A weekend ago, Ben and I decided to make the most of this time of year and fill our whole day with all things fall. I had been wanting to go to an apple orchard all season, but we just couldn't seem to make it happen in any of our weekend adventures.
I had been dreaming a little at work and hoping that there would still be an orchard open in Virginia this late in the season when I stumbled across Gross Orchard Apple Harvest Festival. I convinced Ben Saturday morning that this would be the most productive way to spend our day, and we packed up our car and headed toward the Blue Ridge mountains and the festival.
The drive was absolutely beautiful with all of the leaves changing color and the festival was fantastic. Between the food (fresh fried apple pies, homestead creamery ice cream, hot apple cider, and pumpkin whoopee pies), live bluegrass music, local vendors, and the perfect fall weather, the day couldn't have been any more perfect.
After the festival, we were so close to the mountains that we just had to hike. Ben couldn't possibly be so close to the mountains without visiting and exploring. We decided to hike Flat Top since I had never done it before, and let me tell you, there was nothing flat about it! After huffing and puffing (at least on my part), we reached the top and the views were stunning. Hiking in the fall is beautiful.
After we returned to the bottom of the mountain Ben and I headed home to take a quick nap before our friend's birthday party.
Overall a very successful day filled with all things fall. The only thing left to do is carve pumpkins and roast the seeds!
