8. THE DRIVE to the orchard is beautiful. I may have a little Labrador in my blood, I do love car rides. I appreciate the historic homes in Massachusetts, and admiring the newer ones. We feel like you’re leaving it all behind as we drive into the woods to the orchard.
7. BUY YOUR BAG. Once you arrive, you’ll be amazed at how big the orchard is. There are a few parking lots but we like parking near the pond. That’s where you’ll purchase your apple bag(s). I have fun thinking about how many pies I’ll bake for family and friends. Bring a wagon because those bags get very heavy.
6. WANDERING through the apple orchard with Riley, Tegan and Harry is relaxing. The trees are bursting with pinks, greens and reds; it’s like Monet painting as a backdrop as we talk and load our bags.
5. The HAYRIDE is the most popular, bumpy and a terrific way to view the orchards. Plus it will take you through the woods to the shop. The Hayride runs weekends from Labor Day weekend thru the end of October. Open 10-5. It’s also open on the weekeday from Sept. 18 to October 20, 12-4.
4. The APPLE SHOP is charming and loaded with homemade goodies: pears, plums, caramel and nut apples, peaches, apple cider, jam, jelly and maple syrup and more.
3. The CIDER DONUTS are our favorite. If you stand there and wait, they’ll bring out a hot batch, served in brown paper bags. I can taste the sugar and that dough right now. Delicious.
2. See the ANIMALS. Riley loves feeding the goats with the food in a basic pulley-lever system where you wind a wheel and it drops a bucket full of food for one happy goat. The pigs are cute too. Bring hand sanitizer. We prefer to visit at the end after we pick our apples. (There are restrooms at the orchard.)
1. It’s TRADITION. We’ve been going there for three years and we love it. I especially love the time together, working as a team to reach for the best apple, laughing and seeing other families having fun.
The orchard opens in July thorugh December.
144 Sudbury Rd, Stowe
978-562-5666
www.honeypothillorchard.com