Essential New York: Fall in the Finger Lakes

Sigh… The fall leaves are almost all gone for the season. There are some trees that got the memo a little late and are still wearing their yellows and oranges, but the brightest and most brilliant part of the fall leaf season is over. Winter is on it’s way.

But before the leaves fell, there was a trip to the Finger Lakes to enjoy family, fall, food, and some good old autumn apple picking. For our morning of outdoor doggie-friendly fall fun, we invaded Little Tree Orchards in Newfield, NY. This small and comfortable apple farm is only a short drive from Ithaca, NY – my non-NYC east coast home. (with family living there and plenty of college memories to boot, it will always be close to my heart)

Ok, secret. I’d never been apple picking before this trip. Yes, I have now lived on the east coast of the US for 14 years. Yes, it is *extremely* popular. And yes, it’s a signature northeast fall activity. Somehow though it just never happened. Kinda like how it took me 9 years of living in NYC to actually go hike the Appalachian Trail in the fall leaves. But the fact that I had never been apple picking in my 14 years in New York State was an extra reason to actually do it finally.

And I can’t believe what I was missing. Apples, apple cider, apple cider donuts? I’m an idiot.

This article is part of a TravelShus series about travel around New York State. Read more HERE.