Fall is sneaking up on us, which means apple picking season! No Syracuse fall is complete without a visit (or 10) to our many apple orchards. Excitement is building as one of them, Beak & Skiff, is up for the #1 spot again in USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards for apple orchards. It is the only orchard in the running, from New York State. Here are our top 5 reasons why Beak & Skiff IS the #1 apple orchard on the list, and the apple of our eye:

1. Because History Says So

With over 100 years of quality and 5 generations of hard work, Beak & Skiff is still thriving and growing every day. With the first tree planted in 1911, Beak & Skiff now holds over 350,000 trees, that’s a heck of a lot of apples making it your one-stop shop for fall apple picking fun.

2. The Apple Hill Country Store and Bake Shop

What’s fall without fulfilling cider cravings? The Apple Hill Country Store and Bake Shop is located right on the Beak & Skiff campus and is the perfect place to grab a delicious cider donut or some fresh apple cider. Stop by their bee hive room, and grab some homemade honey. There is enough for everyone to do their thing; plus, it’s the ideal place to pick up a fall treat.

3. Kids Area

Beak & Skiff is the perfect place for family fun. Take the kids apple picking, then relax and take in the views while they play in the Kids Area. Kids will love playing on the playground, complete with slides and activities for children as young as two. On fall weekends, you’ll even catch the apple ponies and take a wagon ride through the orchard’s campus!

4. 1911 Tasting Room

Relax and taste some wine, spirits or hard cider in the 1911 Tasting Room. No trip to Beak & Skiff is complete without picking up one of 1911 Spirits’ creations. Every product is distilled from quality Beak & Skiff apples, to perfection. With an array of products from NY Hopped Cider to gin and vodka, there is always something delicious to sample. Watch out for the occasional live music show while you sip, Beak & Skiff has become the summer music venue and we can’t wait to see what they roll out in the future.

5. Because YOU Say So

Beak & Skiff was the winner of the 2015 USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards. It’s no surprise that they’ve won in the past, and it’s no surprise that they are currently #1 in the leaderboards. From the elaborate campus with incredible views to every product boasting home-grown roots, you can see why we love Beak & Skiff and why you will too.

Make sure to vote for Beak & Skiff as the Reader’s Choice for apple orchards here. Take a trip out this fall, pick up some fresh apple cider and bring the whole family. You’ll thank us later.