Fall in Charlottesville is certainly something to take advantage of, which is why I decided to take a trip to Carter Mountain Orchard, a mere 15 minutes from Grounds, for their Thursday Evening Sunset Series. Every week since late May, the orchard extends its hours to 8:30 pm for its attendees to watch the sunset behind the mountains. The visit I made on October 3 was the last event of the Sunset Series for the season; however the orchard is still open through December 22.
Given that midterm season is fast approaching, a visit to Carter Mountain offers a much needed getaway from the stress of papers and exams. The scenic view, the samples of warm apple cider, and the company of friends will surely relieve any lingering anxieties about all the studying you need to prepare for.
I attended the Sunset Series with one of my roommates after a particularly hectic week of classes. It was my first time ever having been, but I had always heard it was a “must” before graduation. We arrived at the orchard about 15 minutes before the sun set behind the mountains, but it was sure a beautiful 15 minutes. The mountain top offers a view for miles across Charlottesville and it is a prime location to watch the impressive sunset.
Many of those in attendance were on dates, which guys should take note of because it was very adorable. However, it seemed that others had just come with a group of friends for a relaxing Thursday evening (some even brought their dogs). For a Thursday evening I was very surprised at just how popular the orchard was, from families to couples, it was the place to be.
As the sun had gone down and the only light on the mountain was coming from “Grandma Ruth’s Country Store”, we headed inside it. If the name of the store wasn’t a clue, “Grandma Ruth’s” is a quintessential old-fashioned mom-and-pop. They sold butters of the apple and pumpkin varieties, jams from every fruit imaginable, flavored coffees, ciders, wine, Pennsylvania Dutch candies, and my favorite, clothing apparel. I eagerly purchased some apple butter, their top-selling item, and B.E.A.R. (blueberry, elderberry, apple, and raspberry) jam for my parents. I also felt obliged to get a cute Carter Mountain Orchard t-shirt to mark my first visit. Despite the store not being the highlight of a trip to the orchard, it was a definitely a pleasant way to conclude my visit.
Even though this may have been the end of the Sunset Series until next May, there are a slew of other events that are held at Carter Mountain Orchard. Particularly for fall, every weekend in October they celebrate the Apple Harvest Celebration. These celebrations include hayrides, music, and “all things apple”, not limited to apple butter, apple cider, and apple picking.
For a creative and fun way to spend a day in Charlottesville, Carter Mountain is your solution. From apple-picking to wine-tasting, the orchard provides activities for your family or your friends. Just from my visit I learned you cannot fully understand just how beautiful Charlottesville is until you see a sunset from Carter Mountain. I know that this will have been the first of many visits for me.