Apple Picking in North Georgia

Apple crisp is one of my favorite things to eat. The way the pastry and the apples and the cinnamon and sugar melt together just gives me fireworks like Ratatouille experienced in that movie... So, since apple season is upon us (yay!) and this blog is all about getting out there and exploring, I decided to pick my own apples in season instead of buying them at the store. My good friend Google helped us find a place to go.

Off we set for North Georgia, in an October afternoon this gorgeous:

Apple Picking - Atlanta - The City Dweller (33)

We found plenty of orchards in the town of Elijay that allow you to pick your own apples, but the rub turned out to be finding one that allowed you to pick them during the weekday.

Given that I don't like crowds much, and apple season is one of those family-friendly activities that brings masses of people out of the woodwork (especially if there are hayrides and pumpkin carving, etc), it was paramount that we found an orchard we could visit on a weekday.

Thank goodness for B. J. Reece Orchards! We were able to stop by on a Thursday and pick varieties of rome beauty, golden delicious, and red delicious apples to our heart's content.

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We selected the size bag we wanted to fill, and then walked among rows and rows of apple trees.

Just calm, lazy, sunny afternoon apple-picking.

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The apples varied in size from small to rather huge:

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And we had no problem getting higher to reach the good ones.

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Felt like a kid again. :-)

We scooped as many as we could manage...

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...and before long we were strolling on outta there, bags a-swinging.

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We even made a friend:

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I'd say this butterfly was giving me her blessing. After all, now that I've picked the apples, I've got to find a way to make some recipes, right? Eek!

(If you're keen to do some apple picking yourself, the official apple festival is coming up!)

Apple Picking - Atlanta - The City Dweller (47)

Anywho, since we were already a couple hours north of Atlanta, we decided to pop over to Helen.

If you've never heard of the town of Helen before, the best word I could describe it as is cute, or maybe quaint. It's a recreation of a German-type town, and it's very touristy, but it's nice to stroll around, browse the shops, enjoy the architecture, and see the local attractions.

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Did I not tell you this place is positively saccharine?

Speaking of sweet...

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This place is bad for my girlish figure.

Helen is pretty popular this time of year as a destination for celebrating Oktoberfest in Georgia. If you're heading to Oktoberfest, this is the banquet hall in which the knee-slappin fun will take place: