City living can get awfully old sometimes, sometimes you just need to walk under a sky that isn’t choked in car exhaust and feel the sun on your face.  Find a place where you can actually see the stars at night, you can get a taste of simple living, and most importantly you can pick some delicious apples. Fall is in full swing, so whether you’re looking for a nice date location, a short vacation, or a mansion in the country side here are a few places you can look.

Wickham Farms: In Rochester these farms offer a great seasonal experience, complete with a hayride and thousands of different trees to pick from. Fresh cider, hot doughnuts, and if that isn’t enough to convince you they fire apples from cannons and have a miniature golf course.  They even have an apple hotline (585-365-9313) you can call for updates on what section of the Wickham orchard is open. The Wickham Farms is open on weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and they price apples by the 10-13 pound bag.

The Masker Orchards: If you are looking for the ultimate apple picking experience, The Masker Orchards in Warwick is the family friendly choice for you. Being in business for over 100 years The Masker Orchards even claim to have created the pick your own apples experience. So drive up to the tree of your choice in over 200 acres of apples, where you are almost guaranteed to have a slice of the orchard to yourself to throw a pick nick pick any kind of apple you can think of and maybe a few you haven’t heard of before, and if there’s a specific variety of apple you’re looking for just call the apple hotline (845) 986-1058. It’s the perfect place to escape your 9-5, priced at about $30 for a bag of apples and $4 for a jug of apple cider.

Harbes Orchard: On the far side of Long Island is the Harbes Orchard, open from 9am-6pm every weekend in September and October for apple picking. It also offers wines made by the Harbes Vineyards available by the glass, or if you like it by the bottle, all kinds of apple based treats like apple cider doughnuts. There is also a corn maze that has a nightlife as a spooky maze, which is sure to be fun after a glass of wine, or two if you’re jumpy. Sadly the Harbes Orchard has no apple hotline in case of apple related emergencies, but it does have an extensive schedule of when each type of apple will be ripe and ready for picking. Currently in late September they have options such as the Golden Delicious, Crown Empire, and The Snapdragon.

In the Hudson valley you can find beautiful farm houses, and state houses, and if you fall in love with the Long Island lifestyle there are plenty of amazing homes to settle down in. Even a few mansions on the beaches, like on 68 Quogue Riverhead Rd Quogue North, New York.

Estate living tucked away in the Village of Quogue on 1.5 private acres! This turn-key 5000sf home features amenities perfect for entertaining and relaxing throughout the year. On the first floor, there is a spacious EIK with dining area and sitting area overlooking the pool, living room w/ fire place, a family room, 2 guest bedrooms, 1 bath, laundry and the luxurious master suite!

The second floor offers 3br, 2ba & in a separate guest wing, there are two additional ensuite bedrooms and a sitting area. You will never want to leave the back yard with the heated gunite pool, har-tru tennis, cabana w/ bath, private gym, all surrounded by exquisitely landscaped grounds.

And if you’re up for the work there are even opportunities to start your own little apple farm.

By Connor Sherman