Weaver's Orchard 2.0

Good morning, beautiful people!

If you're wondering about today's blog title, let me explain. 

Its titled "2.0" because this is the second year in a row that we've gone there to pick apples & experience fall fun, and we plan to keep going every year- they're that good.

If you weren't wondering... Oh well, you got schooled anyway. 😂

It was a little overcast and chilly the day we went, which was perfect in my mind, because last year we went in late September and it was SO HOT. We sweater the entire time. So chilly is great with me. 👍

Trying to figure out where the Autumn Crisps are again. They're my favorite. They literally tick all of the boxes as far as the perfect multi-purpose apple 🍎, and then of course isn't the name just lovely?

Unfortunately they're done for this year as I'm typing this, but I just checked Weaver's website and there are still several other varieties available.

They also have kiwiberries and pumpkins, and a coffee stand and cider doughnuts and fresh cider and a market with a deli, and other fall fun like an apple cannon and kids' activities, although I have no photo proof. 😒

But here you can check out their website to see more.

All set to hunt for apples. ❤

I don't know about you, but I don't believe apple orchard experiences are what they should be without a good old red wagon. 😉

She's such a good big sister. Definitely my little helper. 🙌

Missy on the other hand... Well, she's a good sister (except for when she sits on Jimmy bc she thinks he's her pony) but not so much a helper yet. 😂

Jimmy approves of the orchard experience so far! ❤

Well we found the Autumn Crisps, and Chari is first up to pose for me with her first apple. 😃

Missy isn't interested in posing... So candid it is.

Daddy helps Jimmy pick his very first apple ever. 💕 I absolutely love baby's first things.

With Jimmy in the wagon giggling as the girls happily filled up the sack, I was able to convince Mark to take a selfie with me. He kinda hates photos, so I consider myself lucky to get one.

Told you he was giggling. 😄
Next I coerce each of my kids to take same selfie with me. 😂

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And this is not a paid ad or anything, but I LOVE Weaver's Orchard.

From their deli I recommend their Texas Caviar (aggghh, I freakin love that stuff!), and their peach 🍑 tapioca, and their warm cider doughnuts are the 💣.

Yes, we love 💘 Weaver's Orchard. If you live in the surrounding area, you seriously need to go. Or if you're coming in for a visit, put it on the itinerary! You won't regret it. That's all for today!

Hope your day is darling. 😘

P.S. Some of y'all have asked about the girls' hats and dresses, so I just linked them for you. 😉

Road Trip to The Poconos

Hey y'all, how has your autumn been so far?

I hope everyone has been well.

Autumn, in case you haven't noticed, is my favorite season. I absolutely adore fall foliage, and when the colours are at peak we'll often just drive around for a day to take it all in.

Unfortunately, fall foliage in the Lancaster and Berks counties has been less-than-stellar for the past 2 years, with 2 years ago being good, last year a very late and minimal turnout, and this year has been equally slow.

But that's ok, that means we get to take a roundtrip to try and hunt down some beautiful foliage. 😉

This year we randomly decided to drive up and around The Poconos, so after driving over an hour away from our home on Saturday night, we booked a room at the Hampton Inn in Quakertown, PA and got better sleep there than we usually do at home. 

(Alan at the front desk was so kind, and after price-checking online including cash back offers and booking websites, I called the hotel and Alan gave me $41 off of the lowest price I could find anywhere, and that included taxes & fees. Double-check your options y'all, and don't be agraid to call 📞 and ask for a special!)

We began the next morning with the hotel's free hot breakfast (it was good!👌) and then hit the road.

Starting our sightseeing at the top seemed like a logical idea, so we headed for the highest peak at Big Pocono State Park.

The first photo above 👆 is of the view.

The next photo, below 👇 is of me freezing.

It was snowing!!! Just flurries, but still! Brrrr!

And yeah, I did a b&w photo cuz I wasn't wearing makeup and my coffee hadn't kicked in yet. 😂

Camelback Mountain resort is sprawled all over the mountainside, and one place that's a part of the resort that I would love to go is Kartrite's Summit House.

It's literally a restaurant perched on the side of the mountain, and the view is STUNNING! 

I borrowed the above 2 photos from Google so you can get an idea of what I'm talking about.

And I took this photo from the pergola right outside the restaurant.

Definitely on the bucket list now!

Unfortunately, they're only open for lunch and dinner, so we kept driving.

On the way down the mountain.

Along the road to the top, there are several houses that are situated across a stream, and they have their own private bridges.

It actually appears that the bridges are the only way to access them. So dreamy! 😍

Just snaps of foliage along the road.

(This image by Barleycreek.com)

At the foot of the mountain, we stopped at the 

Barley Creek Brewing Company and grabbed some growlers of their finely crafted beer.

We got pumpkin ale (of course!) and cider.

Both are delicious, with the pumpkin being a darker beer, and the cider very light and crisp.

I highly recommend them.

The next place we stopped at was the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

The view is so gorgeous and my cellphone just really doesn't do it justice.

It was soooo windy, so we didn't get the children out or stay long. I pretty much would get out, take it in a few minutes, snap some pictures, and we'd leave again.

After these stops, it was getting past time to eat, and after passing up the above locations, I wanted to find something unique so we wouldn't feel slighted, and let me tell you... Nailed it.

I decided for us to try The Lakeside, and guys, it did not disappoint!

The lake view with its fall splendor was breathtaking.

And the food + service was impeccable.

I love how it was a nicer restaurant, but not snooty. I didn't get any looks for having not 1, not 2, but 3 kids along.

Definitely family friendly, and yet the place maintains an edgy/sophisticated vibe.

A house across the lake. What a gorgeous place to live.

View from the outdoor deck.

I should have taken more restaurant photos, but even the 2 I did get (of the blue-lighted bar counter inside, and gigantic tv screen) got accidentally deleted, so please check out the link I provided above. It really is such a cool place! They evidently have live music regularly. 🎶

Missy helping me check out the deck view.

On the way outta town, we had to make one more stop...

Krispy Kreme, because Sundays are for doughnuts. Its literally the closest location to our house, and its hours away.

Lucky us, the hot sign was on.

Look at this doughnut just falling apart it was so melt-in-your-mouth delicious. 💕

Jimmy was napping for a bit at the restaurant, and then we were eating, so I didn't get any snapshots of him. But he did giggle all the way home...

This was the last photo of the day.

I hope y'all enjoyed following along with our road trip. 

Leave me a comment and let me know what other sights, restaurants or places to stay I should check out in The Poconos! 💕