A trip to Harvest Moon Orchards

Mike & I have been trying to explore Westchester during our free time on the weekends in hopes of discovering the town of our future home.  There are just so many gorgeous places in Westchester county, and sifting through the possibilities is an extremely daunting task - but we'll talk more about that later.  Last weekend, we decided to visit Westchester by way of a pumpkin patch!  Sure, we can get pumpkins across the street at the local bodega - and of course I'm obsessed with our Union Square Farmers Market, especially in the fall.  But it's always more festive to pick out your pumpkin from a real farm - especially when dogs are welcome at this farm!

The three of us loaded up in the Jeep to head out to Westchester on a quest to find Harvest Moon Orchards.  It was a chilly autumn New York day, and rain was threatening a little bit, but the three of us were in for a true Halloween excursion.  When we arrived, the crowds all had the same idea as the Mobleys, but it was the first pumpkin patch we had been too since moving to New York!  And we found everything you could ever want from a farm - apple orchards, acres of pumpkins, a corn maze, hay rides, apple cider, and aisles and aisles of mums & Halloween decorations.  The grounds were extremely dog friendly - and of course Winston was pretty popular with all the sweet little children.

We were back in the Jeep returning to the city in no time, but it's amazing to just get out of the city and explore the beautiful state of New York.  It's easy to think that the best parts of New York are all found right here in Manhattan, and you can get anything you have everything at your fingertips living on this little island.  But some of the best parts of the city are still to be discovered if you can take some time to explore.  There is no where like the East Coast during autumn, and words cannot describe the beauty you can stumble upon when the leaves change just a short drive north of the city.  I never appreciated autumn growing up in California, because it just doesn't happen there - so we're both eager to soak up every gorgeous view and every fantastic tradition that we can in October & November.  It's worth making a trip out here just for the trees!

Winston was beat from chasing an endless supply of "balls" (aka apples everywhere!) when we got home from the Mobley farm adventure, and we had arm fulls of perfect pumpkins.  I can't wait to continue the tradition of visiting an authentic pumpkin patch next year and in the years to come.  It's just a little embarrassing when everyone is taking pictures of their little babies among piles of pumpkins - and I'm whistling at Winston to pose for some snaps.  But when you don't have kids, you take pictures of your prized pup at the farm!  If you haven't already visited a real farm for your pumpkins, I strongly urge you to make the trip and enjoy the wonder that is autumn in New York State.