Fall is a temperate time to soak up the golden rays and vibrant foliage that will all too soon turn to another bleak and blustery winter. The scent of bonfire, the taste of spiced apple cider and the satisfying crunch of leaves underfoot should draw us out to enjoy fresh weather and the gathering ghoulishness of Halloween. Here are three ways to savor the season, whether you're after the tang of fresh apples, the stirring sight of a multicolored hillside or the shiver of ghostly spirits.
Pick-Your-Own
Pumpkins proliferate this time of year, along with apples, corn, squash and other crops grown on farms fringing the Lehigh Valley. Here, it's harvest time, and your chance to get ahold of fresh, crisp apples and cider that, cold or piping hot, give fall its distinctive flavor.
Operating for almost 200 years, Strawberry Acres in Coplay offers beautiful orchards of a variety of apples, from tart McIntosh to sweet and juicy Honeycrisp. There's no contest in flavor against the supermarket produce that can be months old before it's put on display, and nothing quite like harvesting an apple out in the sun that nourished it.
As its name suggests, Strawberry Acres grows much more than apples, and you can return in warmer months to pick your own peaches, pears, cherries and strawberries. Break out the pie pan or check out Strawberry Acres' bakery to take the delicious fruit to another level of scrumptiousness.
On October 15, they'll be holding their own annual Oktoberfest, with a soundtrack of polka and German cuisine like cabbage and noodles, kielbasa and sauerkraut hot dogs. It's an opportunity for apple picking and fresh cider as well.
1767 Clear View Rd., Coplay | 610.261.2323 | strawberryacres.com
Take a Train Ride
Though there's plenty of radiant fall color in every neighborhood in the Valley, it's definitely worthwhile to take a trip out to Kempton one weekend, whether it's to look at the leaves, pick pumpkins or have some Halloween fun. The WK & S Railroad at the north edge of Berks County is a volunteer-run labor of love offering train rides and events weekends throughout the year, at encouragingly affordable prices.
Most Sundays this month, the train heads off four times a day on its 40-minute route through forest and farmland along the Ontelaunee Creek for fall foliage excursions. While you may be content snapping pictures of rural scenes resplendent with all the vivid hues of autumn, there's plenty of activity offered to kids and families on Halloween-themed rides leading up to the holiday.
On October 8 and 9, the Pumpkin Patch Train takes youngsters to forage for a free pumpkin from the patch, and then the train becomes Professor Whizzbang's Imagination Express on the 21st and 22nd for the Halloween Spooktacular. Along with this interactive show, kids can enjoy a hay maze, fortune-telling, a treasure hunt, face painting and, of course, candy!
It is well worth a short trip to make fall magic and memories for the whole family.
42 Community Center Dr., Kempton | 610.756.6469 | kemptontrain.com
Scare Yourself Silly
For many, October is the month when they can indulge in a taste for the thrill of fear, and events around the Valley run all along the spectrum from spooky to downright spine-chilling.
The most well known may be Dorney Park's Halloween Haunt, when the theme park transforms into a venue for scary shows and mazes from all genres of horror—asylums, corn mazes, predatory pirates and more. Dorney Park has the resources to offer some very convincing scares, and for those more interested in the roller coasters, this is a good time to get in line—if there are lines, since most folks are busy getting spooked!
The grassroots passion for terrifying experiences has created other opportunities for jumping out of your skin. Lehigh Valley Zombies in Orefield is a paintball experience in addition to a series of rural-themed haunted houses. If you enjoy fantasizing about how you'd handle a zombie apocalypse, here's a great place to realize that dream!
If you're willing to take a short trip north, the Hotel of Horror in the Poconos is renowned for its fantastic makeup, costuming and actors. Drawing on the old hotel's long and checkered history, the show runners put serious effort into original themes and characters, taking care with props and timing to make the experience as authentic as possible. Terrifying figures roam the grounds—there's nowhere you'll feel safe!
dorneypark.comlehighvalleyzombies.comhotelofhorror.com
