Apple Core, Nothing More......

This phrase always springs to mind when we head out for occasional excursions to Marker-Miller Orchards.

We first became aware of this establishment for pick-your-own fruits when our friends Chris and Stacy's church organized a pumpkin-picking expedition about three years ago.

We've been back a number of times now. It is not exactly close, being just west of Winchester, Virginia, about an hour and twenty minute drive from us. To be sure there are closer farms for pick your own, but we have simply found that this place has a lot to recommend itself. Plus, it is pleasant to escape suburbia for a while and the drive has been almost entirely stress-free.

So what's the draw for this place? To begin with, the kids love to walk the orchards hunting for their idea of the choicest specimens of whatever it is that we have come for this time: apples, pumpkins, berries, etc. All the orchards and fields are either immediately next to the store, where you buy your container/bag for picking, or a short walk. (The store also features other goodies to be discussed below!) There's an undeniable thrill to being outside and picking something directly off the tree, bush, vine. Plus it helps to establish for kids who normally only see food as something coming from the supermarket that there is trail that leads back to the simplicity of earth, sun and water. (Kathryn lucks out more that way in as much as Becky's parents and many of her family live in an area of farms.)

Of course, the thrill of picking only lasts so long for the kids, so then we usually move on to the large area with lots of playground equipment situated next to the store. A covered veranda wraps that side of the store and features rocking chairs (not a lot of them and they tend to be claimed fast) which are great to keep an eye on the kids as the playground occupies the land sloping away from the store. Further to one side is a covered pavillion with long rows of picnic tables. During the busy times, a band will be performing at one end of the pavillion.

Also during the busy season, they offer a "cow train" ride for kids around the property (a daisy-chain of literally enclosed cow-shaped wagons that kids can sit in, powered by a riding mower in front). When we go with our friends Chris and Stacy and their children, this is usually a must for all our children. For every age you can take a ride around the property in a tractor-led wagon. There are times when the cow train is free, otherwise both carry a price. I gripe about it, but with over $4-per-gallon gas it's certainly not a no-cost venture for them to offer.

Face Painting Offered at the Apple Festival last October 10th

I mentioned the store earlier. We can (and have) spent more than we should have in there. They offer various apple products (cider, dumplings, pie, etc.), but the mouth-watering one that most everyone seems to go for is the apple cider doughnuts. Ohh, these just delight my tastebuds, especially just out and still warm. They come out as a crusty cake doughnut, rather than a soft, smooth doughnut.

The apple butter is awesome as well. One of the local volunteer fire departments sets up a cooking station opposite the store during the height of apple-picking season to make it fresh. We've picked up tasty salad dressings locally made and bottled. Not that absolutely everything is perfect. I know that we've had a couple of misses, but I honestly can't currently remember what they were.
The "Cow Train" with the Apple Butter Tent Beyond

On top of this, we have always had good experiences with the people behind the counters. It is family-run and they appear to really care that the people who come to visit take home a good experience and will return. When Becky, Kathryn and I went berry-picking early in the season last year, the lady who waited on us told us quite honestly that she really wasn't sure how much was out there, that people the day before were saying that many of them didn't look ready yet, and, when we returned, she asked us whether we were seeing a lot, where generally along the row and which rows we were finding most of the berries. All this so that she could guide the people who came after us.

Soap-box moment here. This is one of those enterprises that is a local operation that offers good value for your money and a lot of fun, gets everyone outside, etc. I see it as a win-win.