Now that it is officially the fall season, there is no better way to enjoy a beautiful weekend afternoon than going apple picking at one of the many orchards around the Capital District. Right now is the heart of the apple season, and many places are offering specials on their cider, donuts, and other produce. Here is some further information on the popular orchards around the area, including directions and websites.
Riverview Orchards:
This establishment is a rarity in the area, as it is open all year. The apple orchards themselves are open while the fruit is in season, but the country store, where they sell their products, is open year-round. They have many different types of apples, including favorites like red delicious, golden delicious, and McIntosh. They also have pears, plums, pumpkins, and other vegetables available.
Upon arrival, each person is given a bag to put apples in, a map of the orchards, and a guide to the apple varieties. The orchard can be contacted directly for details on what types of apples are still available and what the price per bag, or pound, is. On weekends during the fall, they offer free hayrides through the fields. Guests can get dropped off throughout the orchard near the apples they would like to pick, and the ride returns later to pick them up. This service runs from 10 am-5 pm. They also provide night-owl hayrides where visitors can roast hot dogs and marshmallows, eat freshly baked donuts, and drink apple cider. The orchard asks that you call or e-mail them for reservations.
Aside from the primary orchards, Riverview has a full bakery where they not only offer apple cider donuts, but also have breads, cookies, strudels, and pies—which they claim are their best sellers. They currently bake 28 types of pies, though some are only available seasonally. They will also bake sugar-free pies, but recommend calling in orders to ensure they have the dessert available. The orchard also has a "donut robot" that shows how the apple cider donuts are made, viewable from the eating area.
To get there, take I-87 N to exit 8 and turn left. Stay on this road (Vischer Ferry Road) until the road forks at the firehouse. Take the right fork, which becomes Riverview Road, and the orchard is about three miles down on the right across from a gray barn.
Phone: (518) 371-2174
Website: http://rivervieworchards.com/
Hours: 9 am-6 pm, 7 days a week.
Bellinger's Orchard:
Like many of the orchards in the area, Bellinger's is a family-owned and operated farm. Having been in the Bellinger family since 1804, the farm has been developed into not only apple orchards, but also corn and hay mazes. The pick-your-own method has been used there since 1963, and the family is continuously working on bringing new varietes of apples to the area.
Bellinger's is one of the orchards around the area that offers a larger range of apple varieties. On their website, there is a listing of the 30 types they have, as well as expected ripening dates. Though the dates have passed for most of them, the peak season for Mutsu and granny smith apples is this week and the next. Red delicious apples should have ripened last week.
While visitors have downtime from picking apples, Bellinger's provides guided tours through the orchards during the weekdays. The tours include a discussion on how to properly pick apples and a hayride through the rows of trees and around the picnic area. They also offer the hayrides on the weekends, provided the weather allows for them, and they explore the orchards, pumpkin patch, and picnic area more thoroughly. They run throughout the day both Saturday and Sunday at various times, and Bellinger's does accept group reservations over the phone.
Aside from the hayrides and apple picking, Bellinger's has two unique mazes—one is a corn maze and the other a hay maze. The corn maze is fun for all ages and stretches over five acres in the shape of a fish (shown below). Unfortunately, the wet weather this spring prevented use of tractors to plant the maze, but it will open again next spring.The hay maze is blocks of hay set up for children to wander through, but they must be accompanied by an adult.
To get there, take exit 28 off the NYS Thruway and go left onto Riverside Drive. Take a left onto 30A up the hill and then a right onto VanEpps Road. After 2.5 miles, bear right onto Argersinger Road, and the orchard is exactly one mile down.
Phone: (518) 922-6932
Website: http://bellingersorchard.com/
Hours: Please call for more information.
Bowman Orchards:
Located in the same town as Riverview Orchards, Bowman's offers 46 varieties of apples on 98 acres of land. Aside from the many apple choices, they also have strawberries, raspberries, peaches, blackberries, and pumpkins when they are in season. All of their products come pre-packed or are available for self-picking.
In the orchards themselves, there are varieties ranging from Granny Smith to Fuji to Redcort. If you don’t feel like picking your own apples, they have pre-packed sets or gift sets with apples and other products from their business, such as honey and maple syrup. If it is past the ripe season for a type of apple, they are often just sold in the store.
Like the other orchards, Bowman's offers tours around their facilities. There is a cost of $5 per person for the Macintosh tour, $7 per person for the Gala tour, and $9 per person for the Honeycrisp tour. The first of the three includes a tour through the packing house and storage facility. Everyone will be taken to feed and pet the animals on the farm, as well. The group will then be given a three pound bag to fill with apples. Afterward everyone is free to use the play area, hay maze, and corn maze. The Gala tour includes everything above as well as cider donuts and apple cider. The Honeycrisp tour also includes a hayride through the orchard that is either on a tractor or horse-drawn buggy, depending on the day. The tours are only offered on weekdays, and groups can be no smaller than 10.
To get to Bowman Orchards, take I-87 N to exit 8A/Grooms Road. Take a left onto Grooms Road and after about four miles, take a left onto Sugarhill Road. The orchard is approximately one mile down the road.
Phone: (518) 371-2042
Website: http://bowmanorchards.com/
Hours: 10 am-5 pm, 7 days a week.
