I'll be honest: I debated not writing about Beardsley Cider Mill & Orchard, my favorite orchard in Connecticut. It's slightly out of the way for Westporters, located in Shelton, and it lacks the flashy fall family fun activities available at other nearby orchards, like hayrides and pumpkin patches. But that's what I love about it: it's a simple, no-frills orchard with nothing but apples, a small farm store, apple cider, and fresh apple cider donuts. The rows (and rows and rows) of apple trees are wide and spacious, making it a great choice for young families who might be bringing a stroller or wagon on their apple-picking adventures. (That's actually how my family first discovered it, when my now eight-and-a-half-year-old was just a baby and we were looking for somewhere to take her. We've been back every year since!) There's an express hut on the way out that only sells the sweet, cinnamon-y donuts so you don't have to wait if a line forms inside the farm shop. The orchard grows varietals like Honeycrisp, Gala, Winesap, Empire, McIntosh, Granny Smith, and more, depending on when you visit: Beardsley opens at the end of August and closes Christmas Eve. It's just not fall to me until we've made our annual visit!
Beardsley Cider Mill & Orchard is located at 278 Leavenworth Rd. in Shelton. For more information, visit beardsleycidermill.com