After a long, warm summer, the night air has turned crisp and the leaves are starting to show signs or yellow, orange and red, autumn has arrived in New England. And in Connecticut, with over 60 varieties of apples grown, autumn means apple picking. Let's face it, there really is nothing better than a juicy, freshly picked apple.
Fairfield County offers two perennial favorites for apple picking: Blue Jay Orchards in Bethel and Silverman's Farm in Easton. Besides apple picking, these farms offer pumpkin patches, hay rides and a farm market where one can get just-pressed apple cider, fresh baked pies, jams, jellies, and of course, cider doughnuts. Silverman's Farm also has an animal farm where you can see, pet and feed all sorts of unusual animals, including buffalo, llamas, sheep, goats, fallow deer, emus, long-horn cattle, and exotic birds. You can pack a lunch and spend an entire day with your family at these orchards.