Mackintosh Fruit Farm

Mackintosh Fruit Farm

Friday, June 24, 2016

About 10-15 minutes east of town, between Winchester and Berryville, lies Mackintosh Fruit Farm. They grow a variety of fruits for you to come and pick during different seasons. Strawberry season is just ending but they have a nice supply of blueberries and raspberries coming in! As you drive in there is a friendly little dog who greets you and on the particular day we visited there were three free kittens available (that the owners had found in a box on the side of the road). Clearly the owners are animal lovers! 

An attendant will help by giving you a basket to put your desired fruit in and you're off! You can traverse the rows in their fields and hunt for ripe strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries. Once you finish picking you weigh your fruit and pay (a very reasonable price). There are plenty of tables and chairs if you'd like to sit and try some of their baked goods or even the fruit you picked. I would recommend arriving earlier in the day to avoid crowds and to enjoy picking the fruits in the coolest part of the day. 

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Hill High Farm

Hill High Farm

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Hill High Farm is a locally owned business that invites people onto their land to pick apples and pumpkins, navigate a corn maze, take a hayride, and pet some animals. In one week they will open their Haunted House as well. 

Their corn maze covers several acres and you're given a punch card before you enter. There are six stations placed throughout the maze that you and your team are supposed find. There are pictures and jokes spread on each sign and a hole punch, so you can tag your card and prove you found all six stations. 

There are funnel cakes, pork rinds, apple cider, pies, and much more for sale along with autumn-themed gifts.

If you and your family decide to take a hayride you'll hop aboard and a tractor will pull you through the farm. For $6 you get a hayride, a pumpkin, and a short educational talk with the owner, Vernon, as he rides his horse (Bo or Rooster) with his farm dog Max trailing alongside him. 

There are also several animals such as donkeys, goats, and calves to pet and interact with. Kids and adults both will be sure to have a lot of fun at the farm. If you're looking for more information check out their website or their Facebook.

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Shenandoah: North Marshall

Shenandoah: North Marshall

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Virginia truly shines during the fall season. The leaves begin changing and perfect temperatures there's no place I'd rather be. This past weekend we followed up from our previous hike at South Marshall and decided to try out the North Marshall trail. It was only a 1.6 mile or so hike total with a beautiful overlook to the East. There's an uphill grade, but it's short so if you're ever looking for a quick hike with high rewards, I'd recommend the North Marshall trail on the Appalachian Trail.

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Shenandoah: South Marshall

Shenandoah: South Marshall

Monday, September 16, 2013

Yesterday I went up on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park with a group of friends. We were looking for a short hike near the north end of the drive to take up an hour or two of our afternoon. So, after stopping at Dickey's Ridge and watching their video about the park, touring the museum, and buying a park magnet in the shop, we headed down to mile marker 15.9 and hiked south on the Appalachian Trail for about a mile until we came to two overlooks. The Shenandoah Valley looked incredible and it was a gorgeous day.

We're planning on doing a picnic in the near future at the same spot when the leaves change. It'd be incredible to watch the changes happening from summer to winter with the beautiful foliage we get in Virginia in the fall.

To Do: Hit up Skyline Drive and grab a pair of hiking boots. There are a lot of trails within a half an hour of Winchester that you can utilize all year round. The year pass is only $30.

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Shenandoah: Lands Run Falls Hike

Shenandoah: Lands Run Falls Hike

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Shenandoah National Park may be my favorite place on Earth...It has strong memories for me and I go there to find comfort and adventure.

Skyline Drive is where my dad used to take my sister, uncle, and me on Black Friday. We often hiked up to Mary's Rock.

This winter our little group did a 1.3 mile hike straight downhill to the falls then followed the trail 1.3 miles back up a steep grade. Oh man were my legs feeling it on Monday!

This hike is a fairly easy trip (although uphill the entire way back to your vehicle). If you haven't been up on skyline drive then it is a MUST for this area. Head down I-81 and get off on 66. Take a right off the Front Royal exit. If you like hiking, camping, taking pictures of scenic views, or even if you'd like to just take a drive somewhere then Shenandoah National Park has a lot to offer you! 

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