Ahh, smell that crispness in the air? No, it’s not the Taylor Street steam plant, it is the smell of fall. Yesterday made it official: summer is behind us, and while we’ll miss the beach, take some time to enjoy the new season while you can still walk to class without polar bear skins.

There is no better way to capture the hidden greatness of autumn then with good, old-fashioned apple picking. It’s like any other traditional fall harvest, just more fun. Apple picking combines the world’s best two things: tree climbing and eating. You’d never think the two would go hand and hand, but who else can combine the two? Monkeys in the zoo can, and they always made it look good, so why not?

For those who fear their fall festivities may be in jeopardy due to Syracuse’s urban landscape, fret not. There are two apple orchards located within Syracuse, providing plenty of chances to snatch that forbidden fruit. Navarino Orchard has picturesque rolling valleys and more apple varities then you’d ever want to know (Northern Spy sounds pretty good, albeit mysterious). Honey Hill Orchard, located nearby in East Syracuse should be visited solely based on the name alone. What’s there not to love about a place called Honey Hill?

Beyond the fact that you can pick the ingredients for your very own apple pie, most orchards also usually offer other seasonal pleasures like hay ride- free hay rides at that, and those sweet, sweet complimentary glasses of apple cider. If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, then dream big and apple picking could give you super-human strength.

ansteinbe@syr.edu