So picking apples is a different experience in North Carolina than in Michigan, because in NC, if you’re serious about getting the best apples, you probably need to go in August. For Rachel and I, who are used to visiting orchards in sweatshirt weather, packing sunblock and water bottles for the orchard trip is an adjustment.
That said, Skytop is our favorite orchard option here, well worth the 90-minute drive into the mountains. And because we’re not apple snobs, we don’t mind going in mid-September, even if the pickings are slimmer.
Skytop offers the usual stuff … donuts, cider, hot chocolate, pumpkins, jams, jellies, baked goods and every kind of apple you can imagine. It also offers fantastic scenery, bringing out Rachel’s inner photographer.
The Sutherlands 