-heeled boots warrants mentioning. Apple picking takes place on a farm. And not the farms on Hallmark movies where there are lush fields of grass and daisies. No, no. It takes place on a farm, with dirt, and bugs, and uneven terrain. Wearing the wrong footwear could easily result in a sprained ankle or stubbed toe. Wear a nice sneaker or hiking boot. Fashionable, but practical.

• Hydrate — before and after. With global warming and all, Autumn is hot. So apple-picking occurs when it’s hot. And because it takes place on a farm, it’s just pure exposure to the sun and its heat. It’s also doing manual labor in the heat. So drink plenty of water before, during, and after. And while you’re at it, apply sunscreen :).

• Have a plan for the apples. Think about if you want the apples for a pie, strudel, cider, or snack. We don’t want to be wasteful (like I was the first time). So think about the intended use of the apples and then pick only what’s needed. That will save some for others coming apple picking, and save them from rotting in a bin somewhere.

If you’ve been apple-picking before, let me know if I’m missing anything by leaving a comment below!

Making Apple Muffins

I’m not much of a sweet eater. So I knew I wasn’t going to make a pie, tart, or strudel. But I really enjoy breakfast, and thought an apple muffin would do the trick! I adopted the whole wheat apple muffin recipe from Andi Anne. I used brown sugar instead of honey and lactaid instead of milk. I also added white chocolate chips (because I add them to everything I bake lol!). I also peeled the apples, instead of leaving the skin on. And I loved them! I think they need a little something sweet, like vanilla. But its not necessary because the apples bring so much sweetness that adding something else sweet really could be overkill. They’re light, and airy, and make your kitchen smell like apple cider! I 8/10 recommend.

With just a few days left in Autumn and Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I’m so glad I was able to make it to apple-picking before all of the apples were gone. And I still have a few apples left. Let me know what you and your family do with your apples!