I feel like I’m really just beginning to explore our new (can I still call it new if we’ve lived here almost a year?) surroundings. The mountains in the upstate and in nearby North Carolina are stunning and so accessible; I look forward to venturing out more, like we did this past Friday when the Instagram algorithm appropriately targeted me with a peek at Jeter Mountain Farm, a U-pick apple experience in Hendersonville, NC.

After a quick glance through their offerings, a peek at the weather (looking like fall’s finest), and a text message to my neighborhood girls group to see if it was worth the drive (a resounding YES was the answer), we loaded up Friday morning for a day at the apple orchard.

Now, calling Jeter Mountain Farm an apple orchard sells it short. Are there beautiful hills of multiple varieties of apples to enjoy? Absolutely! But what I didn’t count on was all the other perks this beautiful place had to offer that resulted in me saying (repeatedly, for the entire day- sorry, friends) how I felt like we were plopped down right in the middle of an autumn-themed children’s book. Idyllic!

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We weren’t the only ones wanting to take advantage of the day; when we arrived around 11:00 AM it was already quite full and we parked in the lower/overflow lot. The had consistent covered wagon rides running though, and we were quickly scooped up and enjoyed a ride up the hill to the main area.

I think I seriously spent the first five minutes gawking and just how darn cute this place was- a blend of classic cozy mountain feel, yet very clean, well-kept, and modern. Finally someone had the good sense to steer us toward the coffee shop where the kids got hot apple ciders and the adults, lattes. My brown sugar latter gave me a caffeinated exuberance I didn’t need but enjoyed anyway.

From there we decided to start with the main event- apple picking! You buy a basket and then walk over to the adjacent U-pick orchard. Each row is a different variety of apple. It was beautiful! The most abundant during our late season visit was the Black Twig, a hardy variety that ripens in October that are fairly large, slightly tart and crisp apple that store well for a long time and actually gets sweeter with time.

We enjoyed the orchard for quite a while, scouting and selecting the most pristine apples for our bucket (which was silly, knowing the plan was to turn them into sauce). The day was crisp, the sun was out, and again, I just had to keep remarking on how storybook like the whole scene was.

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Eventually I took our basket of apples to the car and returned to meet everyone for the BBQ lunch. From there we wandered through the market before heading to the creamery and bakery to make the tough decision between dessert options. My crew opted for apple cider donuts after getting a peek at watching them make them and serve them, hot and fresh. H also got a slice of apple pie to go with our dozen apple cider donuts (had to buy enough to bring home and share with David over coffee the next morning). We shared it all, yummmmmming with every bite.

The farm was open that day from 10:00 AM- 3:00 PM so after our treats it was time to start making our way back to the car, as it was closing time. The wagon ride back to the parking lot showed off the entire property: the additional apple orchards, but also the blueberry and blackberry patches, the grape vines, and the peach trees, each inviting us back to pick each fruit in its season. And back we will be most certainly!

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There is also a massive indoor playground with hay bales and houses and more. My kids are a bit big for it now (though K eyed it and probably would have indulged if we would have had the time). Dogs are welcome on leash and we saw many adorable ones. The whole atmosphere screams fall and we all left glowing about the experience.

On Sunday I stuck to my word and made applesauce in the instant pot. It was simple! I peeled the apples (about 7 pounds), cut them into chunks, and added them to the instant pot along with 1 cup of water, a pinch of salt, a hearty sprinkle of cinnamon, 1 Tbsp of lemon juice, and a squirt of honey. High pressure for 8 minutes, natural release for 10 minutes, then I used my immersion blender to smooth it out to our desired consistency. Oh so good!

I still have a fridge drawer full of apples, so I’m thinking maybe some apple cinnamon oat muffins or maybe even a pie is in our future (if I’m feeling ambitious). If you’re in the NC/SC area, I highly recommend putting Jeter Mountain Farm on your radar. I know we will be back!