A Family Day-cation to Ellijay | Apple Picking
Labor Day weekend is the start of U-picking season for apples in Ellijay. We had gone once before and wanted to do something different and fun while grandma was in town. Also, something we could do in a day. It’s about 1.25-1.5 hours north of the Atlanta suburbs.
We checked the local radar (rain wasn’t supposed to arrive until 2pm), and even called the apple orchard we were going to visit. No rain, but it was coming. We chanced it.
It rained the entire way there. We held out hope that it might stop while we were there. It didn’t. It only rained harder, but we did it.
The good thing about the rain? It wasn’t crowded at all. We didn’t have to wait for anything, except our clothes and shoes to dry out.
Once you arrive at your orchard of choice, I’d recommend hitting the bathroom up first. There isn’t one out in the orchard. And, taking a cute picture of your kiddos on the porch? Also a plus.
The orchards typically have a tractor ride to take you into the orchard where the season’s apples are to be picked. If it’s raining, ponchos and raincoats are a good idea.
And a positive attitude, too. (Also, can we take a minute here to say, men wearing their babies? Oh so handsome!)
Once you arrive at the stop, you pay for the bag or bags of the size you wish, get directions for where the apples are to be picked and which varieties and start picking. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the rain, too.
Before it really started, we all looked around and decided on the apples we would like best and let the girls do the picking. Even E had fun getting one (and I’m certain she ate at least 3/4 of it).
If you go on a day when it’s not raining, you will likely spend a lot more time out in the orchard exploring the apple choices, and getting cute shots of your kids picking the apples from the trees. Despite the rain, our girls had a blast. And, when you return to the barn/store, you can also purchase apple cider, apple cider slushes as well as caramel apples, dried apples and more. We were too soaked to go back and grab these this time, so it just means we’ll have to make another trip out there.
Picking the apples is fun, but I’m looking forward to getting cider and caramel apples. The treats at the end are my favorite part!! (and I see a Disney parks umbrella… 😉 )
Wow! Y’all are troopers! Well done!
How fun!! You got some great pictures – rain and all! I think we are going to go north a bit and pick some apples later this month.
I need to look this up and go. I love apples and its the one fruit I can get my picky son to eat. Loving the pics
I’m so glad this is back! We will make a point to go soon.
You guys should have came up to Blue Ridge with us. It was sunny!
I’m going to try to talk my husband into apple picking this year. I’ve always wanted to do that.
Picking in the rain was lots of fun. A little rain never hurt anyone. Good idea to have cloth diapers in the car to sit on when your bum is totally soaked. Thanks for the “in training for diapers” comment Mr. Serious.
forgot to add they were some of the best apples I have ever tasted.
What a neat experience!! We’ve done strawberries but that’s it.
We love apple picking. Hoping to go soon.
how fun.. at Awana, the lesson was about apple picking… N said she had never been… and that she wanted to go to the beach 🙂
now, she can say she has gone… (I want to take Broxton.. Ellijay isn’t that far, maybe we should go check it out.)
It’s a bummer you caught a wet day there, but still seems like you guys had fun!
rainy day apple picking pretty much sounds like the best thing ever!!
love love love!!
we’ve never been apple picking. every year I swear we’re going to and we just don’t get to it. looks like fun (minus the rain)
That sounds like a lot of fun! I love doing stuff in the rain too, as long as it isn’t a cold rain.
We went apple picking last year and had a blast. It is just about time to go again this year. I need to look into that.
I need to do this with my kiddo. He would love this and I could make pie later 🙂
good job!! I wish I had a chance to go apple picking. What an experience!
We have been talking about going to the U-pick farms in Ellijay for years, but we never seem to make it. Maybe we will get up there this year!
Glad you had fun even with the rain. What kinds of apples did you pick? Were they good?
I want to go apple picking now! That looks like a fun day.
I see you visited R&A last weekend in the rain. 🙂 We were going to, but opted for this weekend instead. Thankfully, no rain!
I like apple picking because it is so much quicker than picking strawberries or raspberries! We have apple trees in our yard, and I guess we need to pick this month.
What fantastic fun! 🙂
What a cute family day activity!
That looks like such a fun and memorable family experience!
Looks like a fun time!
That looks like so much fun! I need to see if they have something like that here.
Well at least you all still had a great time even with the rain 🙂 The girls will probably talk about this for years “remember the time we went apple picking and it rained the whole time….” 😉
I think this is going to be our family event during my husband’s fall break. I’ve been wanting to go apple picking since I was pregnant.
This sounds like so much fun for the family and I like that the rain had it’s advantages for you. I’m hoping to take my children to an orchard this fall.
We go apple picking every year and it is always so much fun!