Last Fall I missed out on apple picking because the season is so short in the south. I wasn’t about to let that happen again, so over Labor Day Weekend MPR, Rufio and I headed down to Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill in York, SC.
This orchard had all of my favorites things: apples, fresh cider, and cider doughnuts. But what makes it different from other orchards is that in addition to those staples, it also has a full bar with their own hard cider. It was kind of like an orchard/brewery hybrid, complete with dogs, babies, and picnic tables. I got some peach hard cider and MPR got an apple cider slushy, and both were fantastic. I’m thinking that next time I need to try the strawberry hard cider… and/or an entire flight 🍻🍎
They also had some treats not found at your typical apple orchard, including mini fried apple pies and a soft pretzel made from, what tasted like, cider doughnut dough. We made a lunch out of it and picked up some cinnamon sugar cider doughnuts and apples to bring home. We are definitely making apple crisp ASAP!
Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill was definitely worth the drive (about 50 minutes from Charlotte). So much so that I may even bring my family over when they come to visit at the end of the month. It’s hard to find activities that are fun for adults, and also appropriate for babies and dogs, but Windy Hill Orchard checks all of the boxes. Driving through the country roads in South Carolina made me feel like I was back in upstate New York, heading to my favorite orchard in Altamont. I guess the only difference is that this year we were apple picking in 87-degree weather! ☀️
I hope your Labor Day Weekend was also filled with fall treats! It’s officially not too early for anything apple or pumpkin spice! 🍎🎃🙌🏻
Caitlin Ryan, APR 
Me and my wife did the exact same thing for Labor Day, except we went to Skytop Orchard in Flat Rock, NC! Now we have about 9 lbs. of apples in our fridge and 3 apple cider donuts left on the table! We will ahve to try Windy Hill next!
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Great minds think alike! Maybe I’ll have to make a road trip out to Flat Rock when we get deeper into Fall. It wasn’t quite the same considering it’s still in the 90s!
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